Described as ‘offset class' by the company, the iPress 2400 will join rivals Fujifilm's JetPress 720 and Dainippon Screen's TruePress JetSX at the Birmingham show.

The iPress, like the Screen, is a portrait-format machine with a maximum sheet width of 520mm. The current iterations of the press are roll-to-roll or roll-to-sheet, although a sheetfed version is in development, scheduled for commercial availability in 2011.

Impika claims a print speed of more than 6,000sph at 1,200dpi and more than 3,000sph at 2,400dpi, which is currently faster than its rivals.

Impika will also show a 711mm-wide (28in) printhead developed in partnership with Panasonic.

Impika is targetting prospectus, brochure, magazine, catalogue, label and flexible packaging work with the iPress 2400.
It will be demonstrated at Ipex with inline finishing equipment from Swiss company Hunkeler.

Chief executive Paul Morgavi said: "By eliminating pre-press functions, as well as streamlining registry adjustments, we are offering printers a range of new opportunities for growth in bespoke services, as well as low-cost short and medium print runs.

"The iPress 2400 represents for us a first step in our strategy to enter the offset print market."