Kodak Professional will launch an innovative wide-format ink-jet printer in Europe next month that promises productivity of up to 50m2 per hour.

The 5260 uses a technology called dynamic contone using a variable droplet size on a pixel by pixel basis. There are five droplet sizes from eight to 67 picolitres, which it claims produces 1,200dpi quality when printing at 300dpi, with no loss of speed.

Its the first Kodak ink-jet printer developed from the ground up in-house, said European marketing manager Philip Cullimore.

The 520 uses piezo electric ink-jet print heads capable of up to 1,200dpi and can use dye or pigment-based inks. It is targeted at printers needing to produce high-volumes of large-format work.

Pricing for the 62in-wide six-colour printer has yet to be finalised but will be around 21,000 ($30,000).