The 300 GT can handle the same 1.25x2.5m sized sheets as the 350GT, but at 12.3sqm per hour it is half the speed of its bigger brother.

Additional printheads can be fitted to bring the machine up to the same specification as the 350GT, and it can also support the roll media and white ink options.

"So far the Arizona is the fastest selling range of flatbeds in the world," said Océ UK business group manager DGS/IS Dominic Fahy.

"The market is like a pyramid and we wanted to extend our offering. We'd already extended the GT range up with the XT with its bigger [3.05x2.5m] bed and now we've extended further into the base with the 300 GT."

Fahy said that the new machine costs 15% less than the 350 GT, which for a complete system in the UK, including installation, training, one-year's support and RIP costs about £90,000.

The cost to upgrade to the full specification was £25,000. He added that the price differential would be similar in other countries.

Fahy also said finance was an important issue for customers, and the firm's finance division was able to fund equipment and structure deals more flexibly than banks.