Its move includes the launch of the first dedicated monochrome VersaMark, the JetBlack, which is positioned to compete with high-speed laser printers from IBM and Oc.

The JetBlack will cost from 235,000 ($400,000) for a 2pp-wide simplex or single-page duplex machine, which runs at 1,527 pages per minute.

We focus on the total cost of ownership, but it is fair to say there has been an assumption we were beyond peoples reach in capital price, said Scitex Digital Printing systems product management manager Steve Coburn.

The firm has also relaunched the VersaMark Vantage, the machine introduced as an entry-level member of the range at Ipex 2002. The available configurations have been expanded to range from single-page-width simplex monochrome up to 2pp-wide duplex process colour. Prices start from 295,000.

The machines share the same print heads and front-ends but use different paper transports. SDP sees this as a way for customers to protect their investment in the heart of the press the print heads and front-ends - when they move to higher speeds or more colour.

Topping the VersaMark range is the Ultra, which, at 150m per minute, is 50% faster than the JetBlack and Vantage. It can also be upgraded to 300m per minute.

To all intents and purposes the Ultra is a printing press with ink-jet heads, said Coburn.

The firm has promised further developments of the resolution and colour quality at Drupa, as well as the launch of the EFI Fiery designed to drive the range at full rated speed producing variable data colour.