The BE LED will be available from September and is designed for short-run printed promotional items and packaging. The machine has a print area of 600mmx400mm and can handle thicknesses of up to 130mm.

The device, which costs around £22,000, is driven by a Mutoh engine and uses Epson inkjet heads, printing at resolutions from 360x360dpi to 2880x1440dpi in CMYK plus white and gloss varnish.

Ilkley-based SSE Worldwide has also launched the small format Eagle 30 and 60 UV Led small format flatbed printers to the UK market, at Fespa.

The £35,000 and £45,000 printers are aimed at the signage and promotional product markets.

The devices, which can print onto substrates and objects up to a depth of 250mm, run on a specifically designed RIP, Whiterip and currently use Epson DX5 printheads.

Managing director Scott Armitage said that the first two UK buyers of the machine were expected to sign at Fespa, this week. "We've had a lot of interest on the stand this week so far, from plenty of international visitors as well as from the UK," he added.