Sun Chemical, the world's largest producer of inks with annual sales of 2.3bn, has been given the right to use Fujifilm Sericol's global patents of the technology, which uses vinyl ethers.

The deal follows Fuji's acquisition of UV ink-jet firm Sericol and precedes the completion of a 150m purchase of Avecia's ink-jet and electrophotography businesses, which is due to be completed next month.

At this stage, it is unclear whether other ink-jet firms would follow Sun Chemical's lead, and Agfa UK managing director Laurence Roberts refused to comment on any future plans to use Fujifilm's techonology.

He said he was sure there were "lots of conversations with lots of people", but he was only interested in what Agfa was doing.