In a trading statement ahead of its interim results, Xaar said that sales in the six months to 30 June would be in line with current expectations at around £44m. At the interim stage last year sales were £44.5m.

“As stated in March, revenue will be more second half weighted than usual with growth anticipated from recently introduced new products,” the group said.

It also reaffirmed its joint development agreement with Xerox for bulk piezo printheads, first revealed in January.

Xaar chief executive Doug Edwards described the partnership as “a strategic milestone” for the group as part of its strategic shift to being a more market- and customer-centric operation.

He told PrintWeek: “We are jointly funding 50/50 the development of a next-generation bulk piezo technology platform from which a number of new products will be developed.”

The first product from the collaboration is the Xaar 5501 scanning printhead, a 115mm wide 1,200dpi aqueous head targeted at textile and graphics applications. It was introduced last month and is described as combining cost-effectiveness with high quality output.

Xaar has also announced that Spain’s KeraJet has become a Premier Partner for the ceramics market, the first European manufacturer to do so.

Xaar’s share price slipped by 3.75p to 395.25p on the trading statement (52-week high: 525.5p, low: 325p).