Manufactured by Lithuanian company Veika, which has showed the kit at recent Fespa events, Dimense technology can simultaneously print and create structure for bespoke, creative graphic designs and is therefore suited to the production of bespoke wallpaper.

Based on latex eco-friendly inks and working only with Veika’s PVC-free structure-forming Ecodeco media, Colourgen said a reaction between a foam layer on the media and the special ink creates the structure.

“The structural ink stops the media from foaming, so the structure is created in areas where the ink isn’t applied. There’s nothing else like it in the market,” said Colourgen marketing manager Melanie Enser.

Embossed effects up to 1mm high can be created and these can vary in depth across the substrate.

The Dimense technology is said to offer output with high light-fastness and scrub resistance and it is C1 fire rated, making it suitable for high traffic areas such as hotels, retail and corporate environments.

From September Colourgen will supply the 1.6m-wide Dimensor Model S, which can print at speeds of up to 20sqm/hr, to the UK market. The list price for the machine is £75,000.

Subsequent faster versions, Model M and Model L, will follow in the future though exact dates are as yet unavailable.

“At the moment we’re targeting people that produce wallcoverings. It means that they can do one roll of bespoke wallcovering at a really competitive price rather than having to produce loads of it, which is currently the case for the cost not to go through the roof,” said Enser.

“It can also be used in traditional print, for example for exhibition stands. It’s really great for corporate stuff as you could have logos with structure in them, produced very competitively. It’s also good for packaging prototyping.”

Colourgen has appointed Dean Keenan, formerly of Landor UK and Sihl Direct, to head up business development and sales for the Dimense range.