Unveiled at a press event at its headquarters in Brixen, South Tyrol in Italy yesterday (2 October), Durst Group CEO and co-owner Christoph Gamper said the launch of the new P5 X was testament to its commitment to continuous growth in the large-format printing sector.

Designed for high-end applications such as bespoke visual communications, large-scale decoration, and specialty packaging, the machine has been field tested by Archimede, based near Padua in Italy.

The machine will be available either as a standalone flatbed or as a hybrid with the roll-to-roll capability. Customers can also buy it as a flatbed first and later do a field upgrade to add roll-to-roll if they wish.

The P5 X is aimed at the mid-level market and is not targeted at high-volume production. While it is Durst’s first homegrown flatbed machine, for the past few years it has offered flatbeds from American manufacturer Vanguard, which it acquired in 2020.

The P5 X can print at speeds of up to 120sqm/hr with resolutions of either 700x1,200dpi or 900x1,200dpi. It uses Ricoh Gen 5 printheads with a 7pl drop size.

It will also run new software from Durst featuring a new user-friendly interface while it is faster due to the optimisation of some features and printing modes.

The maximum printing width for boards is 3.25x2.15m. With a single roll it can print 3.5m wide, or dual 1.6m-wide rolls can be printed side by side.

Magnetic linear motors on the printer’s X and Y axes ensure precise, reliable movement across the entire workspace. This allows for faster and simpler positioning without compromising on accuracy, even at high speeds.

It is equipped with a vacuum table featuring 12 selectable zones. The four larger zones can be adjusted using individual sliders to adapt to the width of the print material, optimising suction power. The vacuum can also be reversed for quick and efficient material removal.

The P5 X offers 10 colour channels that can be configured to meet specific requirements. Channels include inks from the P5 series, combining CMYK, White, Fluorescent, Orange, Violet, Light Cyan, Light Magenta, Light Black, Varnish, and Primer. White printing speeds are said to be 50% slower.

Meanwhile, a twin printing mode offers dual-side printing for increased efficiency without waiting times, while a reverse printing option enables one-pass white over and under printing using a single printhead.

A multitrack feature supports simultaneous printing on up to 12 channels (six per side) with different images or board sizes.

A status bar provides operators with key information about the print system at a glance, including system readiness, remaining print time, ink status, and more.

Durst said the machine has been built with operator convenience in mind and that its ergonomic design minimises outer edges, allowing boards to be loaded and unloaded comfortably in an upright position.

Safety features include a light curtain on the print carriage that slows down the printing in case of interruption, ensuring maximum safety.

The P5 X also includes LED indicators that show the correct positioning for boards and identify which vacuum rows should be activated. Magnetic pins, which are easy to mount, streamline the setup process.

Andrea Riccardi, head of product management at Durst Group, said the machine represented “the perfect blend of advanced features and accessibility, opening new opportunities for those striving for excellence in digital printing”.

He told Printweek at the event: “I have been in the company for 25 years; I spent 17 years in sales and for eight years I’ve been the product manager. As a sales guy, my request was for a flatbed printer.

“We want to go into the mid-range market – we wanted to bring out a high-class machine with a competitive price.”

He added: “With the P5 X we can achieve very good quality – with the 7pl we can achieve a very good sharpness.”

Riccardi said the machine will be demonstrated at several tradeshows coming up, including at Viscom in Milan later this month for its first public showing, and then at events in Mexico, Madrid, France, Brazil, and the US and then Fespa’s flagship global print expo in Berlin in May.

The first deliveries to customers are anticipated from around the end of Q1 2025.