The Italian manufacturer’s four-colour P5 TEX iSUB is currently in 24-7 production trials with Italian soft signage specialist ABS Group, but is available for order now with the first commercial deliveries from June onwards.

The 3.3m wide printer offers a top speed of 383sqm/hr and full width printing. It features integrated inline fusing for direct printing onto polyester fabrics, enabling a single operator to run the line.

“No investment and no floor space is required for a calender. The Durst P5 TEX iSUB is operated by only one operator, and the process acceleration also increases our customers' ability to deliver,” said Andrea Riccardi, Durst Group head of product management.

While the machine's USP is its one-step capabilities, it can also run standard transfer paper applications for offline fixing.

However, Durst said that the iSUB contactless fixing technology combined with its specially developed Sublifix dye-sub inkset meant the line can produce vivid colours and precise image details thanks to the virtual elimination of blurring and bleeding.

Applications include soft signage, flags, blockout fabrics and lightboxes.

It can be configured with Durst’s Dualroll option to simultaneously run two rolls up to 1.6m wide and an integrated finishing unit to sew and stitch substrates.

According to Durst, the soft-signage market is “experiencing enormous growth”, citing Keypoint Intelligence research that predicts the global market will grow from $19.2bn (£13.86bn) in 2019 to $31.4bn in 2023.

"The P5 TEX iSUB combines efficiency, quality and productivity at the highest level,” said Durst Group vice president sales Christian Harder.

“At Durst, we are convinced that our solution will give a significant boost to the soft signage market.”