Innovations include a 'robotic print minder', a new formulation of a security ink that can print in CMYK, inks for vacuforming without cracking and inorganic inks that enable printing on ceramics without baking.

Mimaki is working with system integrators on robotisation.

“All of us are starting on this now,” said marketing manager EMEA Mike Horsten.

“It’s not our core business to develop robots but it’s our core business to make our machines accessible to the robots.”

Horsten said Mimaki’s security inks could be used in new markets, such as marketing, so, for example, a beer logo might be revealed under blacklight in a club.

He said the flexibility of the LUS 120 inks was “incredible” and could be used to print on textiles or plastics for vacuforming without cracking.

In addition, Mimaki has organic inks that enable printing on items or surfaces that would not survive baking, he said.

Meanwhile the company is still working on its 3D printer, with a launch scheduled for Formnext (CORR) in Frankfurt in November.

Last week Mimaki also got a Gold standard Green Guard certificate for its inks used with the UJV55-320.

Horsten said the certification allowed Mimaki to further challenge HP’s market share with its more affordable machine.