The supplier recently advertised for a product business manager to work on the launch plans for its new large-format printer series, the Pro L4000.

Ricoh is also taking on additional CRD (central reprographic department) print sales specialists and a commercial print sales specialist.

The L4000 was shown as a prototype at Drupa last year. The five-colour CMYK+W piezo-electric inkjet device uses latex ink and currently comes in two widths: 1,371mm or 1,620mm.

At the North Print & Pack exhibition in May Ricoh demonstrated its MP CW2200SP multi-function inkjet printer, which produces monochrome and colour output and is suitable for CAD and some graphics applications. It uses Ricoh’s LiquidGel print technology and produces a full-colour A1 print in just under a minute, or three monochrome A1 prints per minute.

Strategic marketing manager Gareth Parker said: "Wide-format sits squarely within the production print realm of the business, and we recognise we need to bring in some specialist expertise.

"We’re demonstrating our commitment to wide-format through recruitment and are extending the team accordingly," he added.

The firm is currently in a pilot phase with the L4000 models, with full product roll-out expected in Q1 2014.