The two companies will join forces to offer packaging and labelling companies "an effective technological proofing solution".

Both firms claim that they can save customers time and money by replacing systems that require expensive and time-consuming printing plates and gravure cylinders with digital production.

Mimaki's inkjet printers have been optimised for digital proofing in the offset, gravure and flexo packaging sector.

By combining them with GMG's ColorServer 4.6.2 colour management software and SmartProfiler printer calibration and profiling software, the companies said clients can produce accurate colour results on most materials.

Customers who buy into the Mimaki-GMG partnership are promised perfect colour matching, optimum spot colour reproduction and optimum print quality of up to 1,200dpi, which is printable on any substrate, including shrink or metallic foils tins and compounds.

Akira Ikeda, president of Mimaki Engineering, said: "We are very pleased that we could expand our existing partnership with Mimaki to a worldwide collaboration."

The companies formed a previous strategic alliance a few months ago by combining the GMG ColorServer and SmartProfiler packages with Mimaki's UJF-605 UV inkjet printer. The new deal covers Mimaki's entire range of inkjet printers.

Mimaki supplies printers and cutting machines to the signage, textile and industrial markets.