The 2,100mm x 3,100mm press comes equipped with six new Gen 5 printheads and prints at a speed of up to 60sqm/hr in four-colour, or 50sqm/hr with white ink.

The prototype will be shown at drupa, while its commercial launch has been scheduled to coincide with Berlin’s Ecoprint show on 26/27 September.

Mimaki Europe marketing manager Mike Horston said that the JFX500-2131 will be priced competitively against Océ’s Arizona flatbeds.

He said: "The JFX is superior in quality and speed and it is UV-LED instead of using lamps, which are expensive, insecure and kick out too much heat."

Duncan Jefferies, marketing manager at Hybrid Services, Mimaki’s exclusive UK and Ireland distributor added: "The JFX500-2131 has the ability to print to incredibly fine detail [of 2pt]. The machine has a high quality display that is geared towards the production of sign graphics, which is an important market."

Horston added: "We are also targeting commercial printers, particularly those who do a lot of short run work. With JFX500-2131’s speeds of 60sqm/hr, you can do those jobs on a digital machine."

Mimaki is also displaying the JV400-LX, its first latex printer, and the solvent UV ink-based JV400-SUV for durable outdoor prints at Drupa.

The manufacturer said that the JV400 family of inkjet printers is in high demand since the JV400-LX launched in February. The JV400-LX and JV400-SUV have been released as a staggered launch due to production and staff restraints.

Horston said: "Both machines are on the same production line so we need to free up space to produce the JV400-SUV’s after the LX’s have all been shipped.

"We expect to get the JV400-SUV shipping in Q3, but we are getting swamped by excess from the latex machine."