Part of its Uniform brand, the 2.5m-wide four-colour machine is also the first UK OEM of a machine made in China. It is claimed to be 25% cheaper than its rivals.

The whole market is waiting for a low-cost product, said B&P Lightbrigade managing director David Burton. If I was starting up again its what Id buy.

B&P Lightbrigade sees the machine as bridging the gap between high-end machines such as Nur, Vutek and Scitex Vision, which use Spectra and Xaar print heads and machines based on Epson print heads. It claims its price will compare to Epson-based products, with running costs comparable to the high-end machines.

The firm looked at 17 potential Chinese suppliers to find the right machine. It is based on US-made Spectra print heads and uses B&Ps inks.

The firm is currently looking for customers to take the first couple of machines, which are set to cost under 30,000, prior to a big launch at Sign UK in March.

Dragoon will be one of about five new products in the Uniform range that the firm plans to launch later this year.

Story by Barney Cox