Following three years of research and development the firm's Digital Colour Communication division, which also includes the Cromalin proofing business, will unveil the machines for the first time in the UK.

"We're really going to compete with Vutek, Nur and their like," said DuPont Colour Communications UK sales manager Jim Walker. Although he wouldn't reveal pricing until the machines are launched Walker said the products would be "highly competitive in technical specification, support and economics".

The range includes two solvent machines, a 2.5m- and a 3.2m-wide machine and a UV-cured 2.2m-wide flatbed machine. Markets for the presses include packaging mock-ups and short-run PoS and display graphics.

DuPont has invested ($10m) in research and development of inks for the machines, which are compatible with a range of substrates from across DuPont's business.

The hardware for the machines was developed and built by a Chinese manufacturer, which has signed an exclusive contract with the firm for 10 years.

Story by Barney Cox