Ken Hanulec, VP of worldwide marketing at EFI, said: ”Convergence is a reality now, where we see display graphics guys getting into packaging, we see packaging getting into display, and display folks getting into textiles… the lines are definitely blurring and you can see by our portfolio we can definitely support that.”

The Vutek M3h can handle sheets, boards and rolled media and was born out of the popular Vutek GS family, which has more than 1,000 installations. The 3.2m-wide M3h has a top resolution of 2,400dpi, prints at 290sqm/hr and can print CMYK plus white and clear for embellishments.

“It’s really a super-flexible printer. It can help customers lower their costs by running more efficiently,” Hanulec said.

Also new at the show is the EFI Pro 30f+ flatbed LED printer, which can handle media up to 10cm thick. Two other new Vuteks, the Q3h XP hybrid and X3r – its fastest roll-to-roll printer – are also being shown.

Single-pass inkjet and textile printing are highlighted in the industrial packaging and EcoTerra kiosks on its booth (3.2-A20).

EFI expects to commercialise its water-based inks for the Nozomi by the end of the year, and is also making progress with its Packsize X5 Nozomi right-sized packaging joint venture. Three installations are running as part of the test phase, and the system is “getting much closer to commercialisation”.

Market demand has also resulted in the development of flat box version that is in alpha development and set to be a product next year.