This week brings a wave of forward-thinking hardware, greener materials, and color automation that brings real-world efficiency to your shop floor. From new flatbeds engineered for precision, to eco-compliant UV inks and integrated color workflows—it's what you need to watch as operational excellence meets sustainability and show-season readiness.
📢 This Week in Wide Format Brief:
swissQprint launches Topi 5 and Oryx 5 flatbeds
Mutoh adds US81 UV LED inks for XpertJet 1682UR
Durst embeds GMG spectral color into its Workflow & Smart Factory
Beaver Paper highlights sustainable dye-sublimation media at PRINTING United
Epson to showcase SureColor S9100 and more at The Print Show (UK)
📰 Top 5 Headlines This Week
1) swissQprint Introduces Topi 5 & Oryx 5 Flatbeds
Summary:
swissQprint expands its Generation 5 lineup with two new flatbed models: Topi 5 (3.2×2 m, up to 126 m²/h) and Oryx 5 (2.5 m, up to 114 m²/h)—up to 26% faster than the Oryx 4 they replace, with optional roll-to-roll capability.
Key takeaways:
Targeted at small-to-medium production volumes with precision needs
Offers same Gen5 versatility with 10 configurable ink channels
Improves throughput significantly over previous models
Why It Matters:
Sweet-spot machines for shops scaling capacity—balanced speed, quality, and flexibility in a compact package.
2) Mutoh XpertJet 1682UR — Now with US81 UV Inks
Summary:
Mutoh’s UV roll-to-roll XpertJet 1682UR is now compatible with new US81 inks—available in CMYK, white, and varnish—with improved regulatory safety, operator-friendly handling, and strong print performance.
Key takeaways:
UV inks engineered for compliance with EU chemical regulations
Include white and varnish for effect and finishing options
Maintains high-speed and multi-layer printing performance
Why It Matters:
Essential for health-conscious shops or regulated environments—adds finishing flexibility while upholding eco and safety standards.
3) Durst Integrates GMG Spectral Color Management
Summary:
Durst now embeds GMG’s spectral color management into its Workflow software and Smart Factory platform—delivered at no extra cost to customers with valid support agreements. Launch aligns with the Open Software Initiative news at PRINTING United.
Key takeaways:
Ensures consistent, automated color across devices and substrates
Reinforces modular, best-of-breed software ecosystems
Accelerates cross-segment color accuracy (labels, corrugated, signs)
Why It Matters:
Opens the door to true color automation—cutting manual matching and boosting multi-line consistency.
4) Beaver Paper Showcases Sustainable Dye-Sub Media at PRINTING United
Summary:
Beaver Paper plans to highlight its eco-conscious dye-sublimation media range at PRINTING United (Booth #1261), offering sustainable TexPrint® options and free Expo registration (code 87275).
Key takeaways:
Media designed for high-quality results on textiles and hard surfaces
Focus on sustainability and recyclable formats
Opportunity to network and sample product lines at the show
Why It Matters:
A reminder that media choices are now integral to both production quality and sustainability narratives—especially relevant for décor and soft signage producers.
5) Epson to Highlight SureColor S9100 & More at The Print Show
Summary:
At The Print Show (NEC, UK, Sept 23–25), Epson will spotlight the in-demand SureColor S9100 eco-solvent printer along with UV and roll-to-roll systems (SC-V7000, V2000, G6000, R5000), reinforcing its return as a major presence.
Key takeaways:
S9100 offers compact eco-solvent performance as successor to S80600
UV solutions include 10-color, A3-capable and 4×8 ft beds
Strong positioning signals Epson’s commitment to UK markets
Why It Matters:
A must-see for UK buyers—Epson covers eco-solvent through UV with compact and powerful systems, ideal for space-conscious or diverse production shops.
🎯 This Week’s Strategic Takeaway
Focus on precision, compliance, automation, sustainability, and local availability. Think through whether you're investing in smarter machines (swissQprint), safer substrates (Mutoh), color confidence (Durst), green materials (Beaver), or regionally tuned hardware (Epson UK). Each offers a niche advantage aligned with evolving buyer expectations.
❌ This Week’s Noise
“All new UV printers are now completely maintenance-free.” Reality check: even the best systems need regular head care, calibration, and careful media handling—automation doesn’t eliminate fundamentals.
📅 What’s Coming Up
🗓️ Sign China 2025 – Sept 19–21 | Shanghai, China
Asia’s signage super-show returns—everything from LED to inkjet and textile tech under one roof.
🗓️ The Print Show 2025 – Sept 23–25 | NEC Birmingham (UK)
Epson leads the charge with new eco-solvent and UV machines, all in a space-savvy form.
🗓️ PRINTING United Expo 2025 – Oct 22–24 | Orlando, FL
Don’t miss the Open Software Initiative launch, GMG-enabled Durst workflow, and Beaver Paper’s sustainable media showcase.
🧠 Smarter Every Week
Need consistent print results on different substrate types? Run a daily spectral calibration check. It may only take 90 seconds, but stops substrate shifts from becoming job-killers.
Thanks for reading this week's Wide Format Brief—your fast track to what matters in large format. Until next time, keep pushing ink (smarter, safer, greener).