Ricoh has used its Fespa debut to signal its intent to become a serious player in the wide-format sector.

The firm is showing, for the first time, the latest version of its Ricoh Pro L4100 series printers running its new aqueous resin latex inks.

The six-colour plus white, roll-to-roll 4100 is an OEM version of the Mimaki JVX400 LX series, but is now fitted with the Ricoh variable drop piezo printhead technology and a new latex inkset, developed exclusively by Ricoh. The cold-cure inkset cures at 60˚C.

“In essence the new 4100 uses a Mimaki chassis, but with the heads and now the inks the technology ‘inside’ is all Ricoh,” said Benoit Chatelard, Ricoh vice-president, production printing group, EMEA.

The 1,200dpi 4100 is capable of 33m2/hr and is available in either 1,371mm or 1,620mm widths. Prices for the range start from around $26,139.

“We are very determined as part of our commercial print initiative to expand and that’s why it’s a good time to be at Fespa. There will be dramatic growth for sure, we start small but we already have big plans,” Chatelard added.

“We are very serious about wide-format and we will be a serious competitor in the near future.”