2026 tech round up: What did the big players bring to the table?

It’s been an exciting time for manufacturers and their influx of machinery throughout the year. To help PSPs understand what is out there, assistant editor Ana Lambert has collated the latest releases in this technological round-up.

January

The year started well as the industry saw two well-known manufacturers release new machinery.

Mimaki released its TS330-1800, designed to cater to the textile applications market.

A new addition to the TS330 series, it is equipped with a larger print width of 1,940mm to work with a broader array of projects within the fashion, sportswear, textile signage and home décor.

All hardware in this range is now compatible with Sb411 inks in orange, violet, fluorescent pink and fluorescent yellow, enhancing colour flexibility and control.

Moreover, Mutoh also unveiled the XpertJet 1641SR Pro II, its new 64in/1625mm eco solvent printer.

It combines Mutoh’s latest AccuFine HD Pro print head with the i-Screen EX System and uses MS51 inks, delivering productivity of up to 17.6m sq/hr.

The AccuFine HD Pro print head features eight nozzle rows with pairing to improve ink landing accuracy, combined with Mutoh’s new i-Screen EX print control system, supporting smoother gradations, improved colour uniformity, and detail reproduction.

Mutoh’s Wide Color Choice input profile expands the achievable colour gamut, which is suitable for high-impact graphics, car wraps, and retail signage.

April

After taking a reprieve in February and March, Mimaki announced more releases with its UJV200 Series, a UV roll-to-roll printer featuring two configurations: the UJV200-160 and the UJV200-130.

Powered by a print engine derived from Mimaki’s flagship 330 Series, the printers deliver smooth gradients, sharp text and uniform solid colours with minimal graininess.

Leveraging UV technology, the UJV200 utilises instant and low-temperature ink curing, allowing prints to be handled, finished and installed immediately after production.

Roland DG also released new machinery with the large-format UV flatbed EU2-1000MF printer designed for the sign and display businesses.

The printer enables direct to board printing, removing several traditional steps such as printing, laminating and mounting.

It can handle media 1,220×2,440mm and a thickness of up to 95mm, and it is built for rigid media applications.

The printer forms part of a wider ecosystem, including RIP software, inks and service support to provide an end-to-end production solution for rigid board work.

May

May saw the introduction of three new pieces of machinery.

Mutoh’s XpertJet 1681SR Pro, a next-generation 64in eco solvent roll-to-roll printer developed for professional sign and display production.

At its heart is the AccuFine HD Pro print head, which is engineered for accurate droplet placement and detailed image reproduction, along with a print speed of up to 17m sq/hr, a three-way heater system.

Epson also launched its new SureColor SC-F20000, a new industrial dye sublimation printer designed to help print service providers and sportswear producers.

The SC-F20000 is Epson’s first dye sublimation model equipped with eight PrecisionCore MicroTFP print heads, with print speeds of up to 306m sq/hr in fast setting and a resolution of 600x600dpi.

It also has a 10L ink capacity and Hot Swap capability, along with double-sided heating and drying and dust reduction mechanisms.

Lastly, Trotec expanded its portfolio with the launch of the E340, a professional-grade laser cutter with an attractive entry‑level price point.

The E Line provides customers with an accessible starting point while offering room to grow, and offers key technologies, including Ruby Essential, OptiMotion, smart connected electronics, and the Run on Ruby touch panel as standard.

Further capabilities such as Vision Print & Cut and Rotary Attachment allow users to expand functionality as production demands increase, alongside OptiMotion helps deliver smooth edges and clean contours.

The E340 supports a wide range of materials, including acrylics, wood, textiles, paper, cardboard, leather, plastics, and more.

September

September saw an influx of machinery from five different manufacturers, ranging from Roland DG to Agfa to Summa.

The first announcement came from Roland DG with its new TrueVis AG-640, a 64in latex printer/cutter.

It is the world’s first latex printer with integrated cutting functionality, enabling users to contour cut and print seamlessly, along with using Roland DG’s new TA-2 water-based latex inks and the latest piezo print heads.

Designed with versatility at its core, the AG-640 supports a broad range of applications, including signage and display graphics, vehicle graphics, window displays, exhibition and event visuals, and customised interior décor.

In the same month, Roland unveiled another addition, the TrueVis MG2 Series, a next-generation UV printer/cutter range comprising the MG2-640 and MG2-300.

At the heart of the MG2 Series is a newly developed print head, which allows for faster print speeds and Variable Dot Technology and True Rich Color print settings allow for improved ink placement accuracy.

The printer uses single-pass multi-layer printing, which enables up to five layers to be printed simultaneously by stacking combinations of CMYK, white and gloss inks. The printer also uses optional orange and red inks.

Joining Roland DG’s large machinery announcement, Mimaki introduced three new machines, which included the large-format UV-LED inkjet flatbed JFX220-2515 printer.

The JFX220-2515’s new four-head configuration enables dual CMYK printing and delivers production speeds of up to 42m sq/hr, alongside an expanded printable area of 2,500×1,500mm and can print on media up to 101.6m.

Trotec Laser also introduced Speedy Black Line, a workflow-driven laser production platform designed to connect job preparation, laser processing and production management.

Available in two iterations, the 360 and 480, the platform combines laser hardware, Ruby software, automation capabilities and workflow integration in a co-ordinated production environment.

The machine is designed for projects in personalisation, education, print and signage, and industrial manufacturing; the Speedy Black Line helps businesses create more efficient, scalable, and reliable production processes.

Summa was also part of the machinery haul in September with its F Series Vantage platform, with the introduction of wide-format products, the F1832, F3220 and F3232.

The new products are designed for high-volume signage, packaging, textile, and industrial applications.

The Vantage platform delivers a 200N vertical and horizontal cutting force, a 5 HP/3.7 kW router running at up to 60,000 RPM and acceleration up to 1G.

The series is further aided by a high jerk value, Heavy-Duty Roll Support (HDRS) capable of handling rolls up to 200kg, along with further automation capabilities and is powered by Summa’s GoConnect software.

The F Series Vantage offers one of the industry’s broadest tool libraries, from kiss-cutting precision tools to the strongest router in flatbed cutting.

The final release, at the time of writing, was Agfa’s newly launched Jeti Tauro H3300 HS on September 16 during a virtual launch event.

Built in response to feedback, the H3300 HS incorporates technology and operational insight from across the Tauro family into Agfa’s six-row hybrid platform.

Positioned as the entry point to the Jeti Tauro family, the H3300 HS is built on the same platform, ink system and service infrastructure as other Tauro presses.

The H3300 HS is available in four- or seven-colour configurations; the seven-colour version features a fully mirrored shuttle configuration, while the printer also highlights a redesigned media-guide system which allows for easy loading.

The Tauro H3300 HS is compatible with Agfa’s wider Tauro automation ecosystem.

What’s next?

We are in the final stretch of the year, but there is still scope for innovation. As we look back on what has happened, it only begs the question: What more can we expect?