Digital varnish sample
Barberan and Fujifilm have unveiled what they describe as the industry’s first fully digital single-pass UV print solution, introducing integrated digital varnish technology to the Nautilus platform.
The development, previewed during an open day at Barberan’s facilities in May 2026, marks the latest milestone in the companies’ strategic partnership and aims to address longstanding challenges associated with high-speed single-pass production.
Developed by Fujifilm Ink’s UK-based team, the new UV ink set has been formulated to deliver strong adhesion across a wide range of substrates while reducing, and in many cases eliminating, the need for analogue primers. This enables printing onto thinner and more flexible media than is typically possible with existing single-pass UV systems.
The companies have also developed a fully integrated digital varnish capability, producing a satin finish without the need for conventional analogue coatings. The technology was first demonstrated at FESPA 2026 before being showcased to customers during the Barberan open house.
Designed for applications including out-of-home advertising, the Nautilus platform is capable of printing more than 1,400 sheets per hour (2050 x 1600 mm), with each sheet carrying unique content. Barberan says its alignment conveyor technology also enables duplex printing with registration accuracy of ±0.1 mm.
