"Printer manufacturers have been really hard at work this year, with an unprecedented number of new machines already launched and more to come soon.  Mimaki, Epson and Canon stand out and it stands to reason that sign and graphics display companies want to see these new printers to find out for themselves exactly what they are capable of and how they can generate more business and more profits.

In my opinion, the Open Days showing the broadest range of new and unique printers are the ones being held at our offices in Reading from 16th to 18th October.

Representatives from GPT and all its manufactures will be present, including Hybrid (Mimaki), Agfa, Canon, Epson, Velmex (Canon/Epson), Shiraz, Wasatch, Amari and MacTac. This means customers can gain the most detailed advice possible, directly from the people who know their products best.

We have incorporated our extensive experience and expertise to develop unique printer offerings based on Mimaki’s market leading technology. The GPT JV34 180 delivers double the print speed of a Mimaki JV33 and cannot be found anywhere else. It is a 1.8m wide printer and incorporates double print heads to deliver the additional speed.  This is what many of our customers have been asking for. It provides all the benefits of the JV33, but much faster, wider and available at incredibly good value.

We have also developed our own range of dye-sublimation printing solutions for the textile and garment printing market. The GPT TPC60, 130 and 160 machines are based on Mimaki’s award-winning integrated printer/cutter range and give customers greater choice than the Mimaki TPC-1000 that is currently the only size (1mtr) available from Mimaki.  These printer/cutters are a great way to get into the dye sublimation market as they allow customers to expand into soft signage while benefiting from using cost effective Mimaki inks and technology.

The GPT Open Days will be the first chance to see many of the new machines in the market from Mimaki, Epson and Canon under one roof. The big news is that the Mimaki JV-400 LX Latex is ready to go. GPT has recently installed the very first production site in the UK and there are more installations ready to go. We are now full steam ahead with this product and we are one of the only companies in the UK with a machine available to view at our offices. The JV-400 LX is now ready for full production and we are looking forward to people coming in to see what it can really their business and their profit line.

Also new is the Epson range of SureColor eco solvent printers, the Epson SC-S30600, SC-S50600 and SC-S70600. The GPT Open Days will be the first time the entire range will be under one roof, showing the 4, 5, 8 and 10 colour versions. These machines have no solvent smell, great print quality, good production speed, 3 year durable print output, and they are so easy to use.  From basic 4 colour right up to the top end 10 colour machines, which include white and metallic ink, the Epson SureColor range covers many bases.

GPT’s Open Days will also be the first time in the UK that visitors can see the brand new range of aqueous ink based printers from Canon. The Canon iPF8400 and iPF9400s are the fastest 44” and 60” aqueous printers on the market. The range includes 5, 8 and 12 colour versions to deliver the quality levels required. I saw these printers at the Canon launch in Germany recently and they demonstrated all the great quality we expect from the current Canon line up. They now have the exciting addition of the very latest Canon Lucia EX inks for the ultimate colour gamut, and at the fastest print speed of any aqueous printer in market today.