It’s all systems go for Fujifilm UK as its much-anticipated range of toner-based digital presses are now officially available in this market.

Fujifilm announced the Revoria in the summer of 2021, and the products were subsequently launched into a number of European markets. Contractual agreements with former joint venture partner Xerox meant the presses could not be sold in the UK until now. 

Former Canon national sales manager for professional print Spencer Green has joined Fujifilm as head of POD to spearhead the new offering. 

Green told Printweek it was a unique opportunity, and he was excited about the future.

“This is the launch of not just a brand, but a business and it’s not often you get a chance to be an integral part of a new business for such a large organisation,” he said.

“I’ve got really big ambitions for POD, in five years’ time I’d like to see this be a £10m business.”

Green said there had been “an extremely positive response” to the new range in the other European markets, and he expected the same thing in the UK. 

“People have been doing their research, they normally do their research way before they actually go to buy a device. I believe there’s a lot of pent-up demand in the UK for these products. There’s a lot of excitement in the market.”
The Fujifilm Revoria Press PC1120 is a 2,400x2,400dpi single-pass toner-based device that can print in up to six colours – CMYK plus a choice of clear, gold, silver, white and pink, with the option for undercoat and top coat. It also includes AI and automation technology, and has extensive inline finishing options. 

Print speed is 120ppm for A4, and 60ppm for A3. The long sheet option is 330x1,200mm

The family of devices includes the monochrome Revoria Press E1136, E1125 and E1100 models, printing at up to 136ppm. 

Also new is the ApeosPro range of multifunction print and scan devices, with speeds from 65ppm – 81ppm. ApeosPro handles paper sizes from 100x148m to 330x1,300mm and from 52gsm-350gsm in weight. Fujifilm is pitching the ApeosPro as an ideal option for quick turnaround production print, and for use by creative teams for work such as mock-ups. 

Green said that USPs for the range included AI image enhancement, the low-energy LED printhead on the ApeosPro, and the colour gamut of the Revoria Press PC1120. 

“Because we’ve added vibrant pink toner to the mix it’s really given us the ability to push the boundaries with colour gamut, so we’re hitting some of those colours that people find it really hard to reproduce. I believe that will open up a lot of applications – you’ve got to see it to believe it!”

Pricing will depend on configuration, but starts at around £25,000 for the monochrome Revoria E1136, around £28,000 for the ApeosPro C series, and for a six-colour Revoria Press PC1120 around £150,000. 

The devices can be driven by Fujifilm’s own frontend, or by Fiery. 

Green reports to Fujifilm UK division manager Andy Kent, and will be supported by Martin Fairweather, national digital business development manager. 

He said he expected to grow the POD team while also taking advantage of Fujifilm’s established market presence across the offset and wide-format markets.

Mark Lawn, who joined Fujifilm as head of POD Solutions at Fujifilm Graphic Communications Europe in January 2022, commented: “After long anticipation, we’re excited to be bringing the Revoria brand to the UK.

“Customers across Europe are already enjoying the benefits of these versatile, high quality presses with their huge potential for creative applications and I am excited to see this continue across the UK.”

Lawn also said he was delighted about Green’s appointment: “From my experience working with him in previous roles, I am confident that he will bring a host of creativity and energy to the role – as well as a willingness to try new things.”

The new presses are available to order immediately with a likely lead time of up to six weeks. Fujifilm UK is also planning to set up a new Customer Innovation Centre in the coming months which will house a demo centre. 

Green added: "We're saying to customers, if you think you know us now, take a fresh look at Fujifilm. We've been in the production market for many years and in fact we've been a pioneer in this market.

"We want to reset people's expectations and let them really discover the difference, through a number of events we'll be running later this year."

Fujifilm also previewed a B2 version of the Revoria at last year's IGAS show in Japan, which is likely to be one of the star exhibits for Fujifilm at Drupa next year. 

The presses were also launched into the French market at the same time as the UK.