Week 18 closed with the industry's gaze fixed on Barcelona—not because FESPA had started, but because every major vendor was positioning hardware, workflow platforms, and process changes ahead of it. Powder made it onto the discard pile in DTF, a new UV hybrid filled the mid-range gap, and the DFE layer got its first AI-assisted workflow platform of the cycle. The signal wasn't new product volume; it was strategic placement before the industry's biggest European audience.
📢 This Week in Wide Format Brief
Polyprint announced a Powder-Free DTF solution using DuPont Artistri jettable liquid adhesive ahead of FESPA 2026
Agfa confirmed the European premiere of its Jeti Bronco H3300 HS hybrid UV printer at FESPA Barcelona
MUTOH Europe launched the XpertJet 1681SR Pro 64" eco-solvent printer with new 8-colour MS51 ink set
Fiery released the FS700 Pro DFE platform with AI-assisted workflow tools and a Linux-based security layer
Sihl previewed its FESPA media lineup including PVC-free roll-up films, backlit films, and repositionable wallpaper
📰 Top 5 Headlines This Week
Polyprint Takes Powder Out of the DTF Equation with Jettable Adhesive
Summary:
Polyprint announced it will unveil a Powder-Free DTF solution at FESPA 2026, using DuPont Artistri JA1100 jettable liquid adhesive to replace manual powder application entirely. The company also previewed the Filmjet Mini all-in-one DTF system in two widths and the Texjet Mini 8-colour DTG printer at the same Barcelona showcase.
Industry takeaways:
Jettable liquid adhesive replaces powder shaking — the most operationally inconsistent step in the DTF workflow, removing airborne contamination and coverage variation simultaneously
Digital adhesive application enables precise placement per design, which could tighten wash durability consistency across different garment types
DuPont Artistri JA1100 already holds OEKO-TEX ECO PASSPORT certification and ZDHC Gateway approval, positioning compliance-ready for regulated markets out of the gate
Why It Matters:
DTF scaled fast because the process was accessible — but powder handling stayed manual and messy. Shops running high volumes know the problem: inconsistent coverage, powder contamination, curing variation. A digitally jetted adhesive removes the variable operators have managed through experience rather than system design. This is announced-at-FESPA technology, not yet shipping product — but the direction is unambiguous.
Agfa Debuts Jeti Bronco H3300 HS in Europe — 450 m²/h Hybrid UV Fills the Mid-Range Gap
Summary:
Agfa confirmed the European show debut of the Jeti Bronco H3300 HS at FESPA 2026 in Barcelona. The 3.3m wide hybrid UV LED printer is rated to 450 m²/h and carries a CMYKcmk + white ink set supporting rigid, flexible, and corrugated substrates. It fills the gap between Agfa's Ciervo (200 m²/h) and Tauro (1,300 m²/h) in the hybrid portfolio.
Industry takeaways:
At 450 m²/h, the Bronco targets shops that have outgrown entry flatbeds but don't need Tauro-class throughput — a gap that previously forced an expensive jump
Corrugated compatibility alongside textiles, vinyl, and banner media gives the platform unusual application breadth for a hybrid in this price class
LED curing provides running cost and media compatibility advantages over mercury lamp alternatives at comparable speeds
Why It Matters:
The gap between entry hybrid and high-production hybrid has always been a buying cliff for growing sign shops. A machine at 450 m²/h that handles corrugated, textiles, banners, and films from one bed changes the capital decision for shops scaling from specialty work into volume. Application breadth at this throughput level is where the investment justification gets easier.
MUTOH XpertJet 1681SR Pro Launches in Europe with 8-Colour Gamut Expansion
Summary:
MUTOH Europe launched the XpertJet 1681SR Pro, a 64" eco-solvent roll-to-roll printer using the MS51 8-colour ink set — CMYK + Light Cyan + Light Magenta + Orange + Red. The printer delivers up to 17 m²/h, carries UL GREENGUARD Gold certification alongside AgBB, A+, and BREEAM references, uses GBL-free ink with no CLP/GHS hazard pictograms, and bundles ONYX RIPCenter software.
Industry takeaways:
Orange and Red channels target brand colour reproduction and warm gamut accuracy — reducing profile workarounds for retail graphics and vehicle wrap applications where standard CMYK consistently falls short
GBL-free formulation with no CLP/GHS hazard pictograms reduces compliance overhead for EU workshops operating under tightening VOC and chemical exposure rules
Automation suite (DropMaster 2, FEED MASTER, Nozzle Area Select) and front-access ink system target reduced operator intervention across long production runs
Why It Matters:
Eco-solvent shops running brand-critical work have managed warm gamut limitations with profiles and reruns. The MS51 eight-channel approach addresses the problem at the ink level, not the workaround level. For vehicle wrap and retail display producers, fewer rejected jobs and tighter brand matching translates directly into reduced reprint costs and faster client sign-off.
Fiery FS700 Pro Adds AI-Assisted Workflows and Linux Security to Production DFEs
Summary:
Fiery launched the FS700 Pro DFE platform, introducing AI-assisted job intake tools including Fiery JobFlow Pro and Fiery Scribe, faster installations designed to reduce downtime, and standards-based data protection. The platform also powers the new Fiery LX Pro — a Linux-based hardware DFE for high-security environments. Konica Minolta announced as the first manufacturer to deploy FS700 Pro for AccurioPress customers.
Industry takeaways:
AI-assisted job intake and automated workflow tools target manual prep overhead that compounds across high-volume production floors, reducing per-job setup time without operator retraining
Linux-based Fiery LX Pro addresses regulated-environment customers — government, legal, healthcare print — where data security is a procurement gate, not a feature preference
Multi-manufacturer deployment across 2026 means FS700 Pro will influence buying decisions beyond Konica Minolta's installed base
Why It Matters:
DFE platforms are invisible until they slow production down. FS700 Pro's uptime focus and automated workflow tools address the daily friction that adds up across hundreds of jobs. For shops evaluating next-generation press investments, the DFE layer now carries as much weight in the buying decision as the engine itself — particularly where security and AI-ready automation are client requirements.
Sihl Brings PVC-Free Media Portfolio Refresh to FESPA 2026
Summary:
Sihl previewed its FESPA 2026 media lineup, introducing SyntiSOL Roll-Up Films (3398/3399) in PVC-free construction, SyntiSOL PP Film (3395) for display and POS applications, new Backlit Films Plus for light box environments, WallGrafX Plus repositionable wall fabric with B1 fire safety certification, and EasyMount PET silicone-adhesive clear films for glass surfaces.
Industry takeaways:
PVC-free constructions across roll-up and PP film lines address retailer and exhibit specifier sustainability requirements without requiring output quality trade-offs
WallGrafX Plus B1 fire rating enables public-space deployment where standard vinyl fails compliance checks — a growing requirement in EU hospitality and event contracts
EasyMount PET silicone adhesive films offer repositionability on glass and stainless steel for retail temporary signage with zero damage risk
Why It Matters:
Media buying decisions are increasingly specification-driven rather than quality-driven alone. Shops servicing retail, hospitality, or public-sector clients need fire rating documentation and VOC compliance by default. Sihl's move toward PVC-free where possible and certified where required tracks where specifiers are already writing their briefs.
🎯 This Week's Strategic Takeaway
Week 18 confirmed a consistent pattern heading into FESPA: the most operationally significant moves were process changes — powder-free adhesion, AI-assisted job intake, gamut expansion at the ink level — rather than headline speed claims. The vendors leading with measurable workflow improvements rather than performance numbers are positioning for the shops that buy on solved problems, not spec sheets.
❌ This Week's Noise
FESPA floor space and exhibitor count statistics circulated ahead of Barcelona as evidence of industry health. Attendance projections tell you nothing about whether a product will work in your shop — the workflow decisions made at the booth do.
📅 What's Coming Up
📅 FESPA Global Print Expo 2026 — May 19–22, 2026 | Barcelona, Spain.
The year's largest international print event, covering wide format, textile, screen printing, and digital workflow.
🔗 https://www.fespa.com/en/events/2026/fespa-global-print-expo-2026
📅 PRINTING United Expo 2026 — September 23–25, 2026 | Las Vegas, USA .
North America's largest printing industry event, spanning wide format, DTF, apparel decoration, and commercial print across the full production spectrum.
🔗 https://www.printingunited.com/
📅 The Print Show 2026 — September 29 – October 1, 2026 | Birmingham, UK.
The UK's primary print trade event, covering wide format, digital print, finishing, and workflow technology for print service providers.
🔗 https://www.theprintshow.co.uk/
📅 Viscom Italia 2026 — October 28–29, 2026 | Milan, Italy.
Southern Europe's key visual communication and signage event, with strong representation from wide format printing and display graphics.
🔗 https://www.viscomitalia.com/
🧠 Smarter Every Week
Before walking any FESPA booth, define your one operational problem first — powder consistency, warm gamut accuracy, job intake time, or media compliance. Every vendor will have a solution to something; knowing your actual constraint before the conversation starts makes it shorter, cheaper, and more honest.
Thanks for tuning into this week's Wide Format Brief. FESPA week starts Monday — I'll be tracking what actually ships versus what gets announced. Until next time — keep printing.