Barberan and Fujifilm have unveiled the next milestone in their strategic single-pass technology partnership, introducing a fully digital print solution to the Nautilus system, complete with an integrated digital varnish capability. The latest development was previewed during a successful open day held at Barberan in May 2026, marking another significant step forward in redefining the possibilities of high-speed inkjet production.
Addressing the Challenges of Single-Pass Printing
Single-pass productivity has long been embedded in Barberan’s DNA, with the company leading the market in corrugated printing where quality and throughput go hand in hand. However, bringing single-pass technology into the graphics market presented two significant challenges:
- Supporting shorter production runs across a much broader range of media.
- Overcoming the high-gloss finish traditionally associated with single-pass UV printing.
Conventional solutions typically rely on analogue primers and matt varnishes, adding complexity, increasing make-ready times, and raising consumable costs. More importantly, these approaches can restrict printing on thinner and more flexible substrates such as paper.
For Barberan and Fujifilm—two companies driven by innovation—the solution needed to be entirely digital.
A New Generation of UV Ink Technology
Working closely together, the chemistry specialists at Fujifilm Ink, based in Broadstairs, UK, developed a new suite of UV inks engineered to deliver exceptional print quality and outstanding substrate adhesion. This innovation significantly reduces, and in many cases eliminates, the need for analogue primers.
The result is a major advancement in ink technology, providing greater media flexibility and enabling printing on thinner paper substrates than many existing single-pass platforms can currently accommodate.
Digital Varnish for Single-Pass Production
The next challenge centred on achieving the desired surface finish. While digital varnishes are well established in multi-pass applications, adapting this capability for single-pass production required an entirely new level of technical precision.
Through close collaboration with customers and a clear understanding of market requirements, Fujifilm Ink successfully developed a fully integrated digital varnish solution for single-pass UV printing, delivering an attractive satin finish.
The technology was first demonstrated publicly at FESPA 2026 in Barcelona through a series of printed displays and was later showcased to prospective customers during a dedicated open house event at Barberan.
Transforming Out-of-Home Advertising
One of the markets expected to benefit most from this innovation is out-of-home (OOH) advertising, where growing demand for localised and targeted campaigns is driving the need for flexible, high-productivity print solutions.
In environments where fully digital infrastructure is unavailable, traditional production often depends on slower multi-pass systems or analogue printing processes.
The Nautilus single-pass platform transforms this workflow by delivering:
- More than 1,400 high-quality sheets per hour
- Sheet size of 2050 × 1600 mm
- Every sheet capable of carrying unique variable content
Combined with Barberan’s innovative alignment conveyor technology, the system also enables duplex printing with an impressive registration accuracy of ±0.1 mm.
Industry Leaders Speak
Oliver Mills, Single Pass Marketing Manager, Fujifilm Ink, commented:
“We are incredibly excited by the opportunities this latest development creates for the print industry. Fujifilm and Barberan share a common philosophy of pushing the boundaries of digital print through innovation. By introducing a fully integrated digital varnish capability for single-pass UV printing, we are unlocking new levels of productivity, media flexibility and creative freedom for our customers, paving the way for the next generation of high-speed digital production.”
Eladio Lerga, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Barberan, added:
“The Nautilus stands alone in its technological advancements, unmatched by any other company worldwide. Its exceptional performance, combined with an innovative ink set capable of achieving outstanding print quality across numerous substrates and its production speed of more than 4,000 m²/hour, allows it to compete with—even surpass—offset printing in large-format applications.”
Lerga further emphasised that Barberan and Fujifilm unmistakably demonstrated “what’s next” for the single-pass industry during FESPA 2026.
Driving the Future of Digital Print
Together, Barberan and Fujifilm continue to challenge the conventions of analogue production and conventional single-pass digital printing. Their latest innovation delivers fully digital workflows and opens new application possibilities for markets demanding speed, quality, versatility, and uncompromising productivity.
