Image: digital varnish ‘gecko’ over yellow ink, printed onto blueback paper.
In printing, single-pass refers to the printhead remaining stationary across the full width of the media, and the material passes underneath it just once to receive the complete image. Unlike multi-pass printers, where a smaller printhead moves back and forth over the same area several times to build up the image, single-pass printers apply all colours in a single movement.
The key benefits of a single-pass system is that much higher speeds can be achieved, making it ideal for high-volume production on projects. A consistent print quality is achieved with single-pass technology, and with an “all-in-one-go” production process, greater productivity and less downtime is usually achieved. Using painting as an analogy, think multi-pass is like painting a wall with a small roller, going over the same area several times, and then in comparison single-pass is like using a roller as wide as the wall and covering it in one smooth pass.
Historically, the trade-off in using single-pass systems meant there was often a requirement to use analogue primers or varnishes and solutions were less flexible with different media. The Barberan-Fujifilm announcement is significant because it introduces an end-to-end digital workflow, including digital varnish, which reduces complexity while allowing printing on a wider range of substrates. Fujifilm solutions can now can print onto a wide range of media from paper to corrugated board through to PVC’s and polyprop.
Barberan and Fujifilm
Barberán S.A. is a Spanish engineering company based in Barcelona. It designs and manufactures industrial machinery for coating, printing, laminating, drying and finishing. Barberán has been developing single-pass technology for more than a decade and has installed over 120 industrial digital printers worldwide.
Next-Gen Nautilus
Nautilus is Barberán’s latest-generation single-pass digital printing platform, developed in partnership with Fujifilm for the sign, display and graphics markets. It was first showcased in May 2026.
Key features include:
- Single-pass UV inkjet printing for industrial-speed production.
- Multi-substrate capability, allowing printing on paper, boards, plastics and other rigid or flexible media.
- A fully modular design, enabling different feeding, automation and finishing configurations.
- Zero or reduced primer requirements due to Fujifilm-developed UV inks.
- An integrated digital varnish capability, eliminating the need for analogue varnishing processes.
- Advanced automation, including artificial vision inspection, automatic print optimisation and real-time defect detection.
The Nautilus platform is designed to bridge the gap between the speed of traditional industrial printing and the flexibility of digital printing. It can produce more than 1,400 sheets per hour (2050 × 1600 mm) with every sheet carrying different artwork, making it particularly attractive for POS (point of sale) and retail graphics, Out-of-home (OOH) advertising and packaging.
Eladio Lerga, CTO at Barberan, remarked:
“The Nautilus stands alone in its technological advancements, unmatched by any other company worldwide. Its exceptional performance with an innovative ink set capable of achieving outstanding print quality across numerous substrates, and its high output of more than 4000m2/ hr allows it to rival, even offset printing in large formats.”
Relacing Conventional Methods
Conventional solutions rely on analogue primers and matt varnishes, adding complexity, longer make-ready times and increased consumable costs. Such approaches can limit the ability to print onto thinner and more flexible substrates such as paper.
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 broad substrate adhesion, reducing and in many cases eliminating the need for analogue primers. The result is a significant advancement in ink technology, extending media flexibility and enabling printing onto thinner papers than many existing single-pass platforms can currently achieve.
Adapting digital varnish for single-pass printing required a new level of precision. Through close collaboration with customers, Fujifilm Ink successfully developed a fully integrated digital varnish solution for single-pass UV printing, which boasts a satin finish. The technology was demonstrated publicly at FESPA 2026.
OOH Advertising to Benefit
One market set to benefit significantly is out-of-home advertising, where increasing demand for localised and targeted campaigns is driving the need for flexible, high-productivity print solutions. Where a fully digital infrastructure is not available, traditional alternatives often rely on slower multi-pass systems or printing with an analogue process. The Nautilus single-pass platform changes this dynamic, delivering more than 1,400 high-quality 2050 x 1600 mm sheets per hour, with every sheet capable of carrying unique content. Combined with Barberan’s innovative alignment conveyor technology, duplex printing can be achieved with registration accuracy of ±0.1 mm.
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.”
