Durst’s P5 SMP™ (Super Multi-Pass) system is a hybrid UV-LED Multi-Pass Inkjet system with the versatility and production speeds to serve high-volume producers of signs, corrugated packaging and displays, and decor materials. The printer was announced at drupa 2024 and officially launched at a November 2025 event at its production site in Lienz, Austria.
With a maximum print width of 3.5 meters (137 in.), the SMP is designed for board and roll printing. Because of its flexibility, compact footprint, and high-speed production capabilities, the Durst SMP offers a compelling alternative to high-speed sheet-fed single-pass wide-format inkjet printers.
Based on Durst’s proven P5 platform, the SMP is engineered to print up to 5 million square meters of materials per year (more than 53 million sq. ft./yr.)
At the launch event, Durst employees demonstrated how the P5 SMP’s precision, automation, and workflow integration can produce such high volumes of graphics with high print quality.
Christoph Gamper, CEO and co-owner of the Durst Group explained that Durst partnered with ARIAN GmbH, a global full-service provider of retail displays for seasonal POS (point-of-sale) campaigns and product launches. He said the field test enabled Durst to fully exploit the potential of the P5 SMP in a real production environment. Durst used the test feedback to prepare the P5 SMP for sale to Durst’s global customer base.
Robert Posch, Chief Production Officer at ARIAN, said he was impressed with the flexibility and reliability of the P5 SMP. “We have tested over 200 materials in various formats on the P5 SMP. The short set-up times and high level of automation help us manage this material mix.”
Posch added that, “With the P5 SMP, we have also expanded our production capacities and can respond to customer requests much faster — a decisive success factor in today’s sales environment.”
Features
Designed for maximum uptime, flexibility, and precision, the P5 SMP is capable of speeds up to 1940 sq. m./hr. (20,882 sq. ft./hr.). This equates to about 340 boards per hour in a 3.2 x 1.6 meter (126 x 63 in.) format.
The printer can handle boards of sign, display, corrugated, or decor materials up to 70 mm (2.75 in.) thick.
The P5 SMP uses 10 color channels and 30 printheads per channel. The 10 colors can be used to extend the color gamut with orange and violet inks, use light colors for smoother gradients, or apply white as a base for overprinting.
The inks are cured using energy-efficient LED technology that requires only 35 kWh.
Print quality can be adjusted through resolution levels of 700 x 1200 dpi and 900 x 1200 dpi.
The Digital Substrate Alignment (DSA) system provides digital image registration with an accuracy of ±0.25 mm. This feature is particularly valuable for double-sided printing, ensuring perfect front-to-back alignment and accurate registration for guillotine and die-cut processes.
Automation and Software
“To unlock the full potential of the P5 SMP, automation is essential,” explained Andrea Riccardi, Durst Director of Product Management, Graphics & Textile. “Durst offers comprehensive automation solutions — from feeders with buffering to alignment tables and stackers that enable unattended operation throughout an entire shift.”
Although the Durst P5 SMP is a high-production device for large-format graphics, it has a relatively compact footprint. Even in the fully automated version, the P5 SMP requires only about 160 square meters. (about 1722 sq. ft.)
In the Lienz Demo Center, visitors observed how quickly the P5 SMP could switch from one material to another.
To continuously enhance production efficiency, the P5 SMP is delivered with Durst Workflow and Durst Analytics software packages. Durst Workflow automates prepress and production tasks and optimizes processes to reduce costs, errors and waste. Durst Analytics monitors printer performance and availability in real time. During unattended print runs, it notifies production managers of issues that should be immediately resolved to avoid downtime.
“The response from both existing and potential customers to the P5 SMP has been overwhelming. We recorded additional sales during the event itself.” said Gamper. “The P5 SMP is a true game changer, elevating productivity and efficiency in digital large-format printing to a new level.”
For more information, visit Durst P5 SMP™ – The super multi-pass