Seiko Epson Corporation has introduced CONTOURJET, a new brand for its Direct-To-Shape Printing System designed to print graphics directly onto three-dimensional objects. The company announced the system on September 16, 2026, targeting applications where conventional flat-surface printing is not suitable.
The technology combines Epson’s PrecisionCore S800 printhead with an industrial six-axis robot and proprietary trajectory-control and image-processing systems. This configuration allows printing on curved, uneven and irregular surfaces, including objects with grooves and other complex geometries.
Epson said CONTOURJET is being developed for areas such as sports equipment, automotive parts and industrial products. The S800 printhead provides printing at 600 dpi × 600 dpi, while the robotic system can change printing orientations to accommodate different three-dimensional shapes. Epson-developed robots with linear motor drives and higher payload capacity are designed to handle larger and longer workpieces.
The system also introduces changes to the production process compared with conventional analog printing. Digital inkjet printing applies ink only where required, which Epson says can reduce material consumption and waste. The absence of printing plates and special materials also allows the system to be used for shorter production runs and customised applications.
CONTOURJET supports multicolour printing, including white and clear varnish inks, and can produce effects ranging from base layers to textured finishes. A front-access design is intended to simplify maintenance, including printhead replacement.
Epson is working with partner companies on inks and operating methods suited to different substrates and applications. Research and testing are being conducted at the company’s Inkjet Innovation Lab Fujimi in Nagano, Japan, while its Experience Center in Neuss, Germany, provides European customers with facilities to evaluate test prints on their own materials.
The company also demonstrated CONTOURJET at PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas from September 23 to 25, using samples produced with the system.
source:Epson Launches the “CONTOURJET” Brand to Strengthen Direct-to-Shape Printing Solutions (September 16, 2026) | News | Epson
