Page 41 - February-March-2017

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Mimaki announces unique hybrid

printer for flexible textile printing

One printer, two inks: enabling fast, efficient print on cotton, hemp,
polyester and more, at an entry-level cost and with a compact footprint
Mimaki, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet workshops, and educational and research institutions.
printers and cutting systems, announced that its
Tx300P-1800 and Tx300P-1800B direct-to-textile “We are very excited about this breakthrough,” van
printers have been updated to simultaneously load den Broek added. “We understand the need for an
both textile pigment and sublimation dye inks. This affordable printer with a compact footprint for these
enables the use of a single printer to print directly on a users, and we moved swiftly to address this need with
wide range of textiles without the need to change out a very unique approach. As digital textile printing
ink systems. This new technology, that wasn’t possible continues to gain traction, placing these printers in
until now, is a breakthrough that will improve design and educational environments will help
productivity and increase flexibility for these Mimaki educate more people about the possibilities presented
textile printers. by on-demand printing of textiles and spur further
demand for digitally printed textiles.”
“Recently, in the textile and apparel markets, quick
deliveries and short, customised production are The Details
becoming increasingly important. This new system is • With textile pigment ink TP400, large post-treatment
specifically designed to address this need for equipment is not required. These inks, which consist of
cost-effective short run printing of textiles for products solvent, pigment and binder agent, are fixed through heat
or samples,” said Ronald van den Broek, General without impairing the breathability and water absorbency
Manager Sales of Mimaki Europe. “It means that of the fabric. The result is beautiful printing on cotton and
producers can switch fabric types quickly and easily, hemp materials and is recommended for interior fabrics,
selecting the appropriate ink system for each fabric. T-shirts and various other apparel applications.
And these inks do not require usage of water or • Sublimation dye ink Sb420 is specifically designed
steaming in the post-treatment process, making them for use with pre-treated fabrics, especially polyester.
environmentally sustainable as well.” The colour is fixed using heat after printing. Printing on
polyester with these inks delivers excellent colour
Mimaki offers five different ink types for textile printing, accuracy and reproducibility.
including sublimation dye ink, dispersion dye ink, • The Tx300P-1800 printer can print directly onto
textile pigment ink, reactive dye ink and acid dye ink. In almost any type of natural or man-made fabric and is
the normal course of operation, one ink per printer ideally suited for thick and woven textiles. Its
must be selected. But now textile producers will be combination of an affordable price, speed and high
able to use the two most popular ink types in one quality make it perfect for producing short runs or
single printer. The Tx300P-1800 and Tx300P-1800B samples of customised and other designs.
direct-to-textile printers will be able to simultaneously • The Tx300P-1800B printer uses an innovative
load TP400 textile pigment ink for cotton and hemp automated belt-fed conveyance system that is particularly
materials as well as Sb420 sublimation dye ink for effective when printing on modern stretchable materials.
polyester material. Since neither ink type generally It prints to a broad range of natural and man-made
requires steaming or washing in the post-treatment fabrics and is ideal for the production of fashion, clothing
process, there is no need for a large space, a huge and soft furnishing materials.
quantity of water, or special expertise in handling the
printed fabric. All that is required is the printer and The hybrid ink system for the Tx300P-1800 and
colour fixing equipment, making these entry-level Tx300P-1800B direct-to-textile printers will be
printers suitable for use by designers, fabric commercially available in the summer of 2017.