Page 32 - May-June-2018

32
Ronald van den Broek
General Manager Sales at Mimaki Europe
Mimaki is a leading manufacturer of wide-format
inkjet printers and cutting machines for the
sign/graphics, industrial and textile/apparel markets.
Mimaki develops the complete product range for
each group; hardware, software and the associated
consumable items, such as inks and cutting blades.
At Fespa 2018 Berlin, Mimaki demonstrated a wide
range of new textile solutions, including the
Tiger-1800B MkII, Mimaki Vision Jet-X, and the
Rimslow Series pre- and post-treatment machines,
which make up the complete, end-to-end digital
textile and apparel printing ecosystem the company Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkII
will offer. In addition, Mimaki also announced its first
development in the Internet of Things (IoT) for textile
production.
Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkII
Mimaki announced that its production-class Tiger
1800B digital textile printer family has been enhanced
with new features and capabilities as the company
continues to drive higher quality in digital textile
printing. The Tiger 1800B MkII, which was debuted at
FESPA offers an additional high-quality mode at 1200
dpi and several enhancements to improve quality,
including reduction of banding and other printing Mimaki Tx300P-1800B
defects.
May/June 2018
“Currently, businesses wishing
to participate in the digital textile
printing revolution must
purchase printers and pre- and
post-treatment solutions from
different manufacturers. Not
only is this inconvenient, but
there can be implementation
issues with no single source of
responsibility to resolve them.
Following our acquisition of
Australian company Rimslow last
year, Mimaki now has all the
necessary components in place,
including pre-treatment of
fabrics, digital printing, and
steaming and washing post-print
with the Rimslow Series.”
Ronald van den Broek
General Manager Sales at
Mimaki Europe
33
“The conventional-to-digital transformation continues transfer paper; and drying and winding or pleating Internet of Things (IoT) for Textiles and Apparel (TA)
to heat up in textiles and apparel, and Mimaki, an options for printed fabrics. Adding another layer to speed processing and to
early mover in this space, is dedicated to bringing reduce errors, Mimaki also announced its first
affordable, industry-leading solutions to this Mimaki Vision Jet-X development in the Internet of Things (IoT) for Textiles
At FESPA 2018, Tiger-1800B MkII was shown in
segment,” said Bert Benckhuysen, Product Manager combination with the jumbo roll of Mimaki Vision and Apparel (TA). Named Mimaki Job Controller TA,
EMEA at Mimaki Europe. “The Tiger 1800B MkII
the new development includes functions to provide
printers, available in two models for direct to textile Jet-X sublimation transfer paper. Available in 1620 production condition management, barcode
and heat transfer sublimation, are just another and 1830 mm widths, the Mimaki Vision Jet-X is scanning, and visibility into the production database.
example of this strategy in action. And our strategy lightweight (57g/m2), but suitable for producing Together with Mimaki’s range of textile machines,
goes beyond simply providing outstanding printers – almost everything from sports apparel, flags and these components comprise a complete digital textile
especially in an emerging market such as this, it is banners requiring a high density of ink deposition to printing ecosystem that makes entry into digital textile
fashion and home fabrics with less ink coverage. It
critical to be a Total Solutions Provider. To that end, yields stable paper feeding and printing, preventing printing a virtually risk-free venture.
we are also making available a new range of
An important factor in controlling the quality of the
pre-treatment and post-treatment machines, and we shrinkage and mis-registration of paper. finished product is the ability to control the
are working towards the development of Internet of production process and ensure consistency from one
Things for Textiles and Apparel market.” “We shared with the visitors at Fespa how easy and run to the next. With the new development in Mimaki
profitable entry into the digital textile printing market IoT for the TA Market, this is accomplished with three
can be, both for those new to textiles and those important components:
wishing to add digital printing as a complement to
existing traditional textile printing methodologies,” • Production Condition Management, designed to
Benckhuysen added. “As always, our experts were on record production condition data and manage
hand to answer questions and to learn more about production conditions that can change depending on
our visitors’ businesses and requirements to guide the type of textiles, inks and final products being
future development.” produced. This data can be used to ensure
• In the washing step, leftover ink and treatment consistency when repeating jobs and to simplify the
Mimaki Digital Textile and Apparel Ecosystem agent are removed from the fabric, and making it ability to use multiple printing units in parallel to
Printing textiles with digital inkjet technologies ready for the next steps in manufacturing and/or increase printing throughput and ensure efficient
typically requires four discrete steps: distribution. The Mimaki TR600-1850W Washer is workload distribution.
Tiger-1800B MkII Close-up • Pre-treatment of fabrics prior to printing is required
to ensure optimum interaction between the ink and used during this step.
the fabric and to prevent ink bleeding. By using the • Production Condition Barcodes can be used to call
At Fespa show, the Tiger-1800B MkII was definitely Mimaki TR300-1850C Pre-Treatment Unit, businesses the production condition management data from the
one of the high points. can bring the pre-treatment in-house, reducing costs, production database to set up a job automatically.
• The Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkII prints at up to 385 This speeds job set-up, reduces human error, and
square meters per hour and can cover a wide shortening production cycles, and gaining increased makes it easier for even less experienced operators
production range, from sample making to small to control over the entire process. to deliver quality printed textiles.
medium print runs. An additional 1200 dpi print mode
is available for enhanced print quality. • Visibility into the production database provides
management with relevant information, including
• A set of Mimaki’s unique Core Technologies has actual production numbers, production staff involved
also been added to the machine. Mimaki Advanced in the process, production time and failure rates, in
Pass System (MAPS) minimizes banding and colour addition to production conditions. This provides
shifting by spreading the edge of the pass, making management with real-time data for better
the boundary area a gradation, resulting in a With the announcement of the Rimslow Series, decision-making and continuous improvement
smoother printed image. Mimaki’s proven Nozzle Mimaki’s new range of textile pre- and post-treatment efforts, including cost/profit calculations and better
Checking Unit (NCU) and Nozzle Recovery System machines, the company can now offer a complete production planning.
(NRS) are also incorporated in these new printers, TR300-18500C - Coating Machine system, end-to-end digital textile and apparel print
enabling continuous high quality printing even if • Direct inkjet printing of textiles is accomplished ecosystem. What does this mean for end users? The “With the launch of the Mimaki Digital Textile and
nozzle errors occur. using a Mimaki textile printer such as the new Tiger ability to acquire a complete system from a single Apparel Ecosystem, and following our joint venture
1800B MkII production-class digital textile printer, supplier provides them with a convenient, with Bompan in Italy, we are working towards the
• Mimaki is also making available an extensive which was on display at FESPA. time-efficient and affordable way to enter the digital realisation of bringing a Total Solutions Approach to
line-up of optional devices to meet just about every textile print market, or to add digital printing to the the digital production of textiles and apparel,” van
fabric and transfer paper printing need. This includes • Steaming of the printed fabric is required to fix the mix to complement their existing conventional textile den Broek added. “We are excited to hear feedback
a feeding unit for roll media equipped with a ink on the fabric. This is accomplished with the Mimaki print processes. from FESPA visitors who had a first opportunity to
centering device and tension bar; a jumbo roll unit to see our textile production line in action.”
enable printing of long-length roll fabric or heat TR300-1850S or the Mimaki TR600-1850S Steamer.
May/June 2018