The firm, the UK arm of Portugese-headquartered Mtex Solutions, hosted the first UK showings of the Mtex 5032 HS production printer, which was launched at Fespa in Cologne, Germany in May, as well as the entry-level Mtex Blue, which was launched last year.
The predecessor to the 5032 HS, the Mtex 5032 Pro, was the third printer demonstrated at the event.
Visitors were also able to talk to digital textile industry specialists including wide-format kit reseller Atech and fabric tension frame system manufacturer Frieze Frames.
“We like events like these to not only show customers our printers but also to introduce them to how to finish a job, how to sew the textile and how to fit it to a frame. A lot of it is about educating clients about what they need to be doing,” said Mtex Technologies managing director Stewart Bell.
“It’s a bit more of a relaxed atmosphere than bigger shows where we can bring these elements together and help clients save some time by looking at different sectors in one place.”
All Mtex digital direct-to-textile printers, which are built around a Mimaki print engine, have in-built non-contact heat fixation, eliminating the need for paper transfer and a calendar.
The 3.2m-wide Mtex 5032 HS is available for £180,000. The machine, which can print at speeds of up to 120sqm/hr is more than double the speed of the 58sqm/hr 5032 Pro, which costs £145,000.
The Mtex Blue, which costs £44,950, is aimed at sign and display graphics professionals looking to enter the textiles market for the first time.
“Soft signage is continuing to grow in the UK, particularly flags, lightboxes, displays and exhibition graphics. There’s still a huge amount of interest and we don’t see that stopping any time soon,” said Bell.
“Many of the major retailers now use soft signage, often in places you wouldn’t expect it to be. They like it because it’s easy to store and it doesn’t crease.”
Mtex Solutions, which employs around 45 staff globally, has a third site in Hauppauge in the US, which opened around six months ago, as well a recently opened showroom in Sausheim, France.
Six staff work at Mtex Technologies, which opened last year. Mtex Solutions has 200 machines installed globally, 36 of which are in the UK.
