The 1.6m-wide machine has a list price of £18,999 and is available with immediate effect. It is the second in the manufacturer’s series of Texart dye-sublimation transfer printers following the RT-640, which was launched last year.
The machine has been designed especially for the production of fashion, sports clothing, interior design and soft signage after the company spotted a demand for higher volume runs of 'fast fashion'.
Roland DG said the rail and frame structure has been developed to enable highly detailed printing with precise ink droplet placement. A new Feed Adjuster at the front and back of the printer provides even tensioning and prevents skewing of the media.
The XT-640 features dual printheads to achieve high-speed performance at print speeds of up to 63sqm/hr.
The device is optimised for sublimation printing and works in combination with Roland Texart Ink which is available in either 2xCMYK or CMYK, light cyan, light magenta, orange and violet configurations, supplied in one-litre foil pouches.
In four-colour mode, the system provides two litres per colour. The Roland Ink Switching System automatically switches to the back-up ink pouch when the primary pouch runs out.
Also included with the device is an integrated post heater, a media take-up system, and the Ergosoft Roland Edition RIP software.
Division president of digital printing market development Yuko Maeda said: “In the fashion field, trend cycles are becoming shorter as seen in fast fashion and the desire for personalisation that represents individual preferences and lifestyles.
“Within these trends, there is growing demand for digital printers that can quickly provide custom one-off and small-lot production.”
She added: “in the field of sports apparel, highly functional polyester materials such as sweat-absorbing, quick-drying and dry-touch features have become popular.
“There is increasing focus on dye-sublimation transfer printers that can produce patterns and logos simultaneously while avoiding the uncomfortable seams inside that arise due to post-process sewing.”
Prior to the XT-640’s launch, Roland attained Oeko-Tex Standard 100, product class I certification, ensuring the safety of textile items printed with the XT-640 using Texart Ink.
Barnsley-based sublimation and digital print specialist Sabur Digital, a Roland DG reseller, became the first dealer in the UK to receive an order for the XT-640. It sold one of the machines to a UK sportswear manufacturer minutes after its launch earlier this week.
Sabur Digital managing director Dean Sanger said: “We expect the level of sales on the XT-640 to be high, the printer delivers both quality and speed at an extremely competitive market price.
“The XT-640 will sit handsomely alongside it's sibling the RT-640, proving that Roland are serious about developing the Texart range into the market leaders in dye sublimation printers.
He added: “Sabur have seen significant levels of growth in the textile industry since their formation back in 1998. We envisage continued growth as this is the pattern we have seen over the last few years, with growth markets including sportswear, fashion and home furnishing.
“With continued developments in the manufacture of polyester fabrics, and how they are now mimicking natural fibres like cotton for look and feel, we see the fashion market as a massive continued growth area.”
