An Epson SureColor SC-F7200 dye-sub printer was supplied to the Ilkeston, Derbyshire-based firm by reseller RA Smart and the business has now started testing on the device, with production set to ramp up over the next few weeks.

The company, which has three staff, will use the machine to print onto a wide range of polyester-based materials, including silk simulations and stretch fabrics.

The SC-F7200 prints on transfer papers of up to 64in (1.6m) wide at speeds of up to 58.9sqm/hr. The device, which offers a print resolution up to 720x1,400dpi, features Epson’s PrecisionCore technology and TFP printheads and runs with four UltraChrome DS inks (CMYK).

Advice and a recommendation from RA Smart, which had also supplied Woven Monkey’s two existing D.gen printers, was instrumental in the firm’s decision to invest in the SC-F7200, according to managing director Ed Morton.

“We specialise in cottons using a pigment ink printing process but a lot of our customers were asking for different sorts of materials, like stretch materials. For that we really needed to do polyesters so it was a logical step for us to expand our range of fabrics.

“With this technology we print onto paper and then heat transfer the image and the ink is absorbed into the material. It is much easier to control than direct to textile and there is less risk with issues like shrinkage.”

Most of Woven Monkey’s work is typically bespoke runs of under 10 square metres and its customers fall mainly into one of two categories.

“It tends to be either people who have got their own personal project for the home that they want their own fabric for, or small businesses running an Etsy or Not on the High Street shop that need short print runs of some bespoke fabric,” said Morton.