A2i, the semi-industrial ink brand of Armor Print Solutions (A2-D65), an Armor Group company, said the new ARStyle range of inks are dedicated to the textile market, and more specifically to cotton applications.
The inks are available in five colours – CMYK and white, are compatible with several Epson printheads, and are Oeko-Tex certified.
The Standard 100 by Oeko-Tex is a globally uniform system of test methods, test criteria and limits for harmful substances, according to which the Oeko-Tex test institutes certify the health safety of textile products.
Tom Strähnz, managing director at A2i Germany, said: “Our range of inks goes beyond functionality; they also cater to the creative needs of companies in the fashion wear industry.
“With a vibrant palette of colours and exceptional colour retention properties, our inks add a touch of brilliance to the designs, making them visually captivating and eye-catching.
“Whether printing on cotton, or synthetic cotton blend fabrics, our inks deliver outstanding results, ensuring that your fashion creations stand out from the crowd.”
Discussing the white ink, Giovanni Manca, head of ink development at A2i, said this was “essential in textile applications”.
“Applied as a background on the fabric, it plays an essential role in the brightness of the colours. That’s why we paid special attention to it, as ARStyle’s white is much more stable than average.
“This also allows for faster preparation for reprinting. The stability of the white ink ensures an optimised restart time after production breaks. Whether it is a short break or an extended pause, users can rely on the reliability of our white ink to maintain consistent performance and minimise disruption to workflow.”
A2i also conducted in-house tests adapted from the ISO 6330 methodology – Textiles – Domestic washing and drying methods for textile testing. The results found that colour loss after 10 washes at 40°C for a 150-minute cycle was “minimal” compared to five competitors.
“The properties of our inks allow the colours to stay vibrant for much longer, which not only meets a quality and aesthetic challenge, but also has an impact on sustainability,” said Strähnz.
“The consumers will keep their garment much longer, which is essential in a world where the consumption of garments is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.”
Printweek is producing the Fespa Daily at the Fespa Global Print Expo in Munich from 23-26 May. Contact us about any Fespa-related matters at fespa.daily@markallengroup.com.
