First unveiled earlier this year, the TxF150-75 uses a heat-based transfer method and is suitable for creating premium, customised merchandising, sportswear, and various other promotional textile applications.
Based on Mimaki’s 150 Series, the manufacturer said the TxF150-75 responded to the market need for a reliable, stable DTF technology.
Arjen Evertse, general manager of Sales EMEA at Mimaki Europe, said: “A lot of people appreciate the possibilities that they get from DTF because as a technology it allows people to decorate textile in a way that they could not do before.
“At the same time, we have been seeing people struggle with reliability and stability issues, especially in the printing system. This is where we [felt] we could make the difference as Mimaki, with the long-term experience we have with inkjet in general, and all the core technologies we have on the shelf that we can put in a machine.”
A built-in ink circulation system and degassed ink pack design help prevent common DTF issues, and by utilising proprietary Core Technologies, which include a nozzle check unit and nozzle recovery system, the printing process requires minimal user intervention.
Mimaki has created its own range of water-based pigment inks, PHT50, for use with the machine. These inks are Oeko-Tex Eco Passport certified, guaranteeing that safety and environmental standards are met in line with Mimaki’s sustainability pledges.
The company said DTF printing provides an easy and affordable process for decorating apparel, and is commonly used for decorating t-shirts. The design is printed directly onto a special transfer film, which is then sprinkled with hot-melt powder, and once heated and dried, the transfer sheet is ready to be applied to the fabric using a heat press.
Mimaki has been working with UK manufacturer Adkins on a DTF powder shaker and cure unit.
“With this we are able to offer the market an ‘A brand’ option for both the printing part and the post-processing,” said Evertse.
“What makes it unique is that our printer is 80cm width whereas most of the systems in the market today are about 60cm or sometimes smaller. The post processing unit that we developed with Adkins also has an 80cm width, so the whole solution works on 80cm.”
He said the extra width reduces waste and makes the DTF process more cost-efficient.
The TxF150-75 costs €12,800 (£11,100) while the post processing kit developed with Adkins is available for €8,200. The Adkins kit is also available through Mimaki’s channel.
Mimaki, which is also outlining its circularity and sustainability initiatives on its stand (B1-B10), is additionally showing its flagship printers and cutters for the sign and graphic, industrial, and textile markets, including the 330 Series and the entry-level 100 Series.
Meanwhile, the company has trailed the launch of several new products, including a new textile printer, at ITMA 2023 in Milan next month, while other Mimaki launches outside of the textile space are due in October this year, “with a lot of new products” planned according to Evertse.
Future launches, Evertse added, will include the CFX Series, a new high-end cutting table range that will come in three sizes, and will offer a maximum cutting speed of 1m per second.
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.
