The 3.2m-wide roll-to-roll sublimation inkjet printer is a dedicated transfer paper printer for the textile industry, with applications including home furnishing textiles and indoor soft signage.
The super-wide format TS500P-3200 inkjet printer is suitable for transfer printing on furnishings and display graphics fabrics and runs at speeds of 180sqm per hour.
Distributor Hybrid Services' national sales manager for textiles and clothing Stephen Woodall said the worldwide launch followed unveiling as a “concept machine” in Milan last November.
“We wanted to gauge feedback, which was positive, prompting a worldwide launch next month,” he said. “Its USP is its width and target market – home textiles, polyester and signage markets.”
Trends for on-demand textile printing were spreading from fashion and sportswear to interiors and home furnishing, he said of the machine, which will cost around £160,000 (£120,000).
“I think the market is growing because advances in polyester and ink technology, bringing cottons into the equation. Good pigmented inks are opening up new markets.
“The increase in demand for bespoke and short-run interior textiles – be it for furnishings, decor or display graphics – is showing no sign of abating.”
Woodall added: “I'm not aware of any standard commercial machine of this width and capability on the market like this. Companies like Reggiani could perhaps tailor a specialist model.”
According to Mimaki the configuration of a dozen printheads in three staggered lines eject ink droplets at high speed to maintain the appropriate ink droplet angle and ensure accurate drop placement with a high head gap.
In addition a Mimaki advanced pass system 4 (MAPS4) anti-banding function smooths the swath boundaries with reduced numbers of droplets to provide even more beautiful printing, it added.
It also said that a newly-designed auto media feeder (AMF) meanwhile allows stable transfer paper feeding at the high-speed setting in order to maintain print quality. It is capable of feeding media up to 130kg.
The technology aimed to ensure high-quality printing results on low-cost thin transfer papers, said Woodall.
Its 3.2m super-wide printable width was practical for sublimation transfer printing on extra-wide fabrics for curtains, bed linen, and other home furnishings, he added.
“The benefits of digital print enable companies to deliver variable content in varying run lengths with very short lead times, thus capitalising on the technology.”
He said: “Personalisation works best when coupled with short lead times for the consumer, so another key factor is having a print operation located geographically close to its market, thus bringing manufacturing back to the UK and Ireland.”
In addition, the environmentally friendly output did not emit volatile organic compounds after printing and when considering large expanses of display graphics or retail POS, it helped reduce CO2 emissions during transportation because it is lightweight and foldable.
Woodall said Mimaki was likely to throw a strong focus on textiles, with a full portfolio of products, at this year's Fespa show in Amsterdam, from 8-11 March, but did not have exact details.
