By Olivia Cahoon
Part 2 of 2
Pigment-based printers are growing in popularity, particularly in manufacturing settings for garments and decor. This is a direct result of the printing process, which entails fewer steps than competing technologies. Compared to dye-sublimation printing—which is better suited for polyester—pigment-based inks work well with cotton and natural fabrics.
Pigment Textile Printers
Several pigment devices are available for industrial use in textile printing and manufacturing facilities. Here, we provide the newest and most popular options.
In 2017, DigiFab Systems Inc., released the StampaJet K4 and K8-180 presses with a maximum print width of 72 inches. The StampaJet is a high-speed printer available with four or eight industrial printheads. It features a sticky belt fabric transport system for precise fabric printing.
The device operates up to 3,760 square feet per hour (sf/h) and comes standard with large capacity media handling and ink tanks. The StampaJet includes an optional dryer to ensure fabric is dry prior to rolling up. The unit price is dependent on configuration.
The Durst Image Technology US LLC Alpha Series was released in 2016 with a 3.3-meter print width. It features a one-step printing process for a variety of textiles such as cotton, linen, and blends. The Alpha Series features ink recirculation through the printheads to ensure consistent ink quality as well as symmetrical color alignment to ensure consistent bi-directional printing quality.
The Alpha 330 operates up to 503 linear yards per hour with an anti-crash system at the carriage and feed system to detect media flaws. A hermetically sealed capping station minimizes maintenance. The Alpha Series can be configured with up to eight colors and is compatible with the Durst Greentex-P pigment ink set.
In October 2018, EFI announced the EFI Reggiani TERRA. It features a pigment ink system that utilizes a new inline polymerization process that occurs while printed textiles run through the printer’s on board, high-efficiency dryer. The process uses less water, energy, and processing time. The Reggiani TERRA is designed to print on cotton, polyester, and cotton-poly blends. Pigment inks are available in CMYK, blue, and red.
Mimaki USA, Inc. released the TX300P-1800 direct to garment textile printer in 2016. With a 75.6-inch maximum print width, it handles up to 732 sf/h. The printer includes several features found in high-end direct print models but with a lower cost of ownership suitable for users creating samples or short-run pieces.
The TX300P-1800 is engineered exclusively for direct to fabric printing and includes new printheads with a high gap setting that enables printing to thick or thin textiles, woven patterns, and raised fiber surfaces while maintaining accurate ink droplet placement. The printer is best used with Mimaki original inks, specifically designed for color reproduction onto natural or synthetic fibers for producing banners, fashion textiles, flags, interior decor, and performance wear.
The Mutoh America, Inc. ValueJet 1938TX direct textile printer features a 75-inch maximum printing width. It is designed for short run, on demand, and local digital production of garments, upholstery, fashion, swimwear, interior decor fabrics, and home textiles. In production mode, the printer operates up to ten linear yards per hour.
A staggered dual printhead setup with the latest generation variable drop piezoelectric printheads drives the device’s performance. Each 1,440 nozzle printhead—featuring eight lines of 180 nozzles—incorporates four color sections, divided in two nozzle rows with 360 nozzles per color. The ValueJet 1938TX is available for $39,995.
The VALLOY TOPAZET TEX-1800BT is a 1,800 millimeter wide vacuum belt feeding device. It features a rubber belt option to achieve higher adhesion. The printer jets droplets onto fabric with higher voltage levels—enabling direct printing onto more rugged materials like terry cloth.
Zimmer Austria’s COLARIS.12-2200 small production pigment inkjet digital printer is for textiles, carpets, mats, and piece goods. Available with four or six colors, its uses various circulating inkjet printheads from the Fujifilm Dimatix StarFire SG1024 family. The printhead offers a 100 percent ink circulation system, including ink tanks, ink supply lines, printheads, and the micro-channels passing the piezoelectric actuator.
The COLARIS.12-2200’s ink condition system keeps ink temperature steady within the range of one degree Celsius throughout the circulation system—guaranteeing zero thermal stress on the ink and resulting in accurate drop formation and precise drop placement.
Revolutionizing Textiles
Pigment printers are increasingly used in the mass production of textiles. Today’s textile producers and garment and decor manufacturers take notice of the benefits and invest in pigment technology for a minimal step process, eco-friendliness, and a range of compatible materials.
Click here to read part one of this exclusive online series, Growth in Digital Textiles.
Jun2019, Industrial Print Magazine