Images Magazine June 2018

Its filtration system can be cleaned while the dryer is running INDUSTRY EVENT www.images-magazine.com 34 images JUNE 2018 saving benefits to its smaller format Storm machine. The new DTG HD print engine, combined with the NeoPigment Rapid ink, promises a reduction in ink consumption and cost per print: the company says both will be reduced by approximately 30% compared to the Storm Hexa. Finding new products wasn’t an issue on the Adelco stand either. The company was showing its new dryer, the Pro-cure, along with its new AD Hybrid Digital system (see ‘Hybrid chatter’, below). The Pro-cure is an upgrade to the popular Ecotex dryer and introduces a number of new features, including higher airflow for faster curing times and a vacuum pulldown for “exceptional stability” of delicate fabrics. The energy- efficient machine promises to extract 100% more contaminated air and fumes and its filtration system can be cleaned while the dryer is running. The Roland DG stand attracted a great deal of attention with much of it centred on the new multifunctional Roland Texart RT-640M printer, which was being previewed at the show. Based on the current RT-640, it has similar specs and features, but has the ability to print directly onto fabric or paper, allowing it to be used for sublimation on both rigid and flexible substrates. A removable ink tray allows edge-to-edge printing on many media. The company is recommending the new model as the ideal means for print shops to future-proof their business; a UK launch date has yet to be announced. Epson was showing a Monna Lisa industrial textile press for the first time at a Fespa event. Developed with its subsidiaries, For.Tex. and Fratelli Robustelli, the new Monna Lisa Evo Tre 16 boasts 16 heads with eight colours and is another printer that is noteworthy for its versatility – it can print acid, reactive, disperse and pigment inks. Mark Vasilantone, owner of Vastex, was demonstrating the company’s new Little Red X2-D infra-red dryer, which he describes as the smallest and most affordable DTG-capable dryer available. The new model has a 76 cm (30”) or 137 cm (54”) wide belt and can cure more than 26 (30” belt) or 52 (54” belt) garments per hour with digital white ink. It can also cure 480+ garments per hour with plastisol ink and 180+ garments per hour with water-based ink. Talking about the new dryer, Mark explained that the X3-D model, which was introduced last year to provide a compact drying solution for DTG shops (and which is capable of curing more than 100 garments per hour printed with digital white ink), actually exceeds the requirements of many of the smallest, one-machine print shop set-ups. Hence the reason for launching the even more compact and affordable X2-D, which has been developed to match the maximum output of a single DTG printer. The new dryer has the added advantage of being fully expandable, allowing additional heating chambers and conveyor belt lengths to be added as business grows. Also new and creating a stir at the show was the 1800z F6T Edition printer and flexible F6T inks from Direct Color Systems (DCS), whose UV printing technology allows direct-to-garment printing with no pre-treatment required. (See ‘It’s DTG printing, but not as you know it’, page 30, for full details.) The 1800z is distributed in the UK by Resolute, which also distributes the RTP Apparel T-shirts range. These 100% cotton garments are specially engineered for water-based DTG printing and also require no pre-treatment. They are now available in an extended palette of colours and Brian Walker, CEO, reported that the brand is planning to launch new styles later this year, including long sleeve tops and hooded sweats. Hybrid chatter At last year’s show, a big talking point was the emergence of hybrid screen and digital printing systems. This year, much of the talk amongst garment printers was, once again, about hybrids. However, during the intervening 12 months, both the conversation and the systems have moved on, with the technology now having started to bed-in – Mark Smith, managing director of Adelco, Danny Sweem (left), incoming M&R CEO, with outgoing CEO Rich Hoffman [L to R] Deborah Terry, sales and marketing administrator, and Rob Gray, service manager, with the new Adelco AD Hybrid Digital system