News Story Printer Friendly Version

The wide-format print industry must be one of the most competitive manufacturing sectors in the world. Technological evolution has continued to drive new advances in speed, application scope, quality, and flexibility since the late 1980s and it does not look set to slow down anytime soon.

Fast forward two decades and the market was saturated, with sign-makers of all sizes reinvesting in new kit every few years to try and maintain a competitive edge on issues such as turnaround time, price, and quality. And then came a new gun slinger in this Wild West sector, textile print, aka soft signage. Up until fairly recently it was the preserve of only large specialist companies, but times have changed, and now manufacturers across the board are focusing heavily on a new generation of textile print solutions.

Among these is Mimaki, who is represented in the UK and Ireland through its exclusive distributor Hybrid Services. It has put together a brand new portfolio, much of which went on show in Milan at the recent megalithic textile exhibition, ITMA. It has also appointed new expert talent in the form of Stephen Woodhall, who is now its national sales manager, textile and apparel at Hybrid Services.

The Mimaki TX300P-1800 textile printer is one of a number to feature on Mimaki’s ITMA stand this month

He is emphatic about the potential of textile printing for sign-makers, and believes that it is worth investigating as a new revenue generating segment of their businesses: “The printing side of the process is identical to what they are doing with solvent or water-based wide-format print technologies. What has historically been a fear factor is the fixation of the material with a calender press.

“For some people, not instantly seeing a photographic image appear in front of their eyes is the first stumbling block. But when the image is transferred it creates a magical and vibrant image.”

Woodall has more than 20 years’ experience working in the printing industry in a variety of technical and commercial roles. He left college and worked in the packaging industry, developing inks to suit specific applications before moving on to work for the likes of Nazdar. But his first involvement with digital textile printing came in 2007, while working for the Australian distributor of the DGen printers.

His appointment coincided with the launch of the new TS300P-1800 wide-format dye-sublimation printer from Mimaki, and Hybrid becoming the exclusive distributor for the Mtex Blue dye-sublimation printer, which features in-line fixation.

Weighing in on what other factors are driving technological development, Woodhall comments: “Advancements in textile technology, the resurgence of fashion garment production, and the environmental and logistical benefits that soft-signage offers are all stimulating growth in demand for printed textiles.”

A lot of things have come together seamlessly as I take up my role at Hybrid. It is so rewarding to be working for a company where all the work has been done to a very high standard, all the testing is out of the way, and everything is there and ready to go”

Woodhall adds: “A lot of things have come together seamlessly as I take up my role at Hybrid. It is so rewarding to be working for a company where all the work has been done to a very high standard, all the testing is out of the way, and everything is there and ready to go.”

The sharpest tools in Woodhall’s box will no doubt be the new 115sq m/h Mimaki TS300P-1800 dye-sublimation printer, which recently won a VISCOM Best of Award for Textile Refinement and drew in the crowds at ITMA. He also has the aforementioned Mtex Blue at his disposal, which removes the need for a separate fixation unit and takes up a compact floor space.

The TS300P-1800 1.8m wide roll-to-roll sublimation inkjet printer is a dedicated transfer paper printer. Its capabilities have also been enhanced with two fluorescent inks, which are available in yellow and pink. On show at ITMA was also the TX300P-1800, which ran TP400 pigment inks for direct printing applications. A second TX300P-1800 also ran Dd400 direct disperse dye inks, which are light and abrasion resistant. Finally, a Mimaki TX500-1800B ‘Sticky Belt’ driven system ran RC300 reactive dye inks, which can be used for direct printing on textiles such as cotton and other prepared printable fabrics.

Woodhall concludes: “The rapid growth of digital textile printing in the UK and Ireland is evident through the demands made on our re-sellers. My role is to help our existing channel re-sellers in this area in every way I can and support our resellers not in this area to develop a portfolio of digital textile printers and media products.”

Sign7 News caught up with Mimaki's Mike Horsten at ITMA to find out more about its new flagship textile print technology

If you have an interesting story or a view on this news, then please e-mail news@signlink.co.uk

Follow Brendan on:

Print Monthly

Hybrid creates new spearhead for textile sector

With a new man in at Hybrid Services, we analyse what is driving its strong focus on the textile print arena and the technology’s potential.