From DTG & DTF to screen printing and from digital inks to consumables, the scope of innovation was evident to all attendees who showed great interest in the 70+ new product launches at FESPA. Debbie McKeegan is a contributor to WhatTheyThink and specializes in textiles. She offers some highlights from the global event.
The image is courtesy Texintel.
FESPA, held in Munich the week before last, did not disappoint those who were looking forward to cutting-edge product launches. All attendees showed great interest, from DTG, DTF, screen printing and digital inks, to the 70+ product launches that took place at FESPA.
Among the many offers that were on show, let’s highlight some of those notable ones.
Digital printing
Epson The company launched the SureColor F2200, a direct-to garment printer that is suitable for medium and small businesses, as well as start-ups, who need a high level of accuracy.
Designed to produce complex designs on a variety of garments, the SureColor F2200 uses Epson’s advanced PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead technology to provide faster printing and data processing speeds, resulting in a productivity increase of up to 25% over its predecessor, while maintaining print quality.
Brother’s new Latex printer, the WF1, in addition to Brother’s new extended-color model GTX 600 Extra Colours, and its new direct-to-film (DTF), roll-to-roll device, were all officially launched at FESPA.
The 1.6m-wide resin printer—marketed as latex for ease of recognition—uses Brother’s inkjet technology and proprietary inks in a Roland DG frame, as a result of collaboration between the two manufacturers.
Fujifilm Acuity Prime Hybrid Printer was shown for the very first time. This groundbreaking new printer based on Acuity Prime’s success brings added versatility because it can handle rigid as well as flexible media.
Canon Arizona 1300 series now includes two models., GTF and XTF are equipped with the FLOW system, an award-winning zone-free vacuum that is easy to use. Extending the comprehensive Arizona flatbed printer family, the Arizona 1300 series with FLOW technology serves the growing mid-volume segment, enabling large-format graphics printers and other print service providers to offer their customers an extensive range of applications for retail, signage, interior décor, packaging, and industrial markets.
Vanguard Europe revealed its next generation UV flatbed, the VK3220THS, during FESPA. Vanguard Europe’s European Headquarters in 5,000 square feet is where the new Vanguard VK3220T HS was designed and built. m. Kraftwerk in Brixen South Tyrol Italy, right next to Durst global HQ.
EFI continued on its innovative path to create more opportunities for customers to achieve profitable growth with the announcement of the company’s first UV LED inkjet inks for thermoformed 3D sign and display applications, along with another breakthrough in the analog-to-digital transformation—the EFI Nozomi 14000 SD single-pass printer for sign and display graphics that is more than twice as productive as the fastest multi-pass/shuttle-based printer.
Finally, Mimaki Europe, gold sponsor of FESPA, 2023, Global Print Expo, displayed their flagship printers, cutters, and sign graphics for industrial and textile markets. These included the newly announced TxF150 75 Direct-to Filme (DTF), the high-performance 330 Series and the entry level 100 Series. Mimaki’s first foray into DTF technology, the TxF150-75 made its international show debut at FESPA. TxF15075 is an easy, affordable way for apparel to be decorated, most often T-shirts. This DTF process meets market demand for a stable, reliable DTF.
Inks, Consumables
Sun Chemical Xennia Amethyst Evo RC ink of high quality was launched. The new Xennia Evo RC ink is an evolutionary step from the popular Xennia amethyst line. It has been specially formulated so that customers can achieve high volume targets without compromising the quality of their products. Sun Chemical announced the release of a brand new line of digital inks designed for textiles. The Xennia Sapphire series. Xennia Sapphire is initially available for printheads with higher viscosity, such as Ricoh Gen 5 or Fujifilm Dimatix Starfire. They offer a significant improvement in the quality of pigment printing, including improved color fastness, print stability and ease-of-use.
Kernow CoatingsThe interiors line of wallpapers is also available in printable form. The materials can be used for many purposes, such as interior design and signage.
Manufacturer of specialty papers Felix Schoeller Unveiled are three new transfers films. In collaboration with Bleher Folientechnik’s polymer films, the three new transfer films have been developed for two different applications: direct to fabric and screen printing using plastisol or water-based inks.
Berger Textiles In Munich, the company introduced new fabrics for apparel and home decor. Single Jerseys, a textile that can be used for a variety of custom printed apparel and accessories and is Oeko-Tex and GOTS certified, are designed for customised garments and other customized products. Two new soft sign materials were also introduced at the show. Moon is a grey-back polyester textile that Berger said delivers a combination of weight (330gsm) and softness, “together with a good level of opacity, while maintaining excellent image resolution quality.”
Magnetic Solutions launched Green Power, a new flexible magnetic material that it claims is a greener alternative that has been produced with Canon’s Colorado printer range in mind. Green Power underwent 18-months of development and testing. This manufacturer in Sheffield, Yorkshire, said that it hoped to satisfy customer demands for environmentally friendly products by introducing these PVC, phthalate, and halogen free materials.
The Ancillary Equipment
Lüscher launched the Screen Cube, created after John Potter of 3JP Consulting and founder of printing equipment supplier MHM Direct GB, approached Swiss company Lüscher Technologies about developing a laser-to-screen system. Lüscher is known for developing the CTP systems that are used in the production of 85% of the world’s banknotes. This machine is more accurate than most other laser-to screen units that use a row of lasers mounted on a bar which moves left to right along an x axis. Lasers can last up to 20,000 hours of imaging.
Swiss Manufacturer Zünd The Q-line is the first digital cutting table for pallets to Pallets. Q-line is pallet-topallet, and its cutting speed has been doubled compared to previous models. With an unprecedented level of automation for the brand, the Q-line has taken up prime position in Zünd’s portfolio. Powered by new linear drive technology, the new machine’s beams can accelerate at up to 2.1g, to reach a maximum speed of 2.8 m/s—effectively doubling both the speed and acceleration as compared to the manufacturer’s other models.
FESPA – The New Technology Showcase
With all these innovations, and many more, FESPA continued to enhance its reputation for bringing the latest technology to the global print community—a community that attended in the thousands to take in the vibrant dynamics and technical excellence of the world’s foremost manufacturers, and who were thrilled to see the huge volume of new products unveiled at the show.
www.texintel.com