The summer should see availability of the Mimaki TX500-1800DS which is capable of printing at 150m2/hr on pre-treated polyester fabrics. It uses Mimaki’s new Sb300 sublimation ink and comes in six-colour and four-colour modes. The printer can accept rolls of fabric up to 60kg and 300mm in diameter.
“Our recently announced TS500-1800SB sublimation printer is the world’s fastest dye sublimation printer, capable of printing at 150m2/hr on transfer paper,” said Mike Horsten, marketing manager of Mimaki Europe. “Now, with the introduction of the TX500-1800DS, textile apparel and soft signage manufacturers utilizing pre-treated polyester fabrics can print direct-to-fabric at the same speeds without the need for an interim transfer paper step, and can do so without any compromise in quality. Our new sublimation ink, whether printing on transfer paper or direct-to-textile, delivers brilliant colours, and using our intuitive RasterLink 6 Rip, operators can easily convert special colours to specific Pantone colours to ensure total colour integrity, printing with up to six colours.”
The Mimaki TX500-1800DS, which has six printheads in a staggered configuration, has a built-in heater, a mist absorption filter and degassing module for optimal printing. It uses a RasterLink6 Rip. Print and other conditions can easily be set, as the display screen is switched on in the same window and the printing progress can be monitored on the main screen. The colour replacement function enhances the ability to re-create printed images, as selected colours from the colour charts of RasterLink 6 can be added into swatches of Illustrator. The colour matching system matches the measured colour to an almost identical colour from the colour profile of RasterLink 6. A colorimeter is not a standard feature. There is also a printing colour simulation function, allowing users to simulate printing colours on Illustrator/Photoshop without actually printing it. This latest function requires MPM2 (Mimaki Profile Master 2).
At Sign and Digital UK Mimaki UK and Ireland distributor Hybrid will show three of the manufacturer’s new printers: the JV400 latex machine, 1.9m wide production dye sub TS34-1800A and a development of the small format UJF-3042.
There will be two latex printers on its stand - one printing four-colour output and the second running Mimaki's white latex ink.
At the show Hybrid is also introducing the Mimaki Learning Zone - giving visitors the opportunity to ask any technical, workflow and product questions. Hybrid's technical services manager, Andy Lewis, said: "If you're looking to understand how investing in wide-format hardware can help your business, or if you've got any questions on getting the most out of your Mimaki, then come and talk to the experts.”
www.hybridservices.co.uk