Ricoh to show off DTG unit at Ipex

Ricoh's Ri 6000 direct-to-garment (DTG) printer will make its UK debut at next week's Ipex show, along with a new neon pink toner.

The Ri 6000, which was launched at Fespa in May along with the slower Ri 3000, can print on 100% cotton and poly-cotton blends and has a maximum print area of 350x450mm. It operates at speeds of up to 27 seconds per garment with a printed area of 305x254mm.

It has an average print volume of 750 garments per month, with a maximum APV of 5,000 per month, and is priced at £29,000, with pre-treatment and heat press solutions from Schulze.

The lower spec Ri 3000, which was also launched at Fespa, is priced at £23,000 and will also be available from next week.

Ricoh will also show its latest toner product, a neon pink, in use on a Pro C7110SX colour digital press, to highlight the fifth-colour capability of the press. The toner, on show in the UK for the first time, was launched at Print 17 in Chicago. It will be available from “mid-to-late November”, according to the manufacturer.

“Ipex is a very trusted and prominent brand,” said Ricoh commercial print sales director Tim Carter.

“We want to showcase our new premium product, the Ri 6000, as well as our new toner and we felt this was the perfect place to do that. Even though our decision to attend the expo was made quite late, we are very excited to be part of this year’s line-up.

“We would also like to use the event to demonstrate our renewed approach to our customers, as well as our technology. Gone are the days of manufacturers simply being providers of technology. We have developed a philosophy where we see our customers as partners and we synergise to find ways to be successful together.”

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Carter said that Ricoh will be focusing on how it can offer “genuine lifetime support” to its customers as digital technology and customers’ needs continue to mature.

Ipex returns to the NEC, Birmingham, next week.