The Japanese manufacturer’s new DTRX-series DTF printer, an 800mm roll-to-roll, will be ready for purchase in September. Sold with a dedicated RIP, the machine will be entirely Brother-made.
New for DTG printers is Brother’s GTX 600-series. Available in three models to suit varying production needs, Brother is showing its ‘Enhanced’ version on stand (2.2-C30). It will be available for purchase “in weeks.”
Folker Stachetzki, Brother Global’s head of marketing, said the printer offers “outstanding washability” thanks to its use of special finishing spray, which allows printers to branch into high-fashion quality products.
“DTG is still number one when it comes to cotton or natural materials,” he added.
“And because of its reasonable price, we already have some customers who want to add it to their portfolio.”
Brother has two other Fespa debuts on stand, its second-generation direct-to-embroidery machine, the GTXpro Model, which presents improvements on the model debuted in Amsterdam, and Brother’s new button badge printer, which was exhibited last year as a prototype. The former is available directly after the show, and the latter within three months.
Stachetzki added: “We are busy [at Brother] – it’s not boring!”
Heiner Rupperath, director of industrial printing at Brother Industrial EMEA, said DTF remained a strong focus for Brother as the technology matures.
“In DTG we are seeing some growth in demand return, even at the entry level where customers were more focussed on DTF, because you can transfer to so many materials,” he said.
“DTG has faced a downward trend over the last four years, but from the middle of last year, we’ve seen a ramp up [in interest] in DTG again, which is giving us confidence that there are still advantages in this technology, and we’re happy to hear that. It gives us the understanding that we need to invest in development in that area, like in our enhanced finishing liquid for improving washability in DTG.”
Rupperath added: “DTF is now a really established technology, and both have to be covered.”
Rupperath said that Brother’s strong R&D cycle, and ability to prototype and release new machines in response to customer demand, was highly dependent on getting feedback from customers – and Fespa was a crucial opportunity to speak face to face.
“If we don’t get this kind of feedback, we won’t understand what the customers’ needs are. We take the feedback with us, discuss it with our development teams in Japan, and provide the right solutions for the market.”
