The Texart ink is used with the firm’s 1.6m-wide Texart RT-640 dye-sublimation transfer printer, which was launched last October at the same time as the ink.

The Oeko-Tex independent certification system provides textile and clothing industry manufacturers with a scientifically-based benchmark for the evaluation of potentially harmful substances in textiles. It tests materials and chemicals at every stage of production and was awarded by the Nissenken Quality Evaluation Center at the end of April.

The system is divided into four classes. Class I, which ensures that printed textile items are safe for babies and toddlers, is the most difficult and prestigious certification to achieve.

Roland DG said attaining the certification is testament to the firm's continued development and effort to supply not only the safest, but the best equipment and supplies into the industry.

Roland DG division president of digital printing, market development Yuko Maeda said: “We developed Texart ink and the RT-640 for a wide range of textile decoration applications, including sports and fashion apparel, curtains and other interior décor as well as promotional goods and personalised gifts.

“The Oeko-Tex certification provides not only an endorsement for our efforts to pursue environmentally-safe digital printing, but provides an important decision-making tool for our customers to better meet the needs of end users.”

The Texart RT-640, which has a list price of £12,999, has a production quality print speed of 22sqm/hr in 540x360dpi four-colour print mode (triple-pass) and a maximum speed of 32.6sqm/hr (dual-pass).

In eight-colour print mode, printing CMYK plus light cyan, light magenta, orange and violet, the production quality print speed falls to 10.7sqm/hr (six-pass) and the maximum print speed drops to 16sqm/hr (four-pass).

The company said that the Oeko-Tex accredited Texart ink is one of the machine's major innovations.

“Previously, colours sublimated to fabrics could look distorted with dull blacks, missing greys and fuzzy details,” said Roland DG UK product manager Mark Elvidge.

“The RT-640’s variable droplet technology, in combination with new Roland Texart dye-sublimation ink, displays bold, vibrant colours and rich velvety blacks, as well as subtle gradations and fine details.

“Adding orange and violet inks increases the colour gamut and allows for exceptional reds, oranges, deep blues and purples, while light cyan and light magenta provide subtle gradations and beautiful skin tones.”