What does the it do?
Portuguese printer manufacturer Mtex has taken its expertise in industrial strength digital textile printers with integral heat fixation to develop a lower-cost and lower-throughput 1.8m-wide machine, the Blue.
When was it launched and what market is it aimed at?
Launched at the end of last year, the Blue got its first UK showing this September at Mtex’s UK demo centre. The biggest market is expected to be soft signage. Another application is home textiles using the new pigment inks, which can be set using the inline fixation unit.
“The major application will be true soft signage,” says Mtex UK managing director Stewart Bell. “It’s an ideal machine for firms moving up having dabbled using a more generalist machine such as a latex one.”
How does it work?
Like all Mtex textile printers it is based on Mimaki printing hardware. In the Blue’s case the TS 300 P.
“We use the Mimaki print engine, electronics and ink system and manufacture everything else ourselves,” says Bell.
The Mimaki gubbins is mounted onto a steel chassis along with the firm’s own media transport system.
At the heart of the machine are four Panasonic printheads, which Bell says are key to the ability of the Blue to run a wide range of different inks depending on the application. Initially it was available with disperse (dye-sub) inks for printing onto polyester. At ITMA a pigment ink option was launched, which enables it to be used for interior decoration applications such as curtains and covers.
How does it differ from previous products?
The Blue is Mtex’ first entry-level machine, its other products, which are considerably more expensive, are much faster and/or wider.
How fast/productive is it?
Max throughput is 55m2/hr. Theoretically the print engine can go faster if the fixation unit isn’t used. Bell argues, however, that the benefit is that the print is ready to use straight off the machine, without the need for a subsequent step to fix the colour.
What is the USP of the product?
Ease-of-use in a compact footprint, which are the results of using inline fixation. Whether inline fixation or having a separate calender is the right option depends on many factors. Internal business issues include available space in a factory and staffing and skill levels, while external ones include the range of applications and quality expectations of customers.
How easy is it to use?
The use of built-in fixation means operation is a one-person job with no need to transfer the rolls from the printer to the heat press. Control of the Blue is via Mtex’s RIP, which is based on textile industry stalwart Ergosoft.
“Inline fixation offers a one-step process and the ability to instantly check the colour,” says Bell.
What training and service support is on offer?
For Mtex the Blue is a departure from previous products due to its lower price and higher expected sales. Because of that it is using Mimaki’s UK distributor Hybrid Services to handle the product via its channel of resellers.
“It’s an area where we haven’t had a product offering before,” says Hybrid national sales manager, textile and apparel Stephen Woodall. “Our dealers in the signage channel have been interested in something that combines Mimaki’s technology with inline fixation for some time.”
Hybrid will also provide the technical support and training using its engineers.
How much does it cost?
Price for the printer and its built-in fixation unit is £44,950, which Bell says is comparable to the cost of a similarly specified printer and standalone heat press. He says that it is “designed to offer an excellent ROI due to its price performance,” and adds that soft signage typically sells for £20/m2.
What is the sales target?
At the time of writing Mtex had yet to make any UK installations. However, Bell says that with dealers such as CMYUK having demo machines in situ and running open houses he expected sales to follow soon with the expectation that UK sales could exceed 30 in the first year.
SPECIFICATIONS
Print width 1.8m
Speed 55m2/hr
Ink CMYK direct disperse or pigment
Printheads Four Panasonic
Resolution 360, 720 and 1,080dpi
Price £44,950
Contact Hybrid Services 01270 501900 www.hybridservices.co.uk
ALTERNATIVES
Dgen Teleios Black
UK Dgen distributor I-Sub offers the Teleios Black, which has an inline fixation unit, as the nearest direct alternative to the Blue. The lower cost of the Black makes it attractive as an entry-level machine. However, the firm, which also offers standalone printers and heat presses, argues that inline fixation is not necessarily the most appropriate solution for every company.
Print width 1.8m
Speed 38m2/hr (four-colour, four-pass)
Price £35,000
Contact I-Sub 01536 415511 www.i-sub.co.uk
RA Smart SmartJet
For RA Smart the jury is out on inline fixation. The company acknowledges it has a place but feels offline is often preferable. With that in mind it suggests its SmartJet (which is built by Dgen) with a separate Transmatic fixation unit, which can run inline or standalone.
Print width 1.83m
Speed 26m2/hr (eight-colour, two-pass)
Price £40,000 (printer and fixation unit)
Contact RA Smart 01625 576231 www.rasmart.co.uk
