This printer is creating a lot of interest in Europe and is the latest model from the Portuguese manufacturer, POD and will be shown at the Sign and Digital UK show (30th April - 2nd May at the NEC, Birmingham) on UK distributor Digital Print Innovations (DPI) stand.
The printer is a 1.9m-wide printer with inline infrared fixation, ensuring excellent colour fidelity while reducing the costs associated with two-step dye sublimation and opening up new high-profit markets for display producers, such as interior décor, light-box applications and soft signage.
The MTEX 1800 is built on a reliable and popular Mimaki chassis with the manufacturer's full approval, and was launched at the Remadays trade show in Poland earlier this month to a fantastic response from show-goers. The machine's Epson DX6 drop-on-demand piezo print-heads are arranged in a two-head staggered array, which combine to create a thoroughly robust and reliable direct-to-textile solution. At speeds of up to 65sq m/hr in standard mode and 35sq m/hr in high quality mode, the MTEX 1800 can print to a wide variety of soft substrates, including flag, silk, backlit, canvas and many more. It joins DPI's strong line-up of direct-to-textile machines that already includes the MTEX 500, 1600 and 3200DS.
Available with a four-colour ink set, which comes in two-litre bulk ink packs for minimal print run disruption, the MTEX 1800 produces vibrant output with three variable dot sizes at a maximum resolution of 1,440dpi, suitable for closely-viewed display jobs. Blue replaces cyan in the standard set to provide particular vibrancy, an asset emphasised by the machine's inline infrared fixation, which evades the need for a separate fixation unit and thereby saves space, production time and capital investment costs. The machine also benefits from the inclusion of electronics and automation control components from leading manufacturers Omron and Festo.
"We have witnessed a huge growth in demand for direct-to-textile machines in recent years as soft signage becomes more and more popular," says Stewart Bell, managing director, DPI. "We're anticipating a growth in the British soft signage market of between 30 and 35 percent this year, and the MTEX 1800 provides an accessible entry point for those seeing the profit-making opportunities offered by direct-to-textile production.
"The build and output of the MTEX 1800 is superior to other comparable models thanks to its use of high-grade components, so we know our customers will be satisfied with its quality. It's filling a gap in the market for a smaller dye-sub engine than the popular MTEX 3200DS and is the perfect machine to meet the superb business potential in entering the soft signage market. The MTEX1800 will debut at Sign and Digital UK on Stand H60."
The environmental benefits of the MTEX range are also expected to be attractive to print service providers. Water-based disperse ink pairs with coated polyester materials to create totally recyclable end products, which can all be folded or rolled to save space during shipping, thereby reducing transport costs.
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Digital Print Innovations
www.dpi-uk.com
