Direct-to-Fabric is a hot topic in wide format right now and, on its PacPrint stand G20, Epson will present applications printed on the ML-8000, the new standard in textile image quality. For the first time in Australia, Epson Australia will present applications and samples from its new Monna Lisa ML-8000 direct-to-fabric textile printer - a new standard in textile image quality.
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| Samples and applications from the new Monna Lisa ML-8000 will be on Epson's stand G20 |
The ML-8000 is a new entry model in the Monna Lisa series with eight of Epson's latest PrecisionCore printheads. The ML-8000 packs the power and performance of the latest world-class Epson inkjet printing and manufacturing technologies into a single package for textiles.
The Monna Lisa series combines performance and usability to meet the needs of the digital textile market for flexibility and sustainability. With its eight PrecisionCore printheads, the ML-8000 reaches typical print speed of 155 square metres per hour (600x600 dpi – 2 pass).
Promising productivity, stable operation with minimal downtime, the ML-8000 allows for ease of operation at an affordable price, making it an ideal printer for companies looking to move into local, onshore digital textile printing and production.
Digital printing has become increasingly popular with fashion and textile designers as they strive meet the increased demands for short runs and fast fashion, while under pressure from public criticism to ease environmental burdens. The ability to deliver digital designs for digital print on demand enables businesses to offer their customers a faster turnaround without having to rely on mass shipments of stock crossing continents, much of which result in higher waste streams due to analogue printing.
The Monna Lisa ML-8000 is symbolic of the all-round quality of Epson’s digital print technology, blended with the uncompromising standards of fashion inspired by Epson’s textile print partner, Robustelli, and its rich history of textile design and manufacturing in Italy’s Como province.
The ML-8000’s superior image quality is enabled by Epson’s high quality printheads. Epson’s exclusive Microweave and lookup table (LUT) technologies reduce banding and graininess and advanced new Multi-Layer Halftone Technology (MLHT), which randomises the halftone dot pattern on each layer, reducing image degradation caused by dot misalignment. Dynamic Alignment Stabiliser (DAS) technology also ensures stable print quality by controlling waveforms on each printhead chip for higher dot placement accuracy and more uniform dot density on each pass.
The ML-8000 also features symmetrical colour alignment for consistent colour overlap order during bidirectional low pass printing, plus Accurate Belt Position Control (ABPC) technology which automatically detects the belt feeding distance to ensure highly precise fabric feeding. The result is optimal quality and speed, with superb reproduction of colour gradations, fine details and complex geometric patterns.
Stable operation with unprecedented usability is realised with the advanced cleaning mechanisms and automated adjustment functions. A fluff blower system removes fluff from the fabric surface before it enters the printing area and an ink mist extraction system helps prevent ink mist from adhering to the nozzle surface.
Nozzle verification technology (NVT) detects missing dots that indicate nozzle clogging and adjusts ink delivery to maintain image quality and reduce printing errors. An easy-to-replace fabric wiper roll continuously wipes the printhead nozzles clean automatically, reducing daily manual maintenance work. High accuracy of printhead alignment technology allows the user to replace the head quickly.
Thanks to an automatic calibration function using an RGB camera, operators can carry out printhead replacement including adjustments in as little as 30 minutes. Epson’s Remote Monitoring System (24/7 monitoring) enables a quick response to potential problems, reducing downtime and service calls.
Ease of use is enhanced by a 9-inch LCD touch panel that displays current printer status, operating instructions, and regular maintenance procedures, and by hot-swappable, dual 10-litre or 3-litre high-capacity ink cartridges that allow uninterrupted production.
Epson GENESTA textile inks are available in Acid, Reactive, Disperse, and Pigment formulations in a degassed vacuum-pack. They are ECO PASSPORT certified to meet globally-recognised standards for environment-friendly textile printing. In addition, the Acid ink is bluesign approved and the Reactive and Pigment inks are GOTS approved by ECOCERT.
ML-8000 key features include:
- Printheads: eight Epson PrecisionCore printheads. The latest generation MicroTFP print chip combines quality, accuracy and speed.
- Productivity: typical print speed of 155 m2/hr (600x600 dpi – 2 pass*1)
- Maximum print speed: up to 250 m2/hr (300x600 dpi; 1 pass)
- Resolution: up to 1200 dpi.
- Width: 180 cm
- Ink colours: eight
- Ink types: Genesta Acid, Reactive, Disperse and Pigment. Genesta water-based inks allow precision and colour fastness in fabric prints. Genesta inks obtain the highest quality on any fabric type.
- Ink capacity: three or ten litres.
The Monna Lisa project is the result of partnership between F.lli Robustelli for product engineering, For.Tex for inks development and Epson for Epson print technology. Founded in Villa Guardia (Como, Italy) in the 1950s, F.lli Robustelli is a company 100% owned by Epson Italia. They engineered the first digital textile printing machine on Epson print technology.
Established in Fino Mornasco, (Como, Italy), For.Tex is a company 100% owned by Epson Italia. For.Tex was chosen to develop the inks for Monna Lisa project and Genesta ink.
