Page 19 - Print21 Nov-Dec 2019

Textile Printing
Digital textile printing: A surging market set to double in next four years
The digital textiles market is booming, with global value reaching €2.83bn in
2018 – and is set to nearly double to around €4.9bn by 2023, according to Smithers Pira’s The Future of Digital Textile Printing
to 2023 report.
Clothing – including swimwear,
sportswear, and fashion garments – makes up the biggest chunk of that market, at €2.13bn or around three quarters of the value; it is expected to retain its dominant position to 2023.
The report finds that, though inkjet is more expensive than traditional screen printing except on shorter runs, it offers
a number of advantages over the older technology including ease of customisation; reduced cost for short production runs; and much faster turnarounds.
Advancements in the inkjet technology used for textile printing are boosting quality and productivity, with piezo-electric print heads featuring microelectromechanical systems (Mems)
fabrication that enables higher nozzle density, smaller drop sizes, and higher firing frequencies; this translates to native resolutions of 1200dpi at much higher print speeds than before.
As well as this, hybrid direct-to- fabric/dye sublimation systems are hitting the market, which enable printers to switch back and forth between direct printing on natural materials, and paper transfer printing for synthetic fabrics, as required.
The dye sublimation process:
1The file is created on a computer 2The printer prints the image in
and sent to the printer.
3The printed transfer paper and the fabric run through a calendar system where the dye is sublimated into the fabric.
Dye sub advantages:
• Durable print.
• Vibrant colour.
• Can be used for myriad final
applications – garments,
home decor, soft signage.
• Economical to run.
• Fast production-type process.
• Can print high-volume jobs.
• Also suitable for rigid
applications.
To consider:
• Larger initial investment.
• Higher skill set.
• Can only print to white,
synthetic fabric.
• Needs equipment for
finishing as well.
• Garments need to be
assembled afterwards.
Dye sublimation
printers:
• Durst – Alpha and Rhotex • EFI – Vutek FabriVu and
Reggiani ranges
• Epson – F Series 24” to 64” • HP – Stitch S Series
• Mimaki – CJV150-75
• Mutoh – ValueJet 1948WX • Roland DG – Texart 21
reverse onto transfer paper.
4The resulting patterns are cut and finished into the final product.
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