Mimaki Europe will use ITMA to debut a coloured polyester textiles reuse system that it has called the Neo-Chromato Process. The event is also being used to introduce the Tiger600-1800TS sublimation transfer printer and to showcase a new Textile Pigment Transfer Printing System.
By decolourising polyester textiles that have undergone dye-sublimation printing, the new Neo-Chromato Process allows materials to be re-printed or dyed immediately. There is no limit to how many times reused polyester can be treated with the process, which itself minimises water usage and pollution by enabling the disposal of the absorbent paper and decolouring solvents it uses as burnable waste.
“The increasing awareness of sustainability has led to a significant disposal issue within the textile industry, with polyester textiles accounting for approximately 60% of 92m tonnes of wasted textile materials worldwide. Of this enormous amount of polyester waste, currently around only 15% is recycled. Mimaki’s Neo-Chromato Process tackles this issue head on by utilizing a discolouring technology for dye-sublimation inks. This process not only eliminates the need for polyester waste incineration but also reduces the energy consumption associated with textile recycling,” said Arjen Evertse, general manager sales, Mimaki Europe.
Meanwhile, the new Textile Pigment Transfer Printing System uses a customised TS300-1600 dye-sublimation printer with new pigment inks developed for the process and a new transfer paper called Texcol, pioneered by Dutch paper manufacturer Coldenhove.
The module that adapts the TS330-1600 will be available in Q3, and the new ink is undergoing bluesign certification before commercial availability.
Also new is the Tiger600-1800TS sublimation transfer printer. The roll-to-roll inkjet machine boasts a maximum printing speed of 550m2/h – 43% faster than the previous model – owing to the renovated highspeed printhead and Mimaki’s proprietary image quality enhancement technologies. The printer’s size has also been halved compared to the previous system, with the paper mounting and winding system both located at the back of the machine.
A further environmental benefit of the Tiger600-1800TS will be the imminent bluesign certification of its MLSb510 series sublimation transfer inks.
