Keeping to its original Fespa timetable, Mimaki Europe has today announced the addition to its portfolio of a large format 3D printer, an updated hybrid textile printer and a 3.2m solvent printer not previously available in Europe.
The big news in every sense was the introduction of the Mimaki 3DGD-1800. ‘GD’ stands for gel dispensing and the ability to ‘print’ 3D objects – which may be hollow in order to reduce weight and to permit interior illumination – in a volume of 1450 x 1110 x 1800mm high via two print heads with immediate UV-curing may ring a bell with anyone familiar with Israeli company Massivit’s 3D printer line. Like these, the 3DGD-1800 can build objects at up to 350mm/hr (based on a hollow 1m diameter object), meaning around seven hours for a 1.8m tall object and the two print heads, which deliver different volumes of the gel, trading off ‘resolution’ for speed, can be used to build two smaller objects simultaneously.
Acknowledging the OEM ‘collaboration’, general sales manager Ronald van den Broek stressed Mimaki’s sales and support reach (the company is active directly or via channel partners in over 150 countries) and the possibilities opened up by the combination of 3D and 2D printing technologies used in tandem. Examples illustrated included digitally printed shrink film, vinyl and textiles wrapped around 3D printed objects, as well as customised backlit textile display units and projection mapping. Applications suggested include large scale PoP and window displays, 3D logos and channel letters, frames and soft signage, interior design, film or theatre props and set elements and short-run thermoforming moulds. The printer will be available for shipping in April.
In digital textile printing, Mimaki has officially launched the TX300P-1800 Mk III, the latest iteration of its 1.8m hybrid roll printer that was previewed at ITMA in June 2019. Supporting five major ink types for the widest range of textile printing applications – reactive, acid, pigment, direct sublimation and disperse (transfer) dye-sub – the TX300P-1800 Mk III is available in a range of variants. The single-ink choices come in four-to-eight colour configurations; colour channel options include dual CMYK or CMYK plus some combination of blue, red, orange, violet and pink and ‘light’ blue, magenta or back, depending on the ink type. The printer is available immediately.
The hybrid options allow more than one ink type to be supported at once in the printer: pigment and direct sublimation, dye-sub (transfer) and direct sublimation or pigment and transfer sublimation. In each case both types are restricted to four-colour only, with blue replacing cyan in the sublimation ink sets and CMYK for pigment. Senior product manager Bert Benckhuysen said, ‘This provides a solution for every application, for samples and limited-run production.’ Application areas range from apparel, fashion, swim- and sportswear, through industrial clothing to flags, interior decor and soft signage.
The European availability of the SWJ320-EA, launched in 2018 in the MEA part of EMEA and in Russia, was confirmed. Capable of up to 137sqm/hr in its fastest mode, this 3.2m solvent printer offers 1200dpi resolution, a 7pl drop size and supports twin-roll printing. According to Mr Benckhuysen, it is intended to complete with ‘non brand’ Chinese and Turkish-made roll-fed printers. It will be available in May 2020 with a BOFA-made air purifier unit that attaches to the front on the printer and removes odour and VOCs from the print as it exits the machine, cleaning the air to a very high standard. The BOFA unit can be fitted by the user in around 30 minutes, according to Mr Benckhuysen.
To replace its planned participation at Fespa Mimaki is also running a ‘virtual print festival’ over the coming weeks, with a series of interactive events including live chats, webinars, ‘virtual coffees’ (white, no sugar, please) and special price promotions. It can be found via Mimaki’s website.
More detail on Mimaki’s announcements will be included in the April 2020 issue of Digital Printer. Please register to ensure your copy and if you already have, let us know if you’d like it sent to a home address instead of a business one.
