DTG, Laser Engraving & More

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest innovations in digital imprinting and laser-engraving equipment to help promotional products distributors and apparel decorators expand their offerings and make their shops more efficient.

North America’s First Direct-to-Fabric Printer by Epson

The Monna Lisa 8000 is Epson’s first direct-to-fabric printer available in North America.

The Monna Lisa 8000, Epson’s first direct-to-fabric printer available in North America, is the culmination of over 20 years of research, development and customer feedback, according to the company.

“Epson Monna Lisa printers have long maintained a strong reputation and market position in Italy where they have been used to digitally print fabrics for some of the world’s largest international high-fashion brands,” said Mark Krzywicki, product manager, professional imaging, Epson America Inc. “The Monna Lisa 8000 has been developed to provide that same high quality in a more attainable, easy-to-use package – enabling North American companies to print on a wide variety of fabrics locally for both short runs and larger-volume orders.”

This printer has eight new, 4.7-inch printheads that produce high quality textile prints at industrial speeds. This printer is capable of reproducing complex patterns, colors gradations and fine photographic detail. The ML-8000 can be installed with either Epson pigment or reactive, acid or disperse ink to best suit each customer’s need and application. The ink and pigment can be used to print on various textiles including silk, cotton, nylon, silk or blends. The ink can be hot-swapped and holds 20 liters per color.

AP Lazer releases an entry-level machine

Startups and small businesses can customize a wide range of materials with the SN2616LR by AP Lazer.

AP Lazer in Lansing (MI) has released the SN2616LR entry-level laser machine for startup entrepreneurs and hobbyists. This machine can engrave all objects without restrictions, thanks to its low rider carriage. It’s armed with 60-watt CO2 laser power and a 26-inch x-16-inch cutting and engraving area.

Tong Li, CEO of AP Lazer, said that AP Lazer experienced a 50% increase in sales between 2020-2021. 95% of the overall growth in sales was due to business start-ups. “That’s when we decided to speed up our entry-level business machine development,” he said.

With a patented open architecture and low rider carriage cart, the machine can easily engrave furniture and home décor, floors, pavement, doors, windows, and wine barrels and bottles – anything a decorator can cut and customize.

“Creating meaningful products by engraving sentiments that evoke love, inspiration or special memories on something even as mundane as a dollar-store wine glass can directly satisfy a customer’s need and generate high, meaningful profit,” Li said.

Kornit Launches High Volume Digital Production Solutions

Kornit’s Atlas MAX Poly digital machine allows high volume production with polyester or polyester-blended fabric.

Kornit Digital just introduced the Kornit Atlas MAX Poly system. It allows high-quality, digital decoration of polyester and polyblends in vivid colors. It capitalizes on growing interest in fashionable athleisure and sportswear.

Omer Kulka, chief marketing officer at Kornit, called the machine a “game changer,” adding, “As fashion and sports apparel merge, there’s new opportunity for innovative fashion on polyester, one of the fastest-growing textile verticals. For the first time, recreational sportswear, promotional and sports brands can embrace vibrant and colorful design with Kornit’s proven MAX technology.”

The machine was presented during Kornit Fashion Week Tel Aviv. The machine features intelligent autonomous quality control and process automation. Decorators can use the technology to create multiple effects such as threadless embroidery and high-density vinyl screen transfers, 3D effects, or even threadless embroidery. It’s compatible with mesh and plain fabrics, including brushed polyester, while maintaining durability and breathability.

Atlas MAX Poly is able to match Pantone colors and offers a broad color range, even neon, with a simple one-step process. This allows you to minimize your production footprint while maximising versatility. According to company officials, the machine has automatic garment loading, pallet adjustment, and repeatable high-quality output. Throughput can be increased by as much as 20%. Four global beta customers have already used the machine and it will be made available to everyone sometime in this quarter.

Vastex Dryer Offers DTG Printing Efficiency

Vastex’s Lo-E Dryer uses 20% less electricity than other dryers.

According to Mark Vasilantone (president), the Lo-E Dryer is a Vastex-based device that cures digital white, digital CMYK, and DTG pretreatments at a fast rate. It uses 20% less energy than other dryers.

A 30-inch wide belt allows for 45 dry-times per hour when using digital white ink. The dryer can dry up to 88 garments in 1.5 minutes. It is suitable for CMYK DTG garments and DTG pretreatment.

It is possible to expand the modular design of your conveyors, adding chambers and lengthening them as you produce more.

The dryer was designed “to fill the void for direct-to-garment printers who need to cure up to 40 shirts per hour, but who have limited electrical current available,” Vasilantone said.

Drawing only 22 amps, the dryer’s two 24-inch-wide x 18-inch-deep high-efficiency infrared heaters provide 4600 watts of power, maximizing curing capacity and in turn, minimizing energy costs per garment cured. Dual-zone heat control is possible with the height-adjustable heaters. The boost zone allows for rapid cure.

“It’s the most energy-efficient dryer in our lineup, and maybe the world,” Vasilantone said.