Mimaki to Launch New Textile Printing System at FESPA 2024
Global industry leader and manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers, cutting plotters, and 3D printers Mimaki has announced the commercial release of ‘TRAPIS’, its textile pigment transfer printing system, at the upcoming FESPA Global Print Expo 2024 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Following the preview of the technology at ITMA 2023, this commercialised version, available later this year, offers an environmentally friendly and easy to operate solution for textile applications – saving almost 90% of wastewater compared to conventional methods.
Derived from ‘TRAnsfer-PIgment-System’, TRAPIS provides a simple two-step process, consisting of an inkjet printer and a calender. The design of choice is printed by the inkjet printer with a dedicated ink onto transfer paper, which is then transferred to the application via a calender. Unlike both analogue and digital conventional dye-printing methods, TRAPIS generates almost no wastewater, only that which is produced during the printer’s automatic maintenance. Due to no pre-treatment or washing of the fabric being needed, this saves around 14.5 litres per square meter of water when compared to digital dye printing.
Additionally, this eliminates the need for wastewater treatment facilities, which can be both expensive and constrictive when it comes to where the solution is installed. Due to the smaller size, it is possible for the TRAPIS system to be installed in a limited space, or even at the front of a printshop.
TRAPIS also offers print service providers an easy-to-use option for textile printing. As the process only involves printing and transferring, it does not require specialised skills to operate when compared to the more complex seven- or eight-step system for digital and analogue conventional printing. The lack of a fabric conveyor belt in the system further minimises the need for time intensive maintenance.
Further simplifying the process, TRAPIS is able to print on a wide range of materials, including natural fibres like cotton and silk in addition to blended fabrics, with just one type of ink. Due to this, the process can be flexible and adapt to customer demand, even with multi-material short runs. The accompanying ink has also achieved the ZDHC MRSL LEVEL 3 certification and is bluesign APPROVED, to ensure that it is both worker and consumer safe, as well as an environmentally friendly product. Like with Mimaki’s existing textile solution portfolio, the prints produced with TRAPIS maintain stretchability and colourfastness, without impacting aspects like breathability and water absorbability, important for sectors like home textiles, activewear, and fashion.
Arjen Evertse, General Manager Sales EMEA at Mimaki Europe B.V., comments, “After the positive reception we received when we initially showcased the technology last year, we’re pleased to now announce the release of this solution commercially at FESPA. Conscious of the evolving sustainability standards and customer demands, we created TRAPIS as an innovative and seamless system for print service providers looking to produce high-quality and vibrant textile applications, while keeping cost, time and environmental impact to a minimum.”
Mimaki expects to sell around 100 units per year globally in the textile and apparel market, including fashion apparel and home textile applications.
The TRAPIS system will be demonstrated with Mimaki’s TS330-1600 sublimation transfer inkjet printer at FESPA Global Print Expo 2024 (19-22 March, 2024) in Mimaki’s booth (Hall 12 / Stand F10).
