Mimaki enhances digital textile printing capabilities with Tiger-1800B MkII

Mimaki has announced that its production-class Tiger-1800B digital textile printer family has been enhanced with new features and capabilities as the company continues to drive higher quality in digital textile printing. The Tiger-1800B MkII, which will debut at FESPA 2018, offers an additional high-quality mode at 1,200dpi and several enhancements to improve quality, including reduction of banding and other printing defects.

“The conventional-to-digital transformation continues to heat up in textiles and apparel, and Mimaki, an early mover in this space, is dedicated to bringing affordable, industry-leading solutions to this segment,” said Bert Benckhuysen, Product Manager EMEA at Mimaki Europe. “The Tiger-1800B MkII printers, available in two models for direct to textile and heat transfer sublimation, are just another example of this strategy in action. And our strategy goes beyond simply providing outstanding printers – especially in an emerging market such as this, it is critical to be a Total Solutions Provider. To that end, we are also making available a new range of pre-treatment and post-treatment machines, and we are working towards the development of Internet of Things for Textiles and Apparel market.”

Distributed in the UK and Ireland by Hybrid Services Ltd, for those not visiting FESPA, a direct-to-textile Mimaki Tiger-1800B commissioned with reactive dyes for printing to natural fabrics, can be exclusively viewed at the company’s headquarters.

Mimaki at FESPA

FESPA Berlin, scheduled for 15 to 18 May, is the place to be to see the latest digital textile innovations, and Mimaki (Stand 1.2-D20/D30) should be a first stop for designers and textile manufacturers seeking to learn more about the future of digitally printed textiles. Mimaki is showing a wide range of solutions at the show and the Tiger-1800B MkII is definitely one of the high points.

  • The Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkII prints at up to 385 square metres per hour and can cover a wide production range, from sample making, to short to medium print runs. An additional 1,200dpi print mode is available for enhanced print quality.
  • A set of Mimaki’s unique Core Technologies has also been added to the machine. Mimaki Advanced Pass System (MAPS) minimizes banding and colour shifting by spreading the edge of the pass, making the boundary area a gradation, resulting in a smoother printed image. Mimaki’s proven Nozzle Checking Unit (NCU) and Nozzle Recovery System (NRS) are also incorporated in these new printers, enabling continuous high-quality printing even if nozzle errors occur.
  • Mimaki is also making available an extensive line-up of optional devices to meet just about every fabric and transfer paper printing need. This includes a feeding unit for roll media equipped with a centering device and tension bar; a jumbo roll unit to enable printing of long-length roll fabric or heat transfer paper; and drying and winding or pleating options for printed fabrics.

Mimaki Vision Jet-X

At FESPA 2018, the Tiger-1800B MkII will be shown in combination with the jumbo roll of Mimaki Vision Jet-X sublimation transfer paper. Available in 1,620 and 1,830mm widths, the Mimaki Vision Jet-X is lightweight (57g/sq m), but suitable for producing almost everything from sports apparel, flags and banners requiring a high density of ink deposition to fashion and home fabrics with less ink coverage. It yields stable paper feeding and printing, preventing shrinkage and mis-registration of paper.

“We are looking forward to sharing with visitors to our stand how easy and profitable entry into the digital textile printing market can be, both for those new to textiles and those wishing to add digital printing as a complement to existing traditional textile printing methodologies,” Benckhuysen added. “As always, our experts will be on hand to answer questions and to learn more about our visitors’ businesses and requirements to guide future development.”