Features

Could Hollywood Monster’s links with design students bring a new energy and focus to large-format print?

Sophie Matthews-Paul takes a first look at Durst’s new textile printer the Kappa 180.

When Durst made its entry into digital textile printing in 2009 with the announcement of the Rhotex 320 it stood to reason that, having made the departure from its core technology of UV-curable chemistry, there would be more in the fabric field to follow. Although it’s not being launched until ITMA in September, I was able to spend some time with the new industrial strength Kappa 180 at Durst’s Kufstein premises in Austria.

Sophie Matthews-Paul looks at how developments have impacted upon inks and substrates for digitally printed textiles.

Perhaps it became a myth as the years passed that a textile coming under the digital heading is a material that has been used in conjunction with a machine which can print inks or dyes specifically for fabrics. Where this misconception originated is anyone’s guess but, depending on the end application desired, there’s no reason why many applications can’t be produced using other chemistries.

While UK-based Xennia is a new player in the digital textile printing industry, its long inkjet technology development history means it is ideally placed to make a dramatic impact with its digital textile printing solutions

Why large-format digital print is still in the premier league when it comes to sports stadia. By Melony Rocque-Hewitt.

According to Andrew Hodson, sales and marketing director at Icon, the UK-based sporting and events branding specialist, the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games represented somewhat of a watershed for sports stadia, as it was here that the phrase “Look of the Games” was first coined.

Get yourself noticed via this DIY guide to how to make your business known from the Forum of Small Business.

Up, Up and away

A couple of issues back we asked if textile printing was finally about to take off within the large-format sector in the UK? Jon Price, director of CMYUK, says sales figures prove its moving down the runway at a rapid rate on knots, even if it is not yet airborne

Commit to renewable energy and reduce your costs, increase the value of your premises, placate environmentally strident clients, differentiate yourself from your competition – oh, and help save the planet.

Switch to solar. The benefits are worth the hassle. Think lower energy costs and protection against future electricity price rises, reduced carbon emissions and one-upmanship in the corporate social responsibility debate. All that and you will apparently increase the value of the premises in which solar power is installed.

As predicted in my crystal ball gazing feature at the start of 2011, as far as the wide-format sector is concerned we have seen enhancements to existing printer platforms, along with improvements to inks and drying; but there have been no real show-stopping introductions.

This is, in truth, a very healthy state of affairs. That existing engines have been extended to cover different market segments should be regarded as a positive, with most manufacturers introducing new additions and the first to admit that they are using their established technologies to eke out revisions for future equipment.

Power up your green IT strategy

Sophie Matthews-Paul visits Mortsel, Belgium, to test the versatility of this new UV-curable machine.

For Agfa Graphics, the acceptance of its unusual M-Press platform took a little time but now, in its guise as the Tiger, it is proving to be a successful solution for high-end applications where the mix of inkjet and screenprinting is a bonus. Combined with its printing capabilities are high levels of automation and slick throughput, it’s now a platform which suits the specific requirements of users needing the best of both production worlds.

The Drupa innovation park 2012 presented by digi:media (‘dip’) will focus on particularly young companies, start-ups and players with groundbreaking solutions and applications.