January 2021 will see the first UK shipments of the new Epson ML-8000 entry-level digital textile printer, aimed at the fashion industry.
Guy Martin, sales development specialist at Epson UK, said: “Digital printing has become increasingly popular with fashion and textile designers across Western Europe as they strive meet the increased demands for short runs and fast fashion while under pressure from public criticism to ease environmental burdens. The capability to conduct digital designs for digital print for demand enables businesses to offer their customers a faster turnaround of designs, when they need it, without having to rely on mass shipments of stock crossing continents, much of which will have incurred higher waste streams due to analogue printing. The Monna Lisa 8000 is symbolic of the all-round quality of Epson’s digital print technology, blended with the uncompromising standards of fashion inspired by Epson’s print partner Robustelli and its rich history of textile design and manufacturing in Italy’s Como province.”
With eight PrecisionCore printheads, the ML-8000 reaches typical print speed of 155m2/hr (600 x 600dpi in 2 pass).
Epson’s Microweave and lookup table (LUT) technologies have been developed to reduce banding and graininess, and new Multi-Layer Halftone Technology (MLHT) to reduce image degradation caused by dot misalignment. Dynamic Alignment Stabiliser (DAS) technology also ensures stable print quality by controlling waveforms on each printhead chip for higher dot placement accuracy and more uniform dot density on each pass.
The ML-8000 also features symmetrical colour alignment for consistent colour overlap order during bidirectional low pass printing, and Accurate Belt Position Control (ABPC) technology automatically detects the belt feeding distance for precise fabric feeding.
A fluff blower system removes fluff from the fabric surface before it enters the printing area, and an ink mist extraction system helps prevent ink mist from adhering to the nozzle surface. Nozzle verification technology (NVT) detects missing dots that indicate nozzle clogging and adjusts ink delivery to maintain image quality and reduce printing errors. A replaceable fabric wiper roll continuously wipes the printhead nozzles clean automatically.
Via an automatic calibration function by an RGB camera, operators can carry out printhead replacement including adjustments in as little as 30 minutes said Epson, and there’s a 24/7 remote monitoring system.
A 9in LCD touch panel displays current printer status, operating instructions, and regular maintenance procedures, and there are hot-swappable, dual 10-litre or 3-litre ink cartridges holding Epson Genesta inks - available in acid, reactive, disperse, and pigment formulations in a degassed vacuum-pack. They are Eco Passport certified.