Boxmeer, Netherlands - SPGPrints will showcase its digital inkjet and rotary screen technologies for textile printing applications that bring optimised uptime, accelerated time to market and outstanding quality on the widest range of fabrics at GFT 2017, Thailand’s leading garment and textile printing fair, BITEC, Bangkok, 5-8 July, 2017. The company exhibits in conjunction with its distribution partner Union TSL Limited, (Stand E35 Hall104).

Taking centre-stage at the booth will be SPGPrints’ JAVELIN® inkjet printer for annual production volumes of up to two million linear metres per year. GFT will also mark the first demonstration of the JAVELIN in South-East Asia.

The JAVELIN printer features SPGPrints’ unique ink delivery system, Archer^® technology, featuring nozzles that are 4mm from the substrate – a significantly longer nozzle-fabric distance compared with alternative technologies. This allows a wider range of substrates to be run, minimising the chance of print head damage. Using only six colours, Archer technology enables a gamut wider than the HD-gamut of other digital textile printing solutions. In addition, SPGPrints’ ‘Archer Print Head Program’ provides a two-and-a-half-year guarantee on the print heads in combination with the use of accredited inks.

The JAVELIN printer uses a scanning action with an array of Fujifilm Dimatix Samba print heads, delivering variable drop sizes (2pL-10pL) at resolutions of up to 1200 x 1200dpi, for sharp image reproduction across the 1850mm printing width.

In addition, for annual printing volumes exceeding two million linear metres, SPGPrints offers its high productivity, fixed-array PIKE^®printer.

SPGPrints has invested significantly in the development of digital inks that ensure unattended printing, with unrivalled quality and runnability.  

The PIKE and JAVELIN printers may be configured for use with acid, disperse and reactive inks, all manufactured by the company. Additionally, SPGPrints offers inks that are specially formulated for the leading industrial print heads and fabrics, through its NEBULA, QUASAR and FLARE ink ranges.

Furthermore, to support Thailand’s textile market - a major source of silk garments and sportswear - SPGPrints has been collaborating with a leading Thai textile company, to optimise the performance of acid inkjet inks.

Jos Notermans, commercial manager digital textiles at SPGPrints, comments: “The key to competing in a global textile market that is increasingly driven by online sales, depends not only on price-sensitivity, but the ability to respond to fast-changing trends and deliver the highest quality. SPGPrints’ JAVELIN and PIKE inkjet printers, bringing new design possibilities, rapid turnarounds of short and long runs, and significant production cost reductions, have proven to be a game-changing solution for addressing the value chain’s needs.”

Complete rotary screen printing workflow

SPGPrints also offers a fully controllable, efficient rotary screen process, with solutions covering every step in the workflow. The nickel electroformed NovaScreen^® and RandomScreen^® screens are capable of faster print speeds and achieve even paste transfer with relatively low squeegee pressure, resulting in improved paste yields.

The NovaScreen, available in mesh counts from 135 to 245 holes per inch, combines high resolution with high open area, thanks to a unique mesh and hole shape. 

The RandomScreen features an irregular hole distribution that eliminates moiré that can be caused by clashing patterns. With a 125 mesh and 79µm hole size, the screen contributes to paste savings, especially when printing pigment.

Thanks to their strength, NovaScreen and RandomScreen screens can withstand the rigours of relatively fast production speeds, handling and multiple re-engraving cycles. As a result, SPGPrints’ textile rotary screen customers in Indonesia report being able to re-use the company’s screens for several different designs, thereby saving consumable costs. New water-based stripping technologies that contain no corrosive chemicals can extend the life of SPGPrints’ screens further and provide a lower-risk, environmentally responsible way of stripping.

Additionally, SPGPrints offers digital imaging solutions for fast rotary screen preparation, with a fast return on investment. SPGPrints’ smartLEX 7043 direct laser exposing system, with its unique multi-beam diode technology, combines long life, economical use of energy, high productivity and resolutions of up to 2540dpi. Using an intuitive Smart-GUI, smartLEX 7043 exposes screens between 300mm and 3500mm length, in exposing cycles as short as 12 minutes. 

Kiatichai Lohachitranont, owner of Union TSL, comments: “Visitors to the Union TSL stand will be able to gain a first-hand appreciation of SPGPrints’ complete workflow solutions, for both digital or conventional printing. As the company’s agents for Thailand, we are committed to assuring the highest standards of support, so customers maximise the value of their investment.”