Many traditional print applications are under pressure. With its presence at drupa 2024, Mimaki is looking beyond the traditional paper-based print applications to inspire visitors with new opportunities in print, at a relatively low investment. Especially mid-size printing companies are welcome to explore the opportunities presented, leading to Mimaki’s bold claim of “we are the future of print.”

The applications showcase presents the breadth of the applications that can be produced on Mimaki’s equipment. This includes printing on fabrics, garments, merchandise, household ware, packaging, utility products, and more. As Mimaki supplies 3D printers a range of 3D printed objects in full colour are on display as well.

Besides showing a textile printer for the rapidly growing direct-to-film market, Mimaki is presenting some recent developments in textile print. The Trapis technology is a new waterless transfer process using a special pigment ink and dedicated transfer paper. In short, it is described as “dye-sub for non-polyester textiles” and supports cotton, linen, silk, and blended fabrics with one ink type. It is a two-step process of printing and calendering the print onto the textile (which needs a dedicated high-pressure calender). The advantages are a similar ease of use as dye-sub technology and avoiding wastewater at the printer’s site. To further improve the environmental footprint of textile production, Mimaki is showing the Neo-Chromato process as a technology demonstration. It allows deinking of previously dyed polyester textiles for future reuse.