Mimaki Engineering has added the capability to print direct to textiles with the introduction of the Mimaki TX500-1800DS, capable of printing at 150 sq m/hour on pretreated polyester fabrics. This printer, together with Mimaki’s new Sb300 sublimation ink, delivers enhanced capabilities and productivity to the textile apparel and soft signage markets by eliminating the need to print to transfer papers. The Mimaki TX500-1800DS printer is expected to be available in June 2012.

Our TS500-1800SB sublimation printer, announced last month, is the world’s fastest dye sublimation printer, capable of printing at 150 square meters per hour on transfer paper. Now with the introduction of the TX500-1800DS, textile apparel and soft signage manufacturers utilizing pretreated polyester fabrics can print direct-to-fabric at the same speeds without the need for an interim transfer paper step, and can do so without any compromise in quality. The new sublimation ink, whether printing on transfer paper or direct-to-textile, delivers brilliant colours, and using our intuitive RasterLink 6 RIP, operators can easily convert special colours to specific Pantone colours to ensure total colour integrity, printing with up to six colours.