London-based Genix has invested in the first MTEX 5032Pro direct-to-textile digital printer to be installed in the UK – and the only fabric printer with a 3.2m capability inside the M25 corridor.

Genix is a multidisciplinary agency providing print, creative and project management solutions. Its roots lie within the print industry and having worked for the past twenty five years with some of the best brand names around it has evolved and developed into a truly adaptable creative resource, supplying content to the market via numerous channels.

“We are constantly striving to embrace new technologies and ideas and see continuation of this process as key to our future success,” said Genix Sales Director Andrew LeMaire.

“That’s where the MTEX 5032Pro comes in. Soft imaging was the last wide format print technique that we didn’t have in our stable. We have UV but it isn’t the same - with the MTEX the material still feels like fabric without the stiffness of the UV, which simply lays the ink on the surface.

“We knew the way forward a while ago but hadn’t been able to take this step until now as we needed to upgrade the size and accessibility of our production area.”

Genix had been housed in a 8,500 square feet basement location in Soho, but in April expanded into a new production centre in Tottenham Hale with creative, project managers and client services run from their Audley House base in the centre of London.

“Without the move we wouldn’t have been able to bring in a machine the size of the MTEX 5032Pro and even in the bigger premises the relatively small footprint of this particular machine was one of the reasons that influenced the purchase,” added Andrew.

“We wanted to expand our range with other new printing processes as well as textile, and we’ve also recently invested in a Latex printer.

“We originally saw the MTEX at Sign UK then went to FESPA specifically to have a better look. What swung it was the footprint being smaller thanks to the in-built calendar unit that we couldn’t get elsewhere. Even in our new premises space is at a premium.”

Genix’s client base includes many end users and high quality brands who are very colour critical, and they need to manage colour over a range of printing disciplines. With the MTEX the team can start proofing the colour as soon as the material starts coming through the calendar unit, whereas with a second unit they would have to print the job and then test it.

“Experience has taught us that the tensioning of the material when webbed for printing is crucial, and once it’s loaded up you don’t really want to be disturbing it,” explains Andrew.

The MTEX 5032Pro was installed in August and Genix has been running trials to ascertain shrink rates for different media and other variables before going live. It’s early days but so far they are happy and expect it to have a huge take up.

“Soft signage is a real growth area and this machine will allow Genix to print graphics up to 3.2m wide to any length needed for both the exhibition and retail market,” added Stewart Bell, MD of MTEX Technologies.

“We see a good outlook for the wide format market, that’s why making these investments – with the new MTEX we’ve now got in house aqueous, solvent, UV cured, latex and dye sub printing and we truly can offer our customers the complete solution,” concluded Andrew.