Apparel producers can attain higher levels of productivity and growth using inkjet print, digital front end (DFE) and production workflow technologies from Electronics For Imaging, Inc. showcased at ShanghaiTex held during November 27-30. The new products on display included the EFI Reggiani VOGUE, an industrial textile printer designed for superior-quality direct-to-textile printing in fashion applications.
Building on EFI Reggiani’s 70 years of experience in textile imaging, the new printer is the most-advanced, leading-edge textile product in the EFI Reggiani digital printer product line, and enables users to master speed and tension to ensure the most accurate fabric handling.
“Whether it is for apparel and accessories, sportswear or footwear, the EFI Reggiani VOGUE can handle it,” according to EFI Reggiani General Manager Adele Genoni. “The new printer, along with the entire EFI Ecosystem of products, including Optitex 2D/3D design software, Reggiani digital printers and inks, and our newest Fiery proServer offering create an effective, more-efficient manufacturing model for the fashion space.”
Taking centre-stage in EFI’s stand at ShanghaiTex, the VOGUE model is the first in a series of EFI Reggiani printers that will incorporate new electronics and best-in-class innovations for industrial textile printing. It prints at resolutions up to 2,400 dpi with 16 printing heads, 8 colours and 4- to 72-picolitre drop sizes.
Using virtually any type of textile ink, it also boasts an innovative recirculation system that saves ink and reduces maintenance during machine operation and between stoppages. The recirculation system also reduces the need for specific air-conditioning and humidity controls, saving energy and reducing overall usage costs.
An innovative new enclosed printhead design on the VOGUE simplifies the carriage layout and ensures easier print head removal. A new composite carriage with a steel head plate eliminates the need to align individual heads. The printer also automatically detects substrate widths, centres images and sets margins for jobs. As a result, operators no longer need to measure fabrics before loading them.
This new printer and the rest of the EFI Ecosystem incorporate the latest digital technologies for best-in-class performance.
Another product making its debut at ShanghaiTex, version 6.5 of the EFI Fiery proServer DFE, can be used with all EFI Reggiani digital textile printer models and features advanced colour management and screening technology. The result for users is high-quality prints with saturated blacks, vivid colours, clean pastels and smooth gradients, without compromising on fine detail designs.
The DFE also provides important production tools, including shrinkage correction and step-and-repeat management, plus a set of design tools to create repeats, colourways, manage seasonal pallets and create colour ranges.
Your factory in your pocket
ShanghaiTex attendees can also get a preview look at a future, cloud-based product, the EFI GO app. This advanced new tool will give users mobile access to statistics and data in their production operation. With the app’s real-time print factory monitoring capabilities, users can better identify and track inefficiencies while staying apprised on overall manufacturing costs and performance.
EFI’s complete inkjet portfolio, which, in addition to advanced textile printers, includes industry-leading LED and UV inkjet narrow-, wide- and superwide-format technologies and ceramic decoration printers, gives customers opportunities for the “Imaging of Things,” delivering greater product customisation and appeal in everything from signage and packaging to décor, apparel and industrial manufacturing.
To see many of the extensive, imaginative applications possible with EFI print technology, visit: www.ImagingofThings.com or www.efi.com.
EFI is a global technology company, based in Silicon Valley, and is leading the worldwide transformation from analogue to digital imaging. It is passionate about fuelling customer success with products that increase competitiveness and boost productivity. To do that, it develops breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles and personalised documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process. (www.efi.com)