15Mar2023

Pigment.Inc Consolidates DTG/DTF Equipment Range, Hosts Dealer Training Event

UITGEEST, the Netherlands — March 9, 2023 — Pigment.Inc hosted its distribution partner training event in February at its showroom in Uitgeest, Netherlands. The training event focused on the company’s latest Q Series direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) industrial grade printing platforms. The event brought distributors from across Europe and Turkey to focus on sales, technical operation, maintenance and print management software to ensure optimised output, hardware servicing/performance and longevity of the Q Series printing equipment. Q Series Printers are designed for the versatile application requirements of digital garment decoration. The equipment range consists of the Q1 and Q2 Hybrid DTG/DTF Printers, the Q1-T roll to roll industrial grade DTF Printer and the recently launched Merch Factory QO-T Desktop sheet format DTF Printer designed for smaller print shops and retail environments.

Pigment.Inc CEO Steve Richardson said: “Training events like these are integral to supporting and educating our global distribution network about our products. We want end users to get the best results from our Q Series equipment range. Our team has worked tirelessly on designing and manufacturing industrial grade digital printing systems with competitive pricing. Our aim is to help end users take the next step in improving digital garment decoration processes and grow their businesses by being able to decorate a broader range of fabrics and products with equipment and consumables tailored for the evolving needs of garment decorators.

With increasing demand for industrial grade direct-to-film (DTF) solutions for garment decoration, Pigment.Inc focussed on developing printing hardware for the DTG/DTF market segment. The Q-Hybrid Series DTG/DTF garment printers and the Q1-T roll to roll DTF transfer printer were launched at FESPA 2022. The company expanded its DTF line-up with the recent launch of its Merch Factory QO-T dedicated DTF desktop sheet format printer for garment transfer application.

The QO-T DTF printer is a first of its kind desktop sheet format DTF system paired with Kodak consumables for best in class DTF transfer production.

Pigment.Inc develops and manufactures industrial digital printing hardware for the specialty printing industry under its four distinct brand segments which are DTG Digital – direct to garment DTG/DTF printers, PPS Innovations – Ancillary finishing equipment for DTG/DTF Printed Garments, GoTx – roll to roll fabric printers, and Compress Digital – Industrial UV LED Flat-bed Printers for printing onto both rigid and flexible 2D and 3D products. The company supplies its equipment range through an established worldwide network of long-standing distribution partners ensuring expert, comprehensive sales, service and support. The company designs its hardware solutions at its corporate head office in Sydney, Australia with state-of-the-art manufacturing and service centers in Singapore, Malaysia and The Netherlands.

Posted March 14, 2023

Source: Pigment.Inc

7Mar2023

Avery Dennison Acquires Thermopatch

MENTOR, Ohio — March 7, 2023 — Avery Dennison announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Thermopatch — a company specializing in labeling, embellishments, and transfers for the sports, industrial laundry, workwear and hospitality industries. Thermopatch will become part of the company’s Retail Branding and Information Solutions (RBIS) Apparel Solutions division. The acquisition will allow the combined business to build on collective industry knowledge, leveraging the company’s know-how, quality, and service to drive growth in external embellishments. Thermopatch, headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., had revenues of approximately $40 million in 2022, with around 200 employees, with operations in North America and Europe.

“We are thrilled to welcome Thermopatch into the Avery Dennison family. It’s an excellent strategic fit for expanding our position in embellishments, labels and transfers,” said Michael Barton, senior vice president and general manager RBIS Apparel Solutions. “We continue to accelerate our progress within our external embellishments business, going from strength to strength and entering new markets. In doing so, we are building on last year’s launch of Embelex, Avery Dennison’s full-service, end-to-end platform for on-product branding, graphics and trims, and accelerating our strategy to drive growth and innovation in this market. Combining Thermopatch and our strong product portfolio and long-standing customer relationships will enable us to continue to grow and deliver value for all our stakeholders.”

“This next chapter is a great opportunity for us,” said Tom DePuit, CEO of Thermopatch. “I am proud of what we as a business have accomplished over the last 85 years, and I am confident that Thermopatch will continue to thrive. With the combined capabilities of both businesses, we can further advance innovation and provide increased value for our customers and the industries we serve while continuing to deliver the same quality of service.”

Thermopatch is now an Avery Dennison Company.

Posted March 7, 2023

Source: Avery Dennison

7Mar2023

Meteor Builds Upon Ricoh Alliance With Support For TH6310F Printhead

CAMBRIDGE, England — March 7, 2023 — Meteor Inkjet Ltd. — supplier of electronics, software, tools and services for industrial inkjet applications — has further expanded its product portfolio with drive electronics and software for Ricoh’s TH6310F industrial inkjet printhead.

The TH6310F is Ricoh’s latest printhead to use highly-integrated MEMS technology, enabling precise jetting even with a large gap. Compatible with aqueous, UV and solvent inks, and incorporating a unique ink recirculation system, the TH6310F is ideal for single-pass packaging and textile applications, as well as high-end scanning systems requiring many printheads.

Meteor’s HDC-2R26 drive electronics for the TH6310F are easily scalable to systems of any size and, coupled with Meteor’s comprehensive software, OEMs can significantly reduce the effort and risk associated with the design and delivery of industrial inkjet printers. The HDC-2R26 fully supports the new Dual VCOM capability offered by the TH6310F printhead, allowing the selection of two different printhead drive waveforms per nozzle. This feature delivers superior jetting frequency and print productivity by shortening the drive cycle. Also available for the TH6310F are Meteor’s DropWatching System and printhead waveform development services, essential tools to accelerate time to market for new inkjet applications.

Jonathan Wilson, Meteor’s vice president of Business Development commented: “Meteor electronics and software have been driving Ricoh printheads since 2011 and we are proud to add the TH6310F to our line-up. Among many benefits, our ability to manage multiple printhead waveforms per nozzle means that Meteor solutions allow OEMs to take advantage of all that the TH6310F printheads have to offer.”

Graham Kennedy, Ricoh’s Director of Industrial Print Solutions adds, “Ricoh is delighted that Meteor is supporting the TH6310F. Meteor drive electronics provide the easiest and most reliable way for OEMs to unlock the potential of these printheads.”

Posted March 7, 2023

Source: Meteor

7Mar2023

SATO Introduces 4-inch Mobile Printer Designed To Reduce Costs Over Time

TOKYO — March 7, 2023 — SATO, developer of auto-ID and labeling solutions, today launched the PW4NX 4-inch mobile label printer. The PW4NX is designed for mobility, speed, durability, and minimal downtime to lower total cost of ownership (TCO) in a range of business-critical mobile labeling applications in logistics, retail, manufacturing, health care, and food service.

Warehouses are typically staffed by operators that tend to work extended hours, inevitably resulting in mistakes. For warehousing and retail logistics, printing at the point of application leads to greater accuracy and productivity, and this is why mobile labeling has grown in popularity in recent years.

Ease of use, flexibility and cost savings are crucial success factors for ecommerce companies. Volume continues to grow, causing additional stress on operations. Annual growth of 14 percent in the US¹ and 17 percent in Europe² are expected as ecommerce grows to $2.3 trillion in the US and Europe by 2025³. As manufacturers and logistics providers fulfill a growing volume of orders, they must make smart warehousing investments to maintain efficient flows of goods. The PW4NX serves as the centerpiece for mobile labeling solutions that lower total cost of ownership in the factory, retail warehouse, distribution center and more.

Industry-leading 6 ips⁴ print speeds reduce printing time by 32 percent⁵. This lets workers move on to the next task faster for greater productivity. Retailers and warehouse operators prefer to use mobile printing during peak seasons but due to common challenges such as slow print speed and insufficient print quality, they may use stationary printers or desktop printers pushed around on carts to ensure print speed and quality. With print quality equivalent to a desktop printer, the PW4NX allows easy mobility for accuracy. It also prints with consistent quality with a smaller footprint to reduce upfront cost.

In terms of upkeep, consumables parts like platen rollers and print heads are replaceable for significant cost savings⁶. Remote monitoring of printer usage data prevents downtime from worn-out parts and batteries that need to be replaced. Smart battery management also allows those managing large operations to know the battery health for individual printers across numerous locations, helping reduce the cost of replacement.

With mobile label printing, durability means less downtime. This translates to longer life and higher ROI. The PW4NX has a durable body designed to survive drops up to 7 feet (2.14 m) and its IP54 rating means it is protected against dust and water splashes, which is optimal for demanding working environments. In the warehouse, mobile printers can be mounted on forklifts. The PW4NX has remarkable vibration resistance, essential for forklift use.

“I am excited to add a high-performance mobility option to our product range,” said Goro Yumiba, Global Operations officer at SATO Holdings Corp. “In addition to its best-in-class design, we will make PW4NX the centerpiece of customer-centric solutions with genuine consumables, and add-on services like MDM, apps, and maintenance support that reduce running costs over the lifetime of the investment.”

Features of the PW4NX:

Consistent 6 ips high-speed printing
Consistent print quality independent of battery level
User-friendly design for easy replacement of parts
Remote management via SATO Online Services and SOTI to prevent downtime
Advanced applications enabled by SATO AEP (Application Enabled Printing)
Smart battery management
Rugged, durable body for long life
Robust linerless printing to reduce waste
Wide range of peripherals to suit many on-site usages

1 U.S. Census Bureau News QUARTERLY RETAIL E-COMMERCE SALES 4th QUARTER 2021
eCommerce in Europe 2021 (ecommerceDB.com)
Retail e-commerce revenue in the United States from 2017 to 2025 (Statista), eCommerce in Europe 2021 (ecommerceDB.com)
Inches per second. PW4NX can maintain print speed and quality even on low battery at 6 ips
SATO survey (when printing 10 million labels per year vs previous SATO 4” mobile model)
SATO survey (Over $10,000 savings when replacing 100 print heads per year)

Posted March 7, 2023

Source:

28Feb2023

Colorifix, Central Saint Martins Launch Microbial Printing PhD Project

LONDON — February 28, 2023 — Colorifix Ltd. and Central Saint Martins are delighted to announce the launch of a collaborative sponsored PhD project led by designer Ruth Lloyd. This doctoral research project aims to develop a new framework to accelerate the transition to microbial color printing in the textile industry.

The textile dyeing industry is one of the largest water consumers in the world — using more than 5 trillion liters per year — and approximately 70 highly toxic chemicals are used in routine dyeing processes.

The Colorifix method replaces petrochemical dyeing with natural and renewable products and processes, such as simple sugars, yeast and plant by-products. This leads to a significant reduction in water consumption, energy and the elimination of toxic chemicals currently used in the industry.

Ruth Lloyd is a textile designer with in-depth knowledge of textile printing and was designer in residence at Colorifix in 2021-2022, making her an ideal doctoral candidate to develop a scalable bio-based coloring framework for the dyeing industry.

The PhD is registered at the Living Systems Lab at Central Saint Martins under the supervision of Professor Carole Collet (Central Saint Martins), Dr Alice Taylor (Central Saint Martins) and Professor Jim Ajioka (Colorifix). The Living Systems Lab explores the inherent properties of biological living systems to develop new knowledge in the field of ecology via creative practices in art, design and architecture.

More than ever, the fashion industry is seeking scalable alternatives to petrochemical textile dyeing. Both the biotechnology and the design sectors are active catalysts for change and this project demonstrates how design-science research can play a vital role in the transition to a cleaner fashion system.

Professor Carole Collet, co-director of the Living Systems Lab at Central Saint Martins, said, “We are delighted to activate our formal collaboration with Colorifix via this pioneering PhD project and are looking forward to work with leaders in bacterial biotechnologies to develop new knowledge for regenerative fashion systems.”

Professor Jim Ajioka, chief science officer at Colorifix, added: “Collaborative PhD projects like ours with Central Saint Martins will become an increasingly important component of research at the intersection of science and design, especially for industrial adoption of bio-based products and processes.”

Posted February 28, 2023

Source: Colorifix/Central Saint Martins

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