Digital Printer Prints, Slits, Seals In One Step

The first European installation of one of Gandinnovations' Jeti 3324 Aquajet printers has been completed at Plotfactory in Switzerland.

The new direct-to-fabric wide format digital printer only made its debut at the Drupa 08 exhibition and Plotfactory, a large format print service provider said that the new machine allows the company to print, slit, and seal in a single process.

Rinaldo Fochetti, the managing director of Plotfactory in Weisslingen, said: "The Aquajet provides a tremendous advantage for us as we no longer need a separate sublimation machine.

In the long run, this will save us time and resources and will also have a positive impact on the environment.

What is claimed to be an enhanced colour gamut, an eco-friendly ink formulation, a high print quality in terms of short distance displays, as well as a fast printing speed for improved reaction times, were some of the features that convinced Plotfactory to select the Aquajet, said Gandinnovations.

The Aquajet is equipped with 24 printheads and it is claimed to provide customers with colours and images produced through the use of specially formulated, water-based dye dispersed inks, whilst printing in six colours with what is claimed to be a true 400 dots per inch.

With a printing width of 3.20 metres, the roll-to-roll printer allows direct printing to any polyester-base fabrics and achieves vibrant, brilliant and fade-resistant colours that enhance the fabrics, flags, banners and textile materials for many soft signage applications, added Gandinnovations.

In addition, s specifically built-in infrared heater is claimed to allows the colours to pop out and it requires no extra curing equipment.

Additional features of the Jeti Aquajet include the Spectra water-based special edition printheads, which are claimed to produce realistic images with a claimed production speed of 60 square metres per hour, or 650 square feet per hour.

The Jeti Aquajet also comes equipped with three high temperature slitting units that are attached on the rewind rollers allowing the slitting and sealing of the fabrics to the finished and required sizes.

The company added that the printing device has a built-in venting system and a separate air cleaning unit that are included with the printer.

Bevelled media rollers are said to ensure that all types of fabrics are centred on the printer for accurate print quality and registration.

Plotfactory currently prints on a variety of fabrics ranging from backlit material, satin textiles, non-reflective block-out fabrics, canvas to transparent and light banner materials.

Applications include event displays for flags and banners, indoor and outdoor advertising, exhibitions, for museums and even such home decoration items as tablecloths and carpets.

Rinaldo Fochetti set up the business in 1999 and focused on large format digital printing.

Today, Plotfactory has a staff of 34 people and 30 printing presses ranging in width from 75cm to 3.30 metres.

The company is able to offer its customer in the banking, jewellery, watch, automotive and sporting goods industries, as well as advertising and marketing departments, exhibition stand builders, event organisers and retail shops, a range of printing options.

Hary Gandy, the president of Gandinnovations, commented: "The installation of our new innovative Aquajet direct-to-fabric digital printer at Plotfactory shows us once again that we are able to reach new markets and service new customers in Europe.

The Jeti Aquajet now achieves bold and solid colours and prints directly to all fabrics.

To obtain direct colours, printing to paper first is no longer necessary.

It is one single process now, which enables printshops to save time and money.

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