The Newest Innovation for Soft Signage & Fabric Printing
Durst (Booth N1043) has set a milestone in the field of sublimation printing with the launch of the P5 TEX iSUB. The printer features in-line fixation (in-line sublimation) for an efficient one-step direct-to-fabric printing process. It is operated by only one operator, and the process acceleration increases our customers’ ability to deliver printing jobs faster.
The printer is an industrial-grade 10.8' (129") printing system for soft signage and textiles for custom décor. The maximum print speed is 4,100 sqft/hr when the 330cm print format is fully utilized. The printer comes equipped with all the technology of a Durst P5 Series machine.
The printer offers a wide range of applications. One example is decorative fabrics with strong, brilliant colors, and exact reproduction of details. Another is flags that have excellent pass through on both sides of the material without the need of an external calender. Blackback applications, as well as colorful light boxes, round out the spectrum while retaining the soft hand-feel. In addition to its direct capabilities, it can print equally well on transfer paper for more traditional sublimation applications. It is precisely the combination of both processes in one system that gives users flexibility and versatility.
The multi-roll option makes changing materials much more efficient as users can prepare a secondary roll of media without stopping production. In addition, the dual-roll option allows two rolls with a width of 64" each to be printed. Another feature of the Durst P5 TEX is the integrated stitching unit, which is designed to conserve media during substrate changeovers.
A unique feature of the P5 TEX iSUB is its contactless fixing technology. The Sublifix dye-sublimation ink developed by Durst delivers vivid colors, even on difficult media such as blackback or backlit for light boxes or flags. The iSUB contactless technology ensures excellent color consistency as well as extreme sharpness of detail in images and text, virtually eliminating blurring or color bleeding. The wide-gamut Sublifix inks are designed for maximum performance for direct or transfer applications, and feature optional light CMK in addition to further gamut expansion with blue and orange. Additionally, the Sublifix inkset complies to the Ökotex-Standard 100.
The integrated IR in-line fixation for direct printing represents a real game changer for the soft signage and fabrics printing market. It provides heating equality along the whole width, and has high precision sensors for temperature control. In addition, the dryer includes a Smart-Exhaust System (SES), which exhausts evaporation while printing and prevents ink mist and color set-off. To prevent material shrinking, the auto media tilt ensures the printed material gets distanced from the fixation unit when the printer is idle.
Durst has developed the P5 TEX iSUB, which is based on the P5 platform. As with the rest of the P5 technology series, the printers share five core attributes: productivity, reliability, workflow, versatility, and print quality. The Durst P5 printers include: Durst-developed software and workflow solutions, touchscreen user-interfaces, and remote service capabilities. Everything is designed to maximize performance and uptime of the printer, and give users high levels of flexibility in media and job handling.
“The P5 TEX iSUB combines efficiency, quality, and productivity at the highest level,” says Durst Group vice president of sales, Christian Harder. “At Durst, we are convinced that our solution will give a significant boost to the soft signage market.”
The digitally printed textile market is experiencing growth rates in all areas of application. From 2017 to 2023, sales volume will increase by more than 60%, according to a forecast by Keypoint Intelligence, and the market will grow globally from around $19.2 billion in 2019 to $31.4 billion (2023).
The advantages of the P5 TEX iSUB one-step process are evident. With no investment or floor space required for a calender, media savings as no transfer or protective tissue is required, and time savings as there is no need to load and unload a calender, the Durst P5 TEX iSUB is the future for direct printing on polyester fabrics.