Here’s a roundup of some of the latest innovations in digital imprinting and laser-engraving equipment to help promotional products distributors and apparel decorators expand their offerings and make their shops more efficient.

Epson Introduces Direct-to-Fabric Printer for North America

The Monna Lisa 8000 is Epson’s first direct-to-fabric printer available in North America.

The Monna Lisa 8000, Epson’s first direct-to-fabric printer available in North America, is the culmination of over 20 years of research, development and customer feedback, according to the company.

“Epson Monna Lisa printers have long maintained a strong reputation and market position in Italy where they have been used to digitally print fabrics for some of the world’s largest international high-fashion brands,” said Mark Krzywicki, product manager, professional imaging, Epson America Inc. “The Monna Lisa 8000 has been developed to provide that same high quality in a more attainable, easy-to-use package – enabling North American companies to print on a wide variety of fabrics locally for both short runs and larger-volume orders.”

The printer features eight all-new 4.7-inch printheads to deliver crisp textile prints at industrial-level speeds. It can accurately reproduce complex patterns, color gradations and photographic detail. The ML-8000 can be installed with either Epson pigment or reactive, acid or disperse ink to best suit each customer’s need and application. Depending on the ink or pigment chosen, it can print on a variety of textiles, including cotton, viscose, polyester, nylon, silk, wool and blends. It features a hot-swappable ink system that holds up to 20 liters of ink per color.

AP Lazer Releases Entry-Level Machine

The SN2616LR from AP Lazer allows startups and small businesses to customize a variety of materials, without size limitations.

Lansing, MI-based AP Lazer has introduced the SN2616LR, an entry-level laser machine designed for profit-seeking hobbyists and startup entrepreneurs. The machine features a low rider carriage cart and can engrave any object without size and weight limitations. It’s armed with 60-watt CO2 laser power and a 26-inch x-16-inch cutting and engraving area.

From 2020 to 2021, AP Lazer saw its sales increase by 50%, according to Tong Li, CEO. And 90% of that overall growth was from business startups. “That’s when we decided to speed up our entry-level business machine development,” he said.

With a patented open architecture and low rider carriage cart, the machine can easily engrave furniture and home décor, floors, pavement, doors, windows, and wine barrels and bottles – anything a decorator can cut and customize.

“Creating meaningful products by engraving sentiments that evoke love, inspiration or special memories on something even as mundane as a dollar-store wine glass can directly satisfy a customer’s need and generate high, meaningful profit,” Li said.

Kornit Introduces High-Volume Digital Production Solution

The Kornit Atlas MAX Poly allows for high-volume digital production on polyester and polyester-blended fabric.

Kornit Digital recently introduced the Kornit Atlas MAX Poly system, a direct-to-garment solution that enables high-quality digital decoration in vibrant colors on polyester and poly-blends. The machine capitalizes on the growing demand for fashionable sportswear and athleisure.

Omer Kulka, chief marketing officer at Kornit, called the machine a “game changer,” adding, “As fashion and sports apparel merge, there’s new opportunity for innovative fashion on polyester, one of the fastest-growing textile verticals. For the first time, recreational sportswear, promotional and sports brands can embrace vibrant and colorful design with Kornit’s proven MAX technology.”

The machine was unveiled during Kornit Fashion Week in Tel Aviv. It features process automation and smart autonomous quality control. The technology empowers multiple effects, allowing decorators to emulate threadless embroidery, high-density vinyl, screen transfers and 3D effects. It’s compatible with mesh and plain fabrics, including brushed polyester, while maintaining durability and breathability.

The Atlas MAX Poly allows for Pantone color matching and has a wide color gamut, including neon colors, using a single-step mechanism for minimizing production footprint while maximizing versatility. The machine features automatic garment loading and pallet adjustment for repeatable, high-quality output with minimal errors, boosting throughput up to 20%, according to the company. The machine has been successfully deployed among four global beta customers and is expected to be available to all customers sometime this quarter.

Vastex Offers Energy-Efficient Dryer for DTG Printing

The Lo-E Dryer from Vastex uses 20% less energy than comparable dryers.

The Lo-E Dryer from Bethlehem, PA-based Vastex cures digital white ink, digital CMYK and DTG pretreatment at a rapid rate, while using 20% less energy than comparable dryers, according to Mark Vasilantone, president.

The DTG-capable dryer, with a 30-inch-wide belt, cures up to 45 garments an hour printed with digital white ink at 3 minutes dwell time. It can cure up to 88 garments at a 1.5-minute dwell time, suitable for CMYK DTG garments, DTG pretreatment or garments screen printed with water-based or discharge ink.

The modular design allows for expandability to easily add chambers and conveyor length as production needs increase.

The dryer was designed “to fill the void for direct-to-garment printers who need to cure up to 40 shirts per hour, but who have limited electrical current available,” Vasilantone said.

Drawing only 22 amps, the dryer’s two 24-inch-wide x 18-inch-deep high-efficiency infrared heaters provide 4600 watts of power, maximizing curing capacity and in turn, minimizing energy costs per garment cured. The height-adjustable heaters offer dual-zone temperature control with a boost zone to reach cure temperatures quickly.

“It’s the most energy-efficient dryer in our lineup, and maybe the world,” Vasilantone said.

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