Roland DG is boosting its textile offering with the first of its next generation of dedicated digital inkjet printers. The 64 inch RT-640 is the first model out for Roland’s new Texart brand, a dye sublimation transfer printer that has been developed to capitalise on the increasing size and growth potential of the market. Masahiro Tomioka, chairman and president of Roland DG, says the company sees ‘huge potential’ in digital textile printing, prompting it to establish its textile market development department in October last year.
Roland DG’s Texart RT-640
He says the company made a ‘firm commitment’ to make a full-scale entry into the market, and, “I believe the digital textile printing business will become one of our core businesses and the next growth driver for the company.” Roland DG already offers a number of textile solutions including soft signage printing machines, to create polyester banners and flags, and decorations on sportswear garments. Texart is its first dedicated brand for textiles. Yuko Maeda, general manager of Roland’s textile market development department, says demand for digital printers is growing as to raise the efficiency of high-mix, low-volume production and tailored production in a wide range of fields, including fashion apparel, interior decor, gifts and promotional goods. Maeda says, “The digital printing market for textiles shows great promise with research showing an expected surge in demand and double-digit growth rates for the coming years.
Masahiro Tomioka, chairman and president of Roland DG
“The RT-640 is based on our core inkjet printing technology cultivated through years of experience in the sign and display and textile markets, combined with our market and user research in the specialist textile printing market. “I believe the RT-640 offers users a comprehensive, optimal combination of superb quality, vivid colouring and stable performance needed for professional textile printing.” The machine features the company’s latest print head, print control technology, RIP software and choice of four colour (CMYK) or eight colour (CMYK, Lc, Lm, Or, Vi) original dye sublimation ink. Maeda says two standouts for the machine are its new Texart ink and bulk ink delivery system, and “the newly developed Texart ink delivers bold and vibrant colours with deep and rich blacks. “Adding orange and violet inks increases the colour gamut and allows for exceptional reds, oranges, deep blues and purples, while light cyan and light magenta provide subtle gradation and a fine level of detail.” The inks are available in economical one litre bags, and the machine can be configured to deliver either on litre per colour in eight colour mode or two litres in CMYK, each with an automatic ink changeover system. Roland says the RT-640 boasts the industry’s ‘highest level of practical print speed,’ running at 22sqm per hour. A fan absorption system keeps transfer paper flat, combined with a new media Feed Adjuster at the front and back for even tensioning and to prevent skewing, even over long distances. For RIP, users have a choice between the Roland VersaWorks Server Edition RIP and ErgoSoft Roland Edition RIP software, the latter developed for the RT-640 by ErgoSoft. Roland DG is ramping up production of the RT-640 as part of its new manufacturing plant expansion, with global shipping to begin in February 2015 and full global stocks available in March.
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