Roland DG Corporation has launched a new desktop direct-to-garment printer which makes it possible to print personalised messages directly on cotton-based products.
The company says the Versastudio BT-12 is designed for on-demand personalisation and could be a good option for businesses looking for new revenue opportunities by offering in-store experiences for customers.
Etsuo Harada, division president of Coto Business Division for Roland DG, says since the 2003 introduction of the Versacamm SP-300, the company’s inkjet printers have been increasingly used for custom made apparel and other printed fabric goods.
“More recently in-store personalisation services for printing customer designs have grown rapidly. To meet this demand, the COTO Business Division developed the new DTG printer,” Harada says.
The fabric needs to contain between 50 to 100 per cent cotton to be used on the A4 size printer. Full colour graphics including photos, logos and text are possible to be printed on a variety of items including t-shirts, bags and interior decorations.
The B12’s compact 399mm wide × 760mm deep size and price point make it an affordable option for businesses keen to offer a more personalised service from locations short on space, such as shopping malls, kiosks, hotel gift shops and tourist destinations, Harada says.
“Consumer behaviour has been shifting from consumption to experience due to the diversification of consumer values,” Harada says.
“As a result, businesses have an opportunity to offer high-value merchandise such as personalised products to meet customer needs and desires.
“Our goal is to provide our users with tools that help deliver a unique experience and quality time for their customers and to transform their imagination into reality.”
Roland DG says when combined with cotodesign print management and design software, the B12 can offer a complete design, order and print management solution.
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