Mimaki Launches New Textile Pigment Transfer Printing System

Following the preview of a new technology at ITMA 2023, Mimaki Europe has commercially launched a textile pigment transfer printing system, named Trapis.

“The Trapis offers an environmentally friendly and easy to operate solution for textile applications – saving almost 90 percent of wastewater compared to conventional methods,” Mimaki said in a press release.

Mimaki’s Trapis provides a simple, environmentally friendly two-step process, consisting of an inkjet printer and a calender

The design of choice is printed by the inkjet printer with a dedicated ink onto transfer paper, which is then transferred to the application via a calender.

Unlike both analogue and digital conventional dye-printing methods, Trapis generates almost no wastewater, only that which is produced during the printer’s automatic maintenance.

“Due to no pre-treatment or washing of the fabric being needed, this saves around 14.5 litres per square metre of water when compared to digital dye printing,” the company added.

Additionally, this eliminates the need for wastewater treatment facilities, which can be both expensive and constrictive when it comes to where the solution is installed.

Due to the smaller size, it is possible for the Trapis to be installed in a limited space, or even at the front of a printshop.

As the process only involves printing and transferring, it does not require specialised skills to operate when compared to the more complex seven- or eight-step system for digital and analogue conventional printing.

The lack of a fabric conveyor belt in the system further minimises the need for time intensive maintenance.

Broadening the textile application possibilities for print service providers, the system can print on a wide range of materials, including natural fibres