sign in sign up
<<
Home , Wool

Total Solution for Excellence and productivity in digital printing

Experience Application fields the Total Solution Haute couture Total Solution is the complete integrated system for industrial digital printing on textiles with Monna Lisa Evo Tre provides designers and Monna Lisa Evo Tre endows the productivity Monna Lisa series, where all components belong to the same process to guarantee the best fashion designers from leading Italian and foreign demanded by fast fashion retailers with its printing results and the utmost customer satisfaction. To reach this goal Epson has built over the fashion houses with a wealth of colours and typical quality standards, for collections years the necessary skills and know-how by collaborating first and then acquiring two companies shades to create unique items that combine both that are more than just seasonal, yet inspired located in the Como area - the Digital Textile Valley: F.lli Robustelli, who originally engineered the and handcrafting expertise. by the new dynamics of the fashion market. Monna Lisa system using Epson Micro Piezo print heads, and For.Tex, a trusted provider for , thickeners, specialty for pre- and post-treatment and the Genesta inks. Fashion accessories Sportswear F.lli Robustelli and For.Tex are part of the Epson Group and the Monna Lisa series is now branded as an Epson product. Monna Lisa is the outcome of a story started in the early 2000 years and Natural fabrics and innovative for , As a result of the many ink tests carried out, which has brought Epson to play a key role in the industrial digital textile market. ties, shoes or handbags are enriched with Monna Lisa Evo Tre provides excellent quality traditional motifs and original patterns featuring the even on innovative technical fabrics developed precise details offered only by Monna Lisa Evo Tre to meet the increasingly sophisticated Our story with the guarantee of a unique repeatability. communication and/or functional needs. Home textile Launch of the second Launch of Monna Lisa Evo generation Monna Lisa with new generation Curtains, sofa and armchair fabrics, home machine with new M type T type 32 printing heads and contract furnishing fabrics are all produced 2003 printing heads designed 2009 that increase production, with different types of yarn. Monna Lisa Evo Tre’s to double productivity. speed and printing precision. extensive variety of inks yields fabrics enhanced by designs and original colours that maintain quality standards over the years.

Monna Lisa is launched Award Ecohitech for at Villa Erba, Como. the low environmental impact (less than 40% of water 2007 and less than 75% of power 2012 consumption, compared to traditional systems1).

Launch of Monna Lisa 2012 Evo 2 with ultra performing 2016 Monna Lisa Evo Tre is branded new type T2 printing heads. as an Epson product.

Green Label for the Introduction of Monna Lisa environment-friendly Evo Tre featuring Epson approach and remarkable PrecisionCore printing energy saving features2. 2014 heads for enhanced quality 2019 and productivity.

1 Source: Water and electricity consumptions in . 2 The Greel Label certification is a project promoted by ACIMIT (Association A comparison between conventional and ink jet technologies. of Italian Manufacturers of Machines for the Textile ), supported The final results. Como Textile Cluster Monitor LIUC University, Italy, 2008. by the Ministry for Economic Development and by the Institute for Foreign Trade. Textile printing Printing process with workflow Monna Lisa Evo Tre series

Below scheme features the textile printing Industrial digital printing on textiles belongs to a wider process including different steps, flow showing the advantages of digital from creative concept to fabric pre-treatment to finishing. vs traditional process. Below scheme features the whole printing flow with Monna Lisa Evo Tre series. The latter involves higher environmental impact, higher costs, more production waste and less flexibility than digital printing. 1 1

Stenter machine

Traditional Digital 2A design/CAD 2B colorways 2C rip printing printing 2

Office design CAD/rip

Fabric treatment with Pregen® by For.Tex No pre-treatment to guarantee vivid colours Pre-treatment and precise outlines or customized solutions

3

Colour separation 3 3 Digital printers This step is not needed Engraving Monna Lisa Evo Tre Colour management

Printing paste preparation Printing paste Monna Lisa Evo Tre series Screen/cylinder washing and storage Printing paste/water disposal Sample printing 4 Steamer machine 5 4 Printing paste preparation 5 Screen/cylinder washing and storage ± Volumes > Monna Lisa Evo Tre series Printing paste/water disposal Washing machine MP printing Continuous relax dryer

6 Steaming / Washing / Steaming / Washing / Finishing 6

Steaming and washing are Steaming and washing are Stenter machine not needed when printing not needed when printing DIFFERENTIAL with padder for finishing with pigments Post-treatment with pigment inks REACTIVE PIGMENTS ACID DISPERSE Monna Lisa Evo Tre evolution: Features development and innovation

Monna Lisa Evo Tre has become the brand identifying the range of Epson industrial textile digital 1 2 3 4 5 6 printers, now a reference standard for high quality printing in application fields such as haute couture & fast fashion, accessories, home textile, sportswear. Characterized by the flexibility and productivity typical of the digital technology, it’s the right choice for an increasingly dynamic market, which requires quick responses to its diverse demands.

1. Ink management 4. Flexibility The exclusive vacuum-packed and degassed The broad resolution range and interlacing Flexibility and reliability ink management system is designed to methods ensure high quality prints on any obtain the maximum efficiency and ensure fabric type. that ink waste is minimized. Colour ink racks One of the most important qualities of Monna Lisa Evo Tre is its flexibility. It provides users with are available in different capacity (3/10 l). a single printer to meet a variety of different production needs. It can manage different types of inks, to print on any type of fabric and reproduce with the highest quality the most essential as well as the most complex designs with perfect speed and repeatability. Inks are available in colour racks of different capacity (3/10 l), and it’s possible to switch from 2. Facilitated access 5. PrecisionCore one ink type to another. Easy and safe access to the machine printhead array for inspections, management and The new printhead array combines quality, Moreover Monna Lisa Evo Tre means a full range of printers available in several configurations, maintenance operations. differentiated by number of printing width. precision, velocity and reliability with unprecedented results. It is the ultimate evolution of Epson’s proprietary Micro Piezo printing technology.

3. Fabric loading and dragging 6. Epson Edge Print Textile

The efficient fabric loading and dragging Epson Edge Print Textile is the RIP software system is studied to ensure highly precise specifically designed to get the most out of printing speed and quality. your Monna Lisa Evo Tre. The freedom to use other RIPs or textile CADs remains one of the main features of the printer flexibility.

Total Solution: the technology inside Powered by is gentle to the environment PrecisionCore

There is a consensus that inkjet printing is the future of textile printing. Driving the Monna Lisa Evo Tre is a new printhead array Advantages such as lower production costs and the possibility to customise short runs are featuring Epson’s advanced PrecisionCore technology. undeniable. But there’s more. The Total Solution system offers printing companies and other With 128 PrecisionCore MicroTFP print chips configured operators from the textile production chain considerable benefits in terms of environmental in 32 4-chip printheads, the array provides 12,800 impact, complying with the laws, regulations, certifications and restrictive specifications nozzles* for each colour for outstanding productivity. produced by customers and brands in the fashion industry. While being highly durable, it is also designed for easy maintenance to minimize downtime. PrecisionCore is the result of a constant activity of research and development to gain more and more efficiency, quality and reliability in Direct-to-Fabric printing.

*For 8-colour configuration

Symmetrical color alignment for maximum print quality and productivity Symmetrical color alignment ensures consistent color overlap order is maintained during bidirectional A comparison study* made between a necessary for heating water in the process. printing. As a result, color and pattern reproduction are productive cycle with Monna Lisa series and In terms of footprint, the conventional exceptionally uniform, and even areas of solid color and one with rotary press in a printing company rotary system generates 139.56 kg of CO2eq, fine geometric patterning can be beautifully rendered with both kinds of technology, shows the while the digital system 85.66 kg of CO2eq. while maintaining high throughput. advantages of inkjet technology in terms of carbon footprint and water consumption. *Source: TSC Booklet #3. Digital Printing and In particular, the water reduction (-27%) has two Sustainability. Italy, 2017. Comparison between important environmental effects: reduction in the printing 1,000 meters of fabric with Monna Lisa volume of waste water conferred to treatment series and with rotary press in a printing plants and reduction of the energy consumption company endowed with both technologies.

Our environmental certifications

SYSTEM PARTNER Global Organic Textile Standard All types of Genesta inks The bluesign® system is the Reactive Genesta inks have have been granted the solution for a sustainable textile been approved by ECOCERT, ECO PASSPORT certification production. It ensures that the certifier for GOTS (Global Organic by OEKO-TEX®, assurance final textile product meets very Textile Standard). GOTS is that they meet the strict stringent consumer safety the worldwide leading textile human-ecological standards requirements worldwide and processing standard for organic for chemicals. also provides confidence to fibres, including ecological and the consumer to acquire a social criteria, backed up by sustainable product. independent certification of the entire textile supply chain. Total Solution: the printing flow

Fabric pre-treatment PREGEN® / INK COLOR YIELD PENETRATION DEFINITION NOTES ® , with PREGEN A 1005 ® with GENESTA AC

The fabrics meant for printing, both traditional and digital, must be carefully prepared, Silk, polyamide Suitable for fabrics A 800 S i.e. they must be clean of any impurity that might compromise printing. with GENESTA® AC that absorb a lot of ink They have to be hydrophilic, flat, straightened and stabilized in dimensions. Silk, polyamide AT-6 ® In addition to all these requirements, in order to be ready for digital printing, the fabric with GENESTA AC must be addictivated with all those products that: Polyamide Mainly suitable TR/C with GENESTA® AC for elastic Allow the fixation of the contained in the ink to the textile substrate A WOOL Wool with GENESTA® AC Optimize the intensity and brilliance on chlorinated wool of the prints Cellulose, silk Alkali must be added RCA Control the spreading of the ink on the with GENESTA® RE-N (Carbonate or Bicarbonate) fabric, so improving the printing definition , silk Ready-to-use version RCA-B Support the ink absorption on the fabric, with GENESTA® RE-N containing bicarbonate so making drying easier

Viscose Ready-to-use version Support the penetration of the dye RCA-TB with GENESTA® RE-N containing bicarbonate contained in the ink

Cellulose, silk R16 with GENESTA® RE-N

Cellulose RBA with GENESTA® RE-N In general, fabric preparation is essential In case of preparation meant for printing for all the digital printing processes, except on silk, wool, polyamide or other cellulosic DS 6040 with GENESTA® DS for pigment printing. fibers, the drying temperature should not It is optional for digital printing with pigment exceed 105°C and drying shall be made Polyester DT20 inks but it’s useful in order to obtain deep in such a way to have a residual humidity with GENESTA® DS and brilliant shades. on the material of approx. 50% of the nominal rate of recovery. Polyester Direct printing procedure DDS It may be applied using various application with ULTRACHROME® DS with sublimatic inks systems, such as padding, all over printing Residual humidity values lower than that mean or spraying, but thanks to its ease of use waste of energy and may lead to a thermal PG All with GENESTA® PG and the possibility to have a perfect degradation of some preparation components, dimensional control of the fabric, the most with consequent loss of colour yield. used method is by padding. PCC All with GENESTA® PG In the case of polyester fibers, there is no After the application of the PREGEN® temperature restriction, but a too quick drying preparation for digital printing, the fabric could negatively affect the printing definition. Polyester Concentrated product TH ® must be dried. with GENESTA DS to be diluted with water In the following page a table lists the main ® Cellulose and silk Base to be mixed with alkali, types of PREGEN according to their TH with GENESTA® RE-N urea and OXIDOL PA characteristics.

Wool RTW with GENESTA® RE-N on chlorinated wool

KEY Acceptable Fair Good Very good Total Solution: the printing flow

Disperse inks Pigment inks GENESTA® DS GENESTA® PG-2 Printing with Genesta inks It is possible to print with GENESTA® DS inks on a properly It is possible to print with GENESTA® PG inks on a The Genesta® inks have been developed by Epson in collaboration prepared PES fabrics using the Monna Lisa series printer. properly prepared cotton, viscose, linen, other cellulosic with For.Tex specifically for the Monna Lisa series, to allow precision, and their blends with PES and PA fabrics using the Monna reliability and durability in fabric prints. Genesta inks - Acid, Reactive, Drying is a bit more difficult than the other inks because Lisa series printer. The best results, especially for colour Disperse or Pigment - make it possible to obtain the highest quality polyester has low absorption capability. So, we suggest using yield and brilliancy, can be obtained by printing on fabrics on any type of fabric. The exclusive ink management system of the a paper sheet to avoid back staining. pre-treated with PREGEN® PG or PCC. Monna Lisa has been created to prevent waste. The suction system is designed to permit the use of degassed vacuum bags. The dried fabrics can be stored before fixation, Drying after printing must be calibrated in order to start that can be done as follows: the cross-linkage of the resin and consequently the A thorough activity of Research & Development is ongoing to expand – using heated steam at 170°C for 10 minutes temperature on the fabric must be at 150°C for at least 1 the range of inks or colours, and to improve the printing quality. (suggested method) minute. In fact, the GENESTA® PG-2 inks contain a small – using air at 180°C for 2 minutes amount of binder which is necessary to give the pigment resistance to wetting but not to washing with detergents. In order to eliminate the unfixed ink and the preparation, specific washing treatments In order to guarantee the fastness of the colour, it’s are performed. necessary to post-treat the fabric with special products. After applying the post-treatment, the resin must be baked Acid inks Reactive inks GENESTA DS inks are available in the following types: again at 160°C for 2 minutes. ® ® GENESTA AC GENESTA RE-N Yellow DS-E Red DS-E Grey DS-F GENESTA PG-2 inks are available in the following types:

It is possible to print with GENESTA® AC inks on a It is possible to print with GENESTA® RE-N inks on Orange DS-E Blue DS-E Black DS-F Yellow PG-2 Red PG-2 Grey PG-2 properly prepared silk, wool and PA fabrics using the a properly prepared cotton, viscose, linen and other Magenta DS-E Cyan DS-E Orange PG-2 Cyan PG-2 Black PG-2 Monna Lisa series printer. cellulosic fabrics using the Monna Lisa series printer. Magenta PG-2 Green PG-2

Drying is easy and the dried fabrics can be stored before Drying is easy and the dried fabrics can be stored before steaming, to be done with saturated steam at 102°C steaming, to be done within 24 hours after printing for 30 minutes (40 minutes for wool). with saturated steam at 102°C for 12-15 minutes in case of cellulosic fibers, 20 minutes in case of silk and 30 In order to eliminate the unfixed ink and the preparation, minutes in case of wool. specific washing treatments are performed according to the type of the printed fabric. Special care must be given to the quality of the steam, which must be free of any nitrogenous compounds that GENESTA AC inks are available in the following types: are often used as additives for boilers or that are residuals of previous steaming of fabrics printed with acid inks. Fluorescent flavine Red AC Cyan AC Yellow AC-F Rubine AC Grey AC-N In order to eliminate the unfixed ink and the preparation, Orange AC-F Blue AC Black AC-N specific washing treatments are performed according Magenta AC Cobalt AC Across to the type of the printed fabric. Fluorescent pink

GENESTA RE-N inks are available in the following types:

Yellow RE-N Red RE-N Grey RE-G Orange RE-N Blue RE-N Black RE-N Magenta RE-N Cyan RE-N Across Crimson RE-N Grey RE-N Total Solution: the printing flow Adhesives for blanket ATRAFIX THERMOPLASTIC ADHESIVE

In order to assure a correct digital printing, it is necessary that the blanket of the printer has the right PRODUCT VISCOSITY SOLID CONTENT TACK ADHESION FILM HARDNESS sticking degree. The blanket of the printer Monna Lisa Evo Tre requires to be covered with a permanent adhesive and, for this purpose, the ATRAFIX ML series was created. We are talking about solvent- based acrylic co- that may be spread over the blanket by using the supplied squeegee. ATRAFIX ML/T 1000 cps 21% >30°C Very good Hard

PERMANENT ADHESIVES

PRODUCT VISCOSITY SOLID CONTENT TACK ADHESION FILM HARDNESS

ATRAFIX ML/S 1450 cps 21% High Good Soft

ATRAFIX ML/K 1000 cps 22% Very high Very good Hard

LEVELLING RESIN

PRODUCT VISCOSITY SOLID CONTENT TACK ADHESION FILM HARDNESS

RESIN MC 600 cps 22% No Very good Very hard For example, the blanket preparation Washing the blanket using only water, by may be done by spreading a bottom layer turning on the rotating brushes placed in the of ATRAFIX ML/T and, over it, a layer lower side of the blanket, is not effective. of ATRAFIX ML/S or ATRAFIX ML/K. DETERGENT AND REFRESHING AGENT The first one creates a soft and very sticky When the adhesive must be totally replaced, film (more suitable for cellulosic fibres) the old layer must be completely removed while the second one creates a harder by using ADHESOLV (environmental- PRODUCT CONCENTRATION and very stick film (more suitable for silk friendly and not flammable solvent). and synthetic fibres). REMOVER NLP 78% It is possible to mix the two adhesives in order to obtain an intermediate characteristic which could be more suitable ATRACLEAN NL 78% for the different production requirements.

We suggest a periodical washing of the blanket using RESINA MC which allows to remove the dirt so refreshing STRIPPING AGENT FOR THE REMOVAL the initial adhesiveness. OF RESINS AND ADHESIVE FILMS

PRODUCT CONCENTRATION

ADHESOLV 100%

Total Solution: the printing flow Post-treatment Traditional finishing

In order to obtain the desired hand-touch, all the commonly used finishing products may be applied on digital printed fabrics according to the specific fiber.

We suggest using quality products like:

FORSIL MCS RESIVIN AT softening silicon microemulsion cross-linkable resin for full and hard hand effect FORSIL HYR BINDER MRY hydrophilic and cross-linking silicon micro-emulsion acrylic resin for full and soft hand effect MONSOFT IO FORDEEP SOF non-yellowing concentrated cationic softener darkening silicon softener SINFOR APD FORFLEX PE polyurethane resin for a full hand effect and good wax for full hand effect and crease recovery improved sewability FORPUR 48 FORFLEX ULF Washing machine Stenter machine very soft polyurethane resin anti-crease glyoxalic resin for full hand effect RESIVIN NN FORPOLY thermoplast resin for full and hard hand effect hydrophilising agent with soil release properties for polyester Innovative finishing

In addition to the traditional finishings, new “wellness” finishings are available.

They allow to apply substances onto the fabrics making possible the interaction with the final user and the surrounding environment and, so, bringing special benefits:

AROMA AQUALITE release of perfumed fragrances (lavender, rose, lemon, sandal, etc) SUPERFRESH anti-smoke / anti-smell PRETHERMO thermoregulator at 25°C or 31°C FORAGE EL release of elagic acid (anti-inflammatory) FORAGE GL release of linoleic acid (moisturizing)

Steamer machine Washing machine

After printing with the GENESTA® inks, the fabrics may be subjected to a water/oil repellent treatment using the product FORGUARD 3001 or only to a water-repellent treatment using fluorine-free products like FORGUARD NF. Total Solution: research, training and assistance TSC Technical support and research Textile Solution Center Textile Solution Center Industrial textile printing is an expression of high craftsmanship that requires continuous support and attention, as well as tailored, precise, timely and effective solutions. Textile Solution Center is the facility entirely dedicated to research, An important goal of our Total Solution is to pursue continuous improvement, on the one hand assistance, training and promotion for the industrial textile digital helping customers to solve critical issues, and on the other, exploring the technical-expressive printing. Through this center, located in For.Tex, it is possible to follow potential of digital printing on fabric, so as to stay one step ahead in the quest for innovation. the entire digital printing production process - from pre- to post-printing - on an industrial scale, bringing to life any creative idea and developing For these purposes we have created different research, training and technical support centers customised solutions to any issue - in short, a one-stop place in which where we liaise directly with potential customers or printing companies to develop customised to explore, understand, choose and experiment. solutions based on specific requirements. In addition to its assistance and research work, the Textile Solution Center Chemical laboratory also trains the designers and stylists of tomorrow, in collaboration with universities and design schools, as well as potential Monna Lisa Evo Tre The For.Tex Chemical Laboratory is equipped with the tools and equipment required to perform customers, with a view to providing a thorough understanding of textile objective fabric tests and to provide printing workshops with an incontrovertible and reliable response printing and of the potential offered by digital printing. Moreover, the to any disputes concerning appearance, fastness and any other technical or application issue. center actively promotes the digital culture, through events, conferences Technicians specialised in traditional/digital printing, preparation, , finishing and textile and courses. With the support of TSC Advisory Board, Textile Solution chemistry thoroughly analyse every chemical-textile issue that may arise during printing or during Center has created the series of books entitled “Beyond the ”. pre- and post-treatment. Chemical engineers, instead, research innovative solutions with regard to ink features and printing effects.

Innovation Research Lab Printing Research Center

Based in For.Tex with the aim of researching and Located in F.lli Robustelli’s head office, it will aid developing new inks for industrial digital printing, product development of inkjet core devices, it is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies and ensuring the continued development of the highest is staffed with a team of highly-skilled researchers. quality textile printers for Epson.

Light fastness Perspiration fastness

Rubbing fastness Water fastness

EPSON is a registered trademark, Monna Lisa, PrecisionCore, Genesta and their logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners and used for identification purposes only. Product information is subject to change without notice. Epson Europe B.V. Atlas Gebouw, Hoogoorddreef 5 1101 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands www.epson.eu - www.monnalisadtp.eu