A Checklist for Adding Soft Signage to Your Digital Print Business Ebook

A Checklist for Adding Soft Signage to your Digital Print Business

Presented by: What you need to know

Customers Requirements & Consumables Printing Equipment Finishing Equipment Integration

2 Questions that must be answered?

Do you currently manufacture textile goods? If so, what technology/equipment are you using and is it cost effective?

Do you currently outsource textiles? If so, how much, what technology/equipment is used, does it make sense to bring in house?

3 Questions that must be answered?

Do you already have the customer base or is it a “if I build it they will come” situation? Is your customer buying textiles from someone else? Would they buy from you? Do you fully understand the required equipment and processes involved in manufacturing textiles yourself? Software, printer, direct/transfer, fixation, cutting/finishing/sewing, consumables, fabric, knowledge?

4 Requirements & consumables Control the variables

5 Requirements: Control the variables

RIP/Color management software Controlled print room • Water quality • Humidity, temperature, cleanliness • Waste water/ink Equipment settings/logs Media handling equipment & safety

6 Know your environment is controlled!

USB data logger • Temperature • Humidity • Dew point • LCD

7 Media handling

Transfer paper 105 - 57gsm • 400 lbs roll weight Uniquely Designed • 10.5’ roll width Specifically for the EFI Soft Signage Printer Line • 14” roll diameter Foster 61577 • 990 lbs roll weight • 16.5’ roll width • 19.6” roll diameter

8 Consumables

OEM water-based sublimation inks high transfer yield papers 80%+ polyester fabrics Protection paper/tissue SEG kedar

9 EFI soft signage portfolio

Paper transfer and direct

EFI™ VUTEk® FabriVU 340 EFI™ VUTEk® FabriVU 180

EFI™ VUTEk® FabriVU 520 EFI™ Reggiani PRO 180/340 10 Polyester fabric suppliers

EFI VUTEk FabriVU/Reggiani qualified fabric listVersa knit, Versa knit Power stretch, Backlit, Triple white, White/black, And many more

11 Finishing equipment For a job well done

12 Fixation heat press

13 Fixation heat press

Klieverik GTC belt calenders: • Fixation of transfer print and direct print • Suitable for wovens, stretch, knits & non-wovens • Thermal oil heated drum • Width: 72.8” to 137.8” • Diameter: 7.7” to 19.7” • Speed: 1.5’ to 5.5’ /min

14 Fixation heat press

Klieverik TC belt calenders: • Fixation of transfer print and direct print • Suitable for wovens, stretch, knits & non-wovens • Thermal oil heated drum • Width: 78.7” to 137.8” • Diameter: 30” to 71” • Speed: 9’ to 22’ /min

15 Textile cutters

G3 Series: • Versatile machine widths will accommodate fabric up to 10 ft/ 3m wide • Maximum range of cutting tools • Maximum range of roll-off devices for all weights of roll goods and all types of fabric from heavy to 4 way stretch • The best cutting software system to compensate for the distortion which comes from printing/ transferring/fixing/roll transfer • Maximum productivity

16 Sewing equipment

CRONOS Ultimate: • Highest quality, most flexible solution for sewing textiles in the digital market to produce flags, displays, banners, tents and curtains • Conveyor belt synchronized with sewing machine • Easy to use and fast, the CRONOS sewing system allows users to achieve consistently high-quality flat seams, reduces production time and increases output 17 Sewing equipment

Others: Dürkopp Adler Juki Singer Brother Mitsubishi

18 Integration Bringing it all together

19 What is integration?

The Definition: To take all parts of the digital textile solution; RIP, printer, ink, paper, fabric, finishing equipment, workflow, etc., and have them consistently work together in unison to create the highest quality textile product efficiently, with the least amount of waste and scrap.

20 Integration Services by

Site-prep Heat press RIP support Production tips & tricks Printer support Cutters Color management Sewing Work flow Consumables & accessories

21 Sublimation / fixation A primer

22 The sublimation / fixation process

A process by which sublimation dyes are printed onto a transfer paper or directly to a coated polyester fabric with a specially prepared inkjet printer Those dyes are then transferred from the medium to an object or fabric under heat and pressure delivered by a fixation heat press Sublimation only works on fabrics made of polyester (80%+), or on specialty objects made of polyester or given a polyester coating When heat and pressure is applied, the dye sublimates, or becomes a gas, and is then absorbed into the polyester The print is now part of the fabric/coating—it doesn’t fade easily, wear, or have any texture or weight, and cannot be felt or scratched off

Dye Sub printing only works with synthetic substrates – usually polyester – because dye molecules in gas bond direct to fibers. 23 EFI fuels success. We develop breakthrough technologies for the manufacturing of signage, packaging, textiles, ceramic tiles, and personalized documents, with a wide range of printers, inks, digital front ends, and a comprehensive business and production workflow suite that transforms and streamlines the entire production process, increasing your competitiveness and boosting productivity. Visit www.efi.com or call 650-357-3500 for more information.

Nothing herein should be construed as a warranty in addition to the express warranty statement provided with EFI products and services.