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 10.5 roll width 14 roll diameter Uniquely Designed Specifically for the EFI Soft Signage Printer Line 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 Recommended by 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 list: 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 are 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. Turn to NextWave for the next wave of digital printing. NextWave offers premier integrated digital textile printing solutions. By offering the best combination of inks & media, they'll show you how you can achieve high impact visual results and still save money. They guarantee results. Your satisfaction is covered by their 100% Warranty, which covers hardware, inks & media. For more information, contact: Andy Arkin / aarkin@nextwavems.com www.nextwavems.com Drew Fields / dfields@nextwavems.com 2017 ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. WWW.EFI.COM 24