• Developing prototypes for footwear brands previously took over a month from order placement to delivery, slowing the design process and delaying feedback. With the Mimaki 3DUJ-553, this timeline has been reduced to just one to two days, enabling rapid design iterations. This accelerated workflow allows designers to make modifications and produce multiple prototypes quickly, resulting in more refined and innovative product development.

Throughout the footwear design process, prototypes are a critical step in bringing shoes from concept to reality – but until now the step has been slow and costly. That’s where Mimaki comes in. Launched in 1975, the Japan-based digital printer manufacturer has become an innovator in helping leading footwear brands expedite their design process with full-colour 3D printing.

The samples created by Mimaki are sturdy, purpose-built prototypes, featuring up to 10 million different colours and express a variety of textures from the Adobe Substance texture library. From shoelaces to the outer sole, the prototypes help brands get a hyper-realistic mock-up for their next big launch.

Importantly, the realism does not come at the cost of speed. The Mimaki 3DUJ-553 full-colour 3D printer can print a full-sized footwear prototype in under one day, making it easy for brands to assess their prototype, make changes and create another 3D model, ultimately saving brands months during the often long design process.

Michael Sickels, 3D specialist of global marketing group at Mimaki Engineering, sat down with Fairchild Studios to explain the process behind printing 3D prototypes, how the company is expediting the typical timeline of designing, the impact of 3D printing beyond just the footwear industry and more.

Fairchild Studio: In your own words, how would you describe Mimaki?

Michael Sickels: The Mimaki Group is a development-driven group of companies that provide integrated services through the development, manufacturing, sales and maintenance of products such as industrial inkjet printers, cutting plotters and inks. Our development history began in 1987 with our first drafting plotter.

In 1996, we debuted our first inkjet printer and now have models applying ink down to 3 picoliters. To put that in perspective, there are 1 trillion picoliters in a liter — the human eye cannot see it.

In 2017, Mimaki took all those colourful years of high-performance inkjet development and brought it to 3D. The 3DUJ-553, an industrial full-colour 3D inkjet printer, was born. Although this was our first 3D printer, we were able to leverage our extensive experience with ink jetting to bring unparalleled colour and detail expression to 3D printing.

Fairchild Studio: In what ways is Mimaki’s full-colour 3D printer an asset to footwear designers and students throughout the design process?

M.S.: Mimaki’s full-colour 3D printers add value to the design process in the form of speed, creativity and ease of integration. Having the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 in the design room or design school removes the need to order early, nonfunctional prototypes to be made at a factory. That cuts months from the design process.

The 3DUJ-553 can print in 10 million colours and can print shapes and patterns that are difficult to conventionally produce. Lastly, the 3DUJ-553 can print 3D models made using industry-standard software whether it is Adobe Substance, Rhino, ZBrush, Modo or Autodesk.

No significant changes are required to your current workflow, you are gaining the ability to turn your wonderful, detailed designs into ones you can hold and feel in your hands.

Fairchild Studio: How does the ability to print highly realistic prototypes within a day impact the typical timeline of a footwear design project?

M.S.: Traditionally, footwear designers send tech packs to factories — usually in Asia — to have prototypes made. From order to prototype delivery, it can take easily over a month before a physical prototype is in the hands of a designer for expert appraisal. If there are any major changes, another prototype needs to be ordered, which will eat up more of that already scarce time in the product development cycle.

Imagine this: You install a full-colour 3D printer in the design room and rapidly produce the prototypes in-house. The Mimaki 3DUJ-553 can print a visually realistic men’s size 9 shoe in under a day. Footwear designers can then appraise the print, make changes to the 3D model data and then print again. A process that normally takes months can be condensed into a few weeks, with all the magic happening in your own workplace.

Fairchild Studio: How does Mimaki’s integration with industry-standard software like Adobe Substance enhance the functionality and user experience?

M.S.: There are two areas where functionality and the user experience are enhanced. Firstly, full-colour printing on the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 is compatible with all the major 3D data formats that include colour — .obj, .ply, .wrl and .3mf. A designer can continue using their favorite 3D modeling software. Once the printer is installed and basic printer training is given, designers can begin full-colour 3D printing of their designs quickly.

Secondly, the 3DUJ-553 can express your designs in a life-like quality. Not only can the printer express 10 million colours (including clear), but each layer of the model can be printed as thin as 20 micrometers. Imagine slicing your design into 20-micrometer layers from top to bottom, that is how fine the detail can get. Thanks to these features, the denim, mesh, leather or nylon you have on your shoe design will look like the real thing on your physical 3D print.

Adobe Substance, which is gaining wide adoption in the industry, is a great way to capitalize on this. Adobe Substance gives designers access to a library of thousands of realistic materials — even allowing you to scan your own — which can be dragged and dropped onto different parts of the footwear 3D model. The designer can then print the design and assess a visually realistic physical prototype. Imagination is the only limit.

Fairchild Studio: How do the features of the Mimaki 3D printer align with the specific needs of footwear designers looking to enhance creativity and innovation in their design process?

M.S.: Mimaki full-colour 3D printing gives footwear designers access to quality rapid prototyping with confidence without the need for major changes to workflow. These benefits enhance creativity.

To illustrate this, imagine a designer thinking: “I haven’t tried this material/style/colour before. It might not work but I’d like to see it. With a Mimaki 3DUJ-553, why not give it a try? You can have the life-like prototype in your hand in a day or two”. In this way, the convenience and quality factor increase a designer’s creative freedom.

Fairchild Studio: Beyond footwear, how else is the company’s 3D printer able to create valuable prototypes in the merchandise and accessories market?

M.S.: The 3DUJ-553 works well with 3D CAD, CG and 3D scan software. Professionals in various industries have been able to apply our 3D technology to their specialized needs. For example, the colour expression and precision of our 3D printers have found a home in the figurine and scale model industries.

Our printers are being used to prototype figure designs and even produce figures or models for sale to end customers. Our printers also work well with 3D scan data. A few companies have been using special 3D scanning equipment to scan people, pets and other memorabilia for full-colour printing on the 3DUJ-553. Drones have even been used to scan buildings and towns to create 3D data to be later printed.

In the medical industry, we have some customers using the 3DUJ-553 to print highly detailed and accurate medical models. CT and MRI data can be used in this way. Architectural and construction firms have also shown interest in full-colour 3D printing for analysis of designs as well as for use in presentations to customers and communities.

In these ways, a broad range of industries are finding value in our technology and I truly want our full-colour 3D printing (and additive manufacturing as a whole) to become common knowledge. I want more people to know that these amazing things are possible today.

Fairchild Studio: How do you see the future of footwear design evolving through innovations and speed of 3D printing and prototyping?

M.S.: 3D modeling is going to increasingly become the way to design footwear. It offers designers so much more convenience and freedom in their creativity. Given that 3D printing goes hand in hand with 3D modeling and that 3D printers have achieved a high level of print quality, it is only natural that there will be increased adoption.

I have been told by several designers that nothing beats having a prototype that you can hold and feel in your hands. Physical prototypes are not going anywhere. 3D modeling and 3D printing will shorten the time from idea to design as well as give designers more flexibility. For these reasons, I believe that 3D is going to continue to revolutionize footwear design going forward.

Mimaki will have a booth at the Formnext convention in Frankfurt, Germany on November 19-22. Everyone is invited to stop by to check out the full-colour footwear samples and ask any questions in-person!

The post How Mimaki’s Full Colour 3D Printer is Revolutionising the Footwear Design Process appeared first on Mimaki Europe.

• The Italian company has chosen Mimaki technology to drive its growth in the textile digital printing market.
• With the addition of a cutting-edge Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkIII, Quicksilver achieved high-volume productivity and further expanded its application portfolio, winning back its market leadership position.

Trends in fashion are ever-evolving and unpredictable. For those companies working on the manufacturing side of these dynamic sectors, being at the forefront of the evolution and able to keep up with the rapid changes is key. Among others, dye sublimation printing technology has grown to become a must-have manufacturing tool when producing fashion. Why? Arguably, it enables users to achieve top quality with vibrant, consistent colours. It’s productive, efficient, cost-effective, easy to handle, and sustainable. To sum it up in one phrase, it ticks all the boxes.

Digital sublimation printing is at the core of Italian company, Quicksilver. Specialised in manufacturing digital printed fabrics and garments for different textile market segments, the company has leveraged cutting-edge sublimation printing solutions to diversify and strengthen its production and achieve a leading market position. Quicksilver seamlessly moved from screen print transfer to inkjet transfer printing thanks to the extensive range of Mimaki technologies on offer. The company has now successfully built a healthy business, working side by side with fashion laboratories serving high-end fashion brands, as well as with premium sportswear brands. More recently, the company was faced with an increasingly competitive global market and all the changes and disruptions caused by COVID-19. To overcome the challenges, Quicksilver opted for a Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkIII, a cutting-edge industrial printer that brought in higher speeds, higher productivity, and unmatched quality, enabling the company to explore new opportunities and take the business to the next level.

Discover our latest Tiger600-1800TS high speed sublimation printer:

Surfing inkjet sublimation printing technology

Quicksilver was established in 1987 in Padua (Italy) as a specialist in sublimation transfer through screen printing. Faced with this evolving market and the advent of inkjet technologies, the company quickly seized the opportunity and embraced the most advanced inkjet technologies to reshape and refresh the product portfolio and make its print applications more competitive and in line with market demand.

“We identified the opportunity inkjet printing posed and knew we needed to go in that direction. Mimaki was our first choice – the JV Series was known at the time to be one of the best transfer printing options in the market and already featured a wide format size compared to competitors. And that has proved to be the right move”, explains Plinio Cecchin, founder and owner of Quicksilver.

The company invested in its first Mimaki inkjet sublimation printers in 1997 through Bompan, an exclusive importer of Mimaki for Italy. Since then, Quicksilver has kept a keen focus on inkjet sublimation printing and continues to make further investments to this day, with Mimaki technologies at the forefront of its production processes. “Over the years we have explored all the options in the market and tried a few, but Mimaki remains the best choice for us. The innovations they constantly bring are perfectly in line with our needs and with the market demands.”

Quicksilver discontinued screen printing about five years ago and now focuses on inkjet printing exclusively. With the objective to become a more versatile business and explore different textile applications, Quicksilver installed the Mimaki TS500-1800, a high-volume sublimation printer, and two Mimaki TS55-1800 – with one unit equipped with 10-litre tanks. Leveraging those printers, the company was able to increase its competitive edge and customer reach through a strong, diverse product offering and improved customer service.

“Competing in the textile market is not easy for a mid-sized company. This is why selecting and choosing the right equipment was so crucial,” explains Mr Cecchin. “We achieved unprecedented production efficiency in the first instance, due to the extremely comprehensive firmware from Mimaki, which provides the printing information in real time, enabling extreme efficiency and reducing risk of error. Mimaki cares about every detail, and this reflects in their product performance. This way, we have elevated our own service, which is now top quality, accurate and punctual.”

Quicksilver has now consolidated its position as a leading supplier in sportswear, fashion, high-end fashion accessories market segments, as well as in the gaming and soft signage space. Its product portfolio ranges from technical sports clothing, printed apparels and garments, printed fabrics for luxury accessories like umbrellas, printed fabrics for gaming tables and soft signage applications. Besides a diverse product portfolio, the company also offers all-round services ranging from ‘print and transfer’, the supply of sublimation printed paper rolls and the transfer process only.

A high-speed industrial sublimation textile inkjet printer, the Tiger-1800B MkIII features Mimaki’s advanced print technology to deliver highly stable performance, market-leading print speed, and stunning print quality for both direct and transfer printing.

Quicksilver invested in a Tiger-1800B MkIII unit to efficiently increase the production volumes, while ensuring the high-quality standards the company is known for are met.

The Era of the Tiger

With a wealth of products and services on offer and a strong, reputable standing in relevant markets, Quicksilver looked to take the next step to overcome the new challenges posed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Higher volumes were in the company’s sights, so the management went on the hunt for an industrial, robust textile sublimation printing system.

After exploring the different options available in the market, Quicksilver turned to the Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkIII and purchased a unit in May 2021 through Mimaki Bompan Textile, a joint venture between Mimaki and Bompan specialised in providing digital printing solutions for the textile and apparel market. According to Plinio Cecchin: “The ever-evolving textile printing market requires continuous investment. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the market changed dramatically and we felt the need to strengthen our competitive edge. We needed to efficiently increase the production volumes, while ensuring the high-quality standards we are known for are met. The Tiger-1800B MkIII fits all our requirements, and so did the customer service from Mimaki Bompan Textile.”

A high-speed industrial sublimation textile inkjet printer, the Tiger-1800B MkIII features Mimaki’s advanced print technology to deliver highly stable performance, market-leading print speed, and stunning print quality for both direct and transfer printing. “Not only can we achieve consistent top quality at a higher speed, but also the printer features a robust body and an advanced conveyor belt engineered to transport the transfer paper, enabling safe loading of the jumbo rolls and higher image quality and precision,” explains Mr Cecchin. “The Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkIII proved extremely cost-effective, reliable, and efficient. In fact it has allowed us to produce higher, industrial volumes and so has completely transformed our business. We estimate that we have been able to cut the energy cost due to increased production efficiency. Additionally, using 10-liter ink tanks has generated savings of up to 25% on the costs of the inks, and likewise the jumbo rolls – which are extremely efficient to load and unload – further contributing to reducing production time.”

Looking back over the past two years since the investment, Mr Cecchin adds: “Overall, the Mimaki Tiger-1800B MkIII has allowed our company to become more competitive in high-volume productions, which means that today we can address all the markets where we were not competitive in before”.

The post Quicksilver Swift to Adapt to Challenges with Mimaki Technology appeared first on Mimaki Europe.

This October, Rommel KG, based in Lauingen an der Donau, will be able to look back on a successful twenty-year company history. For two decades, Peter Rommel has established his company as a complete service provider in the field of advertising technology, and today exclusively relies on large-format solutions from Mimaki for printing. His clients include not only smaller local businesses and enterprises but also well-known brand manufacturers who no longer want to do without the direct and personal support, or the convincing quality of the prints they order.

Owner, Peter Rommel, employs a tried-and-tested, albeit initially unconventional concept in his company: In an environment where it is often assumed that no business can succeed and remain profitable without a significant degree of automation, he relies exclusively on direct customer interaction, the value of his products, and the extensive know-how of his team.

“As a smaller advertising technology company with a team of six individuals, each of whom is a master of their craft from the ground up and to perfection, investing heavily in automating our workflow or even maintaining and operating an online store simply doesn’t make sense,” explains Peter Rommel. “As a complete solutions provider, we essentially offer a vast array of products that are so comprehensive and individualised that attempting to showcase them in an online store would require an excessive amount of effort. Such a concept would not be suitable for us and our customer structure. Instead, I personally know each and every one of our customers. We maintain direct contact, often built on mutual trust through longstanding business partnerships. New customers find us through platforms like Facebook and Instagram or through the proven method of word of mouth, which occurs naturally due to our numerous successfully completed projects and orders. We enter the market solely with our name and customer feedback – and we have been doing so successfully for two decades now.”

A complete solutions provider with aspirations

The range of products offered by Peter Rommel‘s company covers the entire spectrum of traditional advertising technology, ranging from embroidered work clothing to the design of custom graphics, illuminated facade advertising, and mounted printing. However, the central focus of the company is clearly printing. For this purpose, there are two Mimaki UCJV300-160 UV-LED roll-to-roll printers with integrated cutting functions and RasterLink RIP software available in Lauingen. Their versatility caters to the diverse portfolio of the passionate advertising technician, enabling high-quality production and creative work.

The machine setup is complemented by additional cutting plotters from Mimaki and Summa. Peter Rommel became aware of Mimaki systems through a former colleague who, after working in advertising technology, now serves as an application specialist at Mimaki. Since then, he has benefited from the numerous advantages of the all-around UV printer and cutting plotter, which he acquired from Mimaki dealer, Modico graphic systems. He is thoroughly convinced by the reliable UV-LED systems.

“Thanks to the positive characteristics of the UV inks used, we can print on a wide variety of media, and the system allows us to transition quickly to the next step of our work. The extensive range of possible applications and functionalities perfectly aligns with our broad product range,” summarises the owner with satisfaction.

The pandemic significantly challenged many advertising technicians over the past three years due to the absence of trade fairs and events, yet Peter Rommel expanded his business during this period. “From a business standpoint, the entire pandemic was more of a blessing than a curse for us. We witnessed how many colleagues focused on trade fair construction or furniture saw their orders vanish overnight. However, due to our broad product range, we had the advantage of having sufficient alternatives and opportunities to pivot our business in other areas during this period,” Peter Rommel explains.

“We heavily rely on film technology, work extensively in the automotive sector, execute facade advertisements, banners, and process the entire spectrum of typical digital printing media. Additionally, we are also active in LED technology. We have greatly benefited from this strategic approach during this time,” he adds, outlining his diverse product portfolio. “You can never predict in advance which sector will grow or decline. Yet, up until now, at the end of each fiscal year, our balance sheet has been positive. The broad range of products provides a balanced mix that helps successfully offset any lows in a particular business area. Through our positioning, we were able to cushion every downturn adequately – an invaluable advantage in these unpredictable times.”

In addition to the numerous smaller businesses and craft enterprises that often commission the design and production of their advertising spaces, Peter Rommel also serves several well-known brand manufacturers as his clients. For instance, a major tractor manufacturer, Deutz-Fahr, is among his customers. Rommel produces and installs prints spanning entire exhibition halls within tensioned frame systems for this client. According to Rommel, these are project-specific orders that quickly add up to several hundred square metres in size.

Furthermore, Rommel Werbung (advertising) also equips around 80 stations of a large petrol station chain with attached convenience stores and beverage markets, providing them with their monthly changing poster advertisements. There are also several other renowned retail chains that Rommel serves. “We are the best-performing supplier in our region. Our regular catchment area extends from Augsburg to Ulm, but due to our chain store clientele, our reach stretches from Lake Constance to Würzburg and from Stuttgart to Munich,” Peter Rommel explains.

Recently, Peter Rommel was able to win over a renowned electronics manufacturer from the region with his reliability and know-how. He now supplies all the necessary prints for two locations of the corporation. This includes everything from small parking signs that need replacement due to sun fading to massive 20 x 10-metre prints within tensioned frames. Over the years, Peter Rommel has learned: “Once you are listed as a supplier, it creates an enormous commitment. If you consistently deliver good work, you earn a certain level of trust and can look forward to a long-term customer relationship.”

Owner, Peter Rommel

Rommel Werbetechnik car wrapping

Rommel Werbetechnik vehicle wrapping

Mimaki UCJV300-160

Remain innovative and open-minded

Creativity is an invaluable prerequisite for long-term success in the field of advertising technology. This is why Peter Rommel consistently introduces new products and solutions into the company’s portfolio. “We advertising technicians are easily excited about innovations. We observe the market, participate in many forums, frequently come across intriguing novelties, and regularly ask ourselves whether a specific application would be attractive to our company and customer base,” explains Peter Rommel.

One innovation that the entrepreneur is currently exploring is switchable film. With a click, this film changes from transparent to an opaque frosted glass appearance. According to Peter Rommel, this product is relatively new to the market and is currently in high demand. Additionally, since the manufacturer claims that it is possible to print on the film, this presents a new and exciting playground for creative ideas for Peter Rommel, from which his customers can benefit in the future.

Organic growth

Looking towards the future, the focus at Rommel Werbetechnik is clearly on expansion, but with a sense of proportion. Plans include the addition of more systems from Mimaki, including another UV printer and possibly one of the new DTF printers when they are available. To ensure capacity utilisation, share the investment costs, and address space requirements, Peter Rommel is pursuing a collaboration with a friendly company from the region. According to Peter Rommel, there is not a strong sense of competition among advertising technicians in the region. Each person focuses on their strengths and occasionally seeks support from others.

“My goal is to further expand the printing sector. My colleague shares the same vision, so we have decided to combine our expertise and jointly drive this segment forward,” Peter Rommel concludes.

The post Rommel Werbetechnik Relies on Mimaki’s UV-LED Technology appeared first on Mimaki Europe.

Dino Zoli Textile is a well-established Italian company specialising in the production and supply of a broad range of textile products.

With a successful history of over 50 years, they have been at the forefront of innovation, continually meeting the evolving demands of their diverse client base. Their partnership with Mimaki, a leading manufacturer of wide-format inkjet printers, has allowed them to expand their product offering and increase customisation, driving their success in an ever-competitive market.

The Dino Zoli Journey

Founded in 1972, Dino Zoli Textile started as a furniture wholesaler in the Pesaro and Forlì area. Their initial offering included more than just fabric for upholstered furniture. They supplied everything the local furniture industry needed, from armchair feet to quilted velvet and even cardboard products for templates.

However, in the late 1980s, DinoZoli Textile made a strategic shift and decided to focus exclusively on producing and supplying fabric, leading to its current pure textiles specialisation. The company’s continuous efforts to stay ahead of trends saw them capitalising on microfibre, a cost-effective alternative to Alcantara, which was gaining recognition in the industry. Today, they continue to offer microfibre along with traditional natural and synthetic textiles.

Innovative Moves

Dino Zoli Textile is known for its proactive approach in finding and creating innovative products, manufacturing unique hybrid recycled leather and eco-leather products.

“According to the recent report “The future of Home 2030,” the trends to watch out for in furniture, at least for the next decade, will all gravitate around the concept of the home-island: the home will increasingly become a multifunctional place in which to relax, play sports, read and enjoy infotainment, but also work. Increasingly furniture made of antibacterial materials, such as copper and cork, will be in demand — we see huge opportunity for continued innovation,” explained Marco Zoli, CEO at Dino Zoli Textile.

In an effort to cater to a diverse array of projects, Dino Zoli Textile established in-house design and production divisions. This setup allows them to deliver tailor-made services, ranging from contractual to off-the-shelf offerings.

Partnering with Mimaki

To further their commitment to customisation, Dino Zoli Textile invested in Mimaki printers, beginning with the JV300-160. This move allowed them to offer enhanced customisation for their collections and specific design requests from architectural firms. The plotters have expanded Dino Zoli’s service offerings, significantly broadening their customer base.

Initially, the plotters were used for transfer printing, primarily for synthetic fabrics. However, Dino Zoli Textile later transitioned to direct printing using pigment inks for natural materials.

Dino Zoli expanded their capacity with the addition of Tx300P-1800B and Tx300P-1800 MkII systems. Featuring a belt system enabling to print with high quality and precision even on more complex fabrics with low tensile stability, the Tx300P-1800B proved to be an ideal solution to further enhance Dino Zoli Texile’s know-how and R&D activities. Equally strategic, the Tx300P-1800 MkII printer is capable of both direct-to-textile and transfer printing, making it very useful for companies looking to drive innovative applications. Its interchangeable print platen and three different dual ink combinations lend it unprecedented flexibility within a single system, enabling Dino Zoli Textile to push the boundaries of textile design and production.

This innovation from Mimaki has allowed Dino Zoli to reap the benefits of digital print technology, which includes more cost-effective short runs and faster turnarounds. These advantages, which are not achievable with traditional analogue print methods, have transformed the way Dino Zoli operates. The technology has proven especially useful for sampling, allowing the company to trial new ideas and products with lower financial risk.

Leveraging Mimaki’s advanced printing equipment – including Mimaki Tx300P-1800B and Tx300P-1800 MkII systems – has enabled Dino Zoli to reap the benefits of the digital printing technology, including more cost-effective short runs and faster turnarounds.

The Mimaki JV300-160 allowed Dino Zoli Textile to offer enhanced customisation for their collections, handle specific design requests from architectural firms, as well as expand the company’s service offerings, significantly broadening their customer base.

One of Dino Zoli’s latest textile collections showcased at the company’s booth at Heimtextil 2023 in Frankfurt

Harnessing flexibility for innovation

The Mimaki Tx300P-1800 MkII‘s versatility extends beyond its printing capabilities. It can handle an impressive range of fabrics, thanks to its design as a hybrid printer. Whether Dino Zoli is producing synthetic textiles or working with natural fibres, the Mimaki Tx300P-1800 MkII rises to the occasion, producing high-quality prints every time.

Furthermore, the Mimaki Tx300P-1800 MkII stands alone in the textile printing market with its unique ability to switch from direct printing to sublimation paper printing. By installing an easy-to-click vacuum platen, Dino Zoli can adapt its printing method according to the task at hand, giving it an edge over competitors.

Despite its high-performance capabilities, the Mimaki Tx300P-1800 MkII remains user-friendly, featuring a high head gap for accurate dot placement, even when operating at a higher print head gap. This function, designed for a broad range of materials and applications, allows Dino Zoli to produce an array of products, from fashion apparel and interior fabrics to sports apparel and soft signage. This wide production range ensures the company can cater to diverse customer needs, enhancing its reputation as a one-stop textile solution.

While this investment was timely, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in this proposal remaining a niche offering due to difficult trading conditions.

Expanding Horizons

Despite these challenges, Dino Zoli Textile continues to innovate and expand its offerings. The company keeps turning its radars toward technology innovations that can enable them to cater to even more diverse customer needs.

The company has not stood still on the investment front either: the management recently decided to install a new printer from Mimaki. Working alongside the JV300-160, the TS330-1600, a dye-sublimation inkjet printer, has been chosen with the aim of helping increase productivity with the high-quality standards Dino Zoli Textile has been renowned for since its outset.

Beyond upholstered furniture (their core business), Dino Zoli Textile collaborates with architectural firms to provide turnkey solutions for hotels, restaurants, and public places. Their client base includes furniture manufacturers, upholsterers for household accessories to bed frames, cushion makers, and architectural and design studios.

Dedication to Research & Development

Dino Zoli Textile’s commitment to innovation is evident in their allocation of resources, with nearly 30% of their turnover invested in research and development. These investments have resulted in products like soundproof panels that can be printed in-house. Their distributors have found success in proposing these products from recent trade fairs.

Moreover, their commitment to sustainability is seen across the company’s operations. Marco Zoli, owner at Dino Zoli Textile commented: “We use water-based pigment inks because in our policy there is and always will be more environmental awareness. We have come out this year with a GRS (Global Recycle Standard)-certified product, which we have chosen to produce in the microfibre area, since we are very well known for microfibre at an international level. We were the first company to produce a fully GRS-certified product using recycled polyester. From this starting point, we expect 90% of our future products to adhere to these environmental standards, because we are strongly oriented towards the use of recycled fibres and we are also trying to get to the certification of total recyclability of the product to fully close the circle.”

Looking to the Future

In its five decades of operation, Dino Zoli Textile has proven its resilience and capability to adapt and innovate. Despite the challenges brought on by the global pandemic, they remain steadfast, maintaining their sales network and receiving positive feedback from the last three important trade events they attended.  The company’s commitment to human relationships and product reliability, coupled with the power of Mimaki’s technology, position them for continued success in the textile industry.

The post Transforming Textiles: Dino Zoli Textile’s Journey with Mimaki appeared first on Mimaki Europe.

Mimaki’s 3DUJ-553 allows digital 3D asset creator and metaverse consultant Fansea to bring unique collectibles to life from the virtual world.

In 2020, through a combined keen interest in cryptocurrency, innovation and football, Alexander Schlicher founded 3D asset creator and web3 and metaverse consultancy company, Fansea. Operating almost entirely in the digital world, Fansea gives avid sports fans and gamers the chance to own a digital clone of an iconic artifact, through scanning and digitalising real-world objects. The user can then either keep this as a collectible, have their digital avatar wear it in virtual spaces or collect and trade it on NFT marketplaces – and more recently, physically own it as a 3D printed model.

Today the company has produced numerous unique 3D assets with notable names to celebrate iconic moments in the sporting and gaming world, for example recreating Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning team’s shirts and German Olympian Sabrina Mockenhaupt’s running shoe. The Frankfurt based company also offers other digital services, such as metaverse consulting, to help organisations create a digital presence and rebuild websites in preparation for an increasingly digital future.

Back to reality with Mimaki

While initially specialising in digital items, Fansea saw the value of bringing these artifacts into the real world. And so, in 2022, Alexander and his team set out to find a technology to bridge the gap between the virtual and physical by offering their customers photorealistic, 3D copies of their digital assets.

In their search, they were introduced to the Mimaki 3DUJ-553 by the digital printing system and accessories provider, DP Solutions. As one of the world’s first full colour 3D printers with over 10 million colours at its disposal, Mimaki’s UV-curable inkjet 3D printer proved up to task when it came to recreating highly detailed, complex models in various sizes – from the 3D Mini-Print to Full-Size.

“We wanted something like the replicator from Star Trek,” explains Schlicher. “We tried other 3D printers on the market, but Mimaki’s quality was by far the best. While we could have had our items printed cheaply and in larger qualities, our focus is on creating bespoke high-quality collectibles for our customers, so it was important that we had the quality that only Mimaki were able to deliver.”

The mass production of miniature models or toys is common, however, Fansea opted for Mimaki rather than traditional production methods to bypass the time-consuming and prone to inaccuracies process of painting each item. Additionally, the 3DUJ-553 was able to accurately bring the individual qualities of each item directly from the screen to the model, allowing Fansea to capture every tear, every crinkle, every spot of dirt on a world cup winning shirt or shoe worn in a boxing fight.

Get into 3D now and take advantage of our limited time 3D Starter park:

Replicating a piece of history

The production process kicks off with Fansea obtaining the license to a sports or gaming IP, for example for the Argentinian National Football team or AC Milan. Then either Fansea or the customer identifies an item of interest, which could be anything from a boot or a medal. This is then scanned to create a digital 3D asset, before being sent to their in-house 3DUJ-553 for printing.

The 3DUJ-553 allows the company to create highly detailed and colourful models, with the added ability to mix clear and coloured inks to achieve the desired transparency. Each model is printed with a water-soluble support material, enabling high levels of detail without the usual concerns over breakage, and can easily be removed.

Once printed, each model is treated with pigmented photo-polymer resin and protective lacquer to create ensure a durable and high-quality finish. Alongside a limited-edition virtual and physical item, the customers also receive a certificate of authenticity protected by blockchain technology.

Adidas shoe full-size 3D model

Adidas shoe mini 3D model

Alexander Schlicher – founder of Fansea

model design

printer set-up

printing in progress

Bridging the virtual gap

3D printing has the potential to revolutionise the digital space. While the world adapts to the idea of digital assets, companies like Fansea are bridging the gap between the two worlds, with a reliable way of transferring the qualities of these 3D assets into the real world. “With significant developments in the digital space, aspects like video games are becoming more and more realistic, so the gap between the analogue and digital is much smaller than it once was. By producing physical artifacts, we are helping bringing consumers even closer to their digital belongings,” comments Schlicher.

While Fansea is currently focusing on sporting and gaming memorabilia, there is no limit to where this combination of the digital and physical items could go. From iconic film props to historical artifacts, fans and collectors will be able to own their own copy of history both virtually and in real life – an exciting prospect for the growing number of people who ‘live’ in the digital space!

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By combining Mimaki’s textile dye sublimation solutions and Early.Vision’s apparel customisation software capabilities, UK-based bespoke cycling attire manufacturer NOPINZ has stepped its production into a higher gear.

Founded in 2013, NOPINZ is a renowned UK-based manufacturer of clothing for cyclists and triathletes. The company’s first product was the ‘SpeedPocket’, a product that allows competitors to attach their race numbers more easily (and with ‘no pins’) while improving the all-important aerodynamics. Soon recognising the customer demand for premade attire with incorporated number pockets, the company embarked on a mission to manufacture these new product lines itself. Today, NOPINZ boasts a diverse portfolio, with 60% of its products made in-house, catering to a growing customer base across the UK and international markets.

Gearing up to grow

“We tested out a few printers, before we ultimately settled on Mimaki,” Blake Pond, the founder of NOPINZ explained. Now the company’s line-up entirely consists of Mimaki’s textile dye sublimation solutions, purchased through Mimaki Authorised Partner, Xpres. With an initial investment in two TS300P-1800 in 2016, NOPINZ later upgraded its technology capabilities with a TS55-1800 in 2022.

“During our search we prioritised the ability to produce fluorescence and accurately replicate colours. Customers often come to us with existing kit made by other manufacturers, which they want to match, so accurately replicating colour is extremely important. And even without existing kit, customers occasionally ask for specific pantone colours. When it comes to cycling kit, colour is often pivotal when considering where to buy from.”

As two flagship dye sublimation printers, both the TS300P-1800 and TS55-1800 are equipped to print on the various technical fabrics that are needed for cycling attire and faithfully reproduce colours to meet customer expectations.

NOPINZ places a strong emphasis on sustainability and is committed to minimising its environmental impact. Using a microfactory approach gives better oversight and control of the manufacturing process, including sourcing materials sustainably and locally where possible, reducing transportation, and improving access to recycling. “Our ‘zero to landfill’ policy, means that we reduce our wastage where possible and either recycle or donate excess product to charity,” Blake adds. “We hope to become a B-Corp company in the future.”

Making the production aerodynamic

With a steadily growing customer base across the UK and abroad, NOPINZ began to look for ways to finetune its processes. “Preparing orders for print was done manually and the time needed to do so had become a significant bottleneck in our production process,” Blake explained, “As we looked to scale up, we knew something needed to change. We got a recommendation for Early.Vision, which offer software solutions for the apparel industry, in May 2022 and since then, it’s been smooth sailing!”

Early.Vision supports in streamlining the design to production workflow, allowing designers to focus on design and create nesting ready files that are prepared for production automatically based on eCommerce orders. It integrated its software to work seamlessly with Mimaki’s RIP software. “We immediately saw significant improvements, in both time and cost,” explained Blake. “It used to take us 36 hours to print 150 items, we can now do the same in 90 minutes!”

Beyond the printing process itself, NOPINZ have seen other benefits to taking on Early.Vision’s technology. “While we endeavour to produce mostly in-house (about 60%), when we do need to outsource, it’s much easier to send these print runs to other locations to be made. As we look to scale up our own production, this will also be a huge help.”

Early Vision software

Nopinz ‘s microfactory in UK

Printed attire product

High-tech, high-accuracy

NOPINZ creates speed suits for some of the world’s top cycling teams, as well as competitive amateurs. “A World Tour team is like a Premier League football team, winning and losing by very fine margins. A lot of the kit we make for them is custom fitted, completely bespoke, not just in terms of the print but the whole fit of the item. We even look at minute details such as the material placement to further improve the aerodynamics. We then use 3D scanning to get the measurements of the athlete exactly right. For this, the athlete stands in a booth, and are scanned, with those precise measurements being used in the creation of the kit,” explained Blake.

Global expansion with Mimaki

As NOPINZ eyes expansion into new territories, Blake expects that Mimaki dye sublimation solutions will remain the company’s printers of choice: “We’re looking to further expand in the USA and Australia and because we want to manufacture local to the market, that means setting up microfactories in those new locations. Considering its importance to our customers, we really want to keep colours consistent no matter where they order from, so we wouldn’t consider moving away from Mimaki as our preferred supplier.”

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Investment in Mimaki digital printers enables Omniapiega to benefit from increased production speed, flexibility and creativity, meeting the exacting demands of fashion brands and designers

Pleating never goes out of fashion. On the contrary, the passion for pleated textures continues to set trends in the world of fashion and haute couture and has even conquered other creative sectors, such as design and architecture. Relaunched at the turn of the century and made popular by Marylin Monroe, the elegant, pleated skirt is synonymous with style. However, when it comes to adding patterns or other graphic design elements to a pleated garment, the nature of the process creates some complications. This is where the introduction of digitally printed designs and patterns can take pleated garments to even higher levels of quality and appeal. Not only that, but digital printing techniques can also offer designers and textile companies increased flexibility when it comes to modifying a piece. Whether to improve the end result last minute or simply create a slightly different version of an existing design – changing the colours gives consumers multiple options of the same product.

Omniapiega is a company who recognises the opportunities made possible with digital printing. This Italian company’s expertise in producing high-quality pleated garments is central to its success. Founded in 1970, Omniapiega has tackled various technological challenges over the years in order to continuously improve the complex pleating processes, enhance quality and deliver the best possible service. The most recent way this established business has driven even further success and maintained its competitive advantage was to add digital printing services to its offering.

Bringing Print into the Fold

Based in Carate Brianza, in the province of Monza Brianza – strategically located close to the textile districts of Como and Turin and the fashion capital, Milan – Omniapiega offers a highly specialist, customised pleating service to fashion designers and brands.

“In the past, we used external suppliers for creative development and for printing, with very long and complex production processes,” explains Pierfilippo Longoni, Fabrics Developer at Omniapiega. “However, when dealing with the world of fashion and creativity, tight deadlines, and last-minute changes are the order of the day. Even when a product is approved, very often variants of the design have to be made very quickly. Consequently, with production times exceeding two weeks, outsourcing the print was complicated and presented several problems.”

This lengthy process and the need to create different versions of the same product on demand prompted Omniapiega’s management to take the leap and bring digital printing in-house. The aim was to speed up production and guarantee consistent quality from the conception of the design to the choice of fabrics, right up to the delivery of the almost finished product.

Fashioning a New In-House Digital Print Service

With the support of Bompan, Mimaki’s exclusive reseller in Italy, Omniapiega installed its first Mimaki JV5 printer in 2015, which was quickly followed by two more units.

“The first step was to create a dedicated printing team, including a technician specialising in sublimation printing for textiles, a graphic designer and a textile designer. It was with this new team that, after researching the solutions available on the market, it was decided to focus on Mimaki’s technology,” explained Longoni.

With its expert team in place and three Mimaki systems printing reliably and at high quality, Omniapiega was able to successfully launch its in-house service, increasing both production speed and flexibility. The company could now easily meet the requirements of its customers for fast iterations or design versions, as well as provide more choice when it came to printing onto different fabrics.

“The ability to print in-house gave us the extra edge. Mimaki’s technology proved effective right from the start, providing the quality, repeatability and production efficiency we needed. Over the years, we then turned our attention to perfecting the creativity and design element of our services,” continued Longoni.

Printed application

printing in progress

pleated dress

Latest Mimaki Technology for ComPLEAT Creativity

Focused on production technology innovation and with the excellent experience Omniapiega has had with Mimaki to date, the company decided to upgrade its production facility in 2022. They added a Mimaki TS55-1800 sublimation printer, intended for continuous production on 350-metre reels, and a TS100-1600 sublimation printer for sampling. The combination of the two high performance machines allows the company to run proofs with greater flexibility before moving to actual production. The consistently high quality achievable with these two systems provides Omniapiega with the certainty that it will achieve the same end results, identical to the prototypes, every time.

Longoni continued, “The investment in the Mimaki TS55-1800 and TS100-1600 printers enabled us to further improve speed and productivity. But that’s not all – Mimaki’s technology has enhanced our creative processes too, making it possible to replicate a number of vintage jobs in a modern way. In our archive, we have around 6000 different samples for pleating processes and fabric designs. Designers have access to this archive and often take vintage designs or garments as inspiration. Thanks to Mimaki’s technology, we are able to work with them to adapt these beautiful vintage patterns to ensure they look flawless when printed and then pleated. The Mimaki printers produce vibrant colours and intricate, accurate details that add that final touch of creativity to the pieces.”

“Pleating has always been our core business and we boast a leading position in the market. In fact, we can say that when we look in the shop windows of the high streets across Italy, the pleats on display are often our own work. With the addition of our dedicated team and Mimaki’s digital equipment, we have been able to further consolidate our position as an industry leader. The high-end fashion brands we work with are excited with the applications we achieved with this technology, and likewise, they are happy with the exceptional service in terms of flexibility and speed, both in development and production, that we are able to provide thanks to the Mimaki printers. Last but not least, digital printing has opened up countless avenues of development and innovation for us, allowing us to further accelerate our path of continuous growth and evolution. We look forward to what the future holds as we continue to push new creative and technological boundaries together,” Longoni concludes.

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Specialised in manufacturing signage, custom decor and in-store large-format printed applications for supermarkets and other retailers, Italian company Eurotipo is surfing the future with the cutting-edge JV330-160

Large-scale retail trade is a dynamic, ever-increasing sector. Over the last decades, the evolution in shopper’s behaviour and expectations, along with the advent of online shopping, has put pressure on physical retailers to innovate and replace their existing stores with brand-new storefronts. Advanced printing technology plays a key role as the tool enabling to create outstanding shop designs and layouts, as well as to change them easily, quickly, and cost-effectively. Large-format digital printing, in particular, has been instrumental to drive the evolution of image, marketing, and communication strategies of retail chains, distributors and brand owners in their range of point-of-sales materials.

A specialist in providing retail printing services and solutions, Italian company Eurotipo has been at the forefront of the evolution of stores over the last decade. With a policy of upgrading its production equipment every two years, the company has grown to become a digital printing specialist using Mimaki technologies and serving some of the most well-known retailers in Italy, including COOP Liguria and COOP Lombardia.

Digital pathways

When Eurotipo decided to invest in digital printing technology, they turned to Mimaki and Bompan, an exclusive importer of Mimaki for Italy, and purchased a JV300-160 print system through Camatech, a Bompan dealer in the Liguria region. The Mimaki printer immediately had a positive impact on the business and enabled the company to efficiently produce a wide array of applications – ranging from printed labels on a roll and stickers using a variety of materials and sizes, for posters and signage – and therefore diversify the product portfolio and address new market segments. “Not only did we achieve excellent quality and extreme production efficiency, but we also found in Mimaki and Bompan a reliable and effective partner. Hence, we started planning how to further expand our business,” explains Valente. Following that initial purchase, the company has since invested in the latest technologies from Mimaki and today utilises six Mimaki printing units, including a JFX200-2513 and JFX500-2131 flatbed inkjet printers, a UCJV300 UV LED print & cut system, a CJV300-160 eco-solvent print & cut system, and the newest JV330-160 eco-solvent inkjet printer. “The printing sector is very competitive, and one cannot stand still. This is why we have expanded and strengthened our production printing equipment, with the aim to address the ever-evolving requirements of the market and keep our equipment and production process as up to date as possible. And with Mimaki as our main provider, we have always been able to find the most appropriate solution for each specific production requirement.”

Established in 1976 in Vado Ligure (Liguria region), Eurotipo started off as a traditional printer and lithographer, and eventually embraced digital printing in the early 2000s. “As a company, we have always focused on keeping up with the evolution of the market,” says Daniel Valente, owner at Eurotipo. “In the early 2000s, we were facing complex market dynamics and we knew that in order to survive we would need to completely transform our business. Digital printing technology was the way to go to leverage new growth opportunities in the retail sector and beyond.”

Fish market signage

Meat market signage

Mimaki JFX500-2131

Mimaki JV330-160

Widening horizons

Most recently, Eurotipo was searching for a large format printing system featuring a larger print size, but still providing top print quality and speed. After exploring a number of options, the company identified the Mimaki JV330-160 eco-solvent inkjet printer as the right solution. The JV330-160 was installed in December 2022 and it has been working at full capacity ever since. “It’s fast, flexible, and productive. The minute we installed it, we immediately saw improvements in terms of productivity and delivery/time to market. And the superior quality achieved has enabled us to explore new application opportunities.” Eurotipo uses the JV330-160 to produce custom signage, in-store large-format printed displays, as well as blown-up prints, high-end stickers, window displays and all kinds of decor for supermarkets, GDO shops and other retailers. In addition, thanks to the quality provided by the new printer, the company is also addressing new market segments, including perfume shops and boutiques, as well as restaurants.

“I believe that the JV330-160 was the perfect choice for us. The printer is extremely efficient and productive, as well as easy to handle, meaning that we can reduce the overall production time. Likewise, the superior quality delivered has opened up new opportunities in different market niches, which is instrumental to the company’s present and future growth,” says Daniel Valente. According to him, there is more added value to be explored. The Mimaki digital printing equipment at Eurotipo perfectly fits the other flagship technologies in use, including pad printing and digital embroidery printing. “We have always focused on advanced, cutting-edge technologies and we can now combine them to achieve superior results in different applications addressed to different markets.”

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Now able to achieve high quality, stability, and production speed, Team Inc. is ready to “take on anything that comes”.

Specialising in wrapping, Team Inc. utlise the JV330-130 flagship printer and a range of Mimaki products

Established about 20 years ago, Team Inc. initially started out as a division of ZENYU-INSATSU CO., LTD., and spun off as an independent company in 2009. The firm is well known in the Kanto region as a company capable of handling everything from large-format printing to installation.

We interviewed President Yusuke Inoue, who led the company since its spin-off:

Adopting inkjet printers

Team Inc. operates in the same building even after breaking away from ZENYU-INSATSU company. Our company began as a division of ZENYU-INSATSU company. I was not with the company at the time of the founding of the division. In those days, the mainstream electrostatic printers were used to output large-format prints.

When I joined the company, various printing companies were venturing into large-format printing as a new pillar of their business, and I first joined as a printing sales representative, engaged in both regular and large-format printing sales. Engaging in large-format print sales, I came to realise that electrostatic printing was not the right way to go. It was becoming outdated, because of the expensive toners and media, as well as the low productivity. In fact, we were not getting many orders for large-format print jobs, and profitability was low.

We looked into solvent inkjet printers, and found them to be affordable; the printers, ink and the media.. We thought, “We can expect profitability with these printers.” Once we actually introduced them, the lease price plummeted to less than one-tenth of the former price, and inexpensive media also became available. From that point on, division sales began rising steadily, and jobs started to come in one after another. We also introduced Mimaki printers around then.

Specialising in large-format printing

After going independent, Team Inc. made it a work stance to “take on anything that comes.” We did tele-appointments, and some of our customers were carried over from the ZENYU-INSATSU company days. The four employees with us at the time worked without a break to handle the gradually increasing number of customers and jobs, increasing our sales.

Back then, we put in too much work — no vacations, and work continued until late at night. It was distinctly detrimental, even causing several employees to leave the company. In remorse, we rethought the company work style about eight years ago. We adopted a policy of having most weekends off and going home by 6:00 PM every day. This new policy is all about focusing on high value-added work demanding our skills, so that we can provide generous services to customers who recognise these attributes.

The vehicle wrapping business, in particular, has become a pillar of our business, matching our corporate policy. Mimaki printers meet our expectations for high productivity and stability, closely matching our policy of completing jobs quickly and in a short period of time.

Team Inc. applies vehicle wrappings to passenger cars, buses, and also trucks

Team Inc. applies vehicle wrappings to passenger cars, buses, and also trucks

Application of vehicle wrappings

JV330-130, newly introduced at the end of April 2022

JV300-130 Plus, previous workhorse of the corporate printer lineup

President Yusuke Inoue, standing before the JV330-130 Solvent Printer

Absolute confidence in JV330-130

We included the JV330-130 in our printer lineup at the end of April this year (2022). I have always been a big fan of Mimaki, constantly on the lookout for new inkjet printers from the company. As I mentioned earlier, the printer we introduced at the time of the company’s founding gave us very stable output and helped us with our work. Since then, the work style of the entire company has been centered around Mimaki printers.
At the moment, we have the JV300-130 Plus, JV300-130, and the UJV55-320 in our facilities, all operating stably.

Although we tried out solvent-based printers from other companies, the colour results were completely different compared to orders requiring the same design received a month apart from each other. We simply could not adjust the output. As Mimaki printer users, we have always taken it for granted that the same printer would constantly end up with the same results, but our other machines were different. We could not trust it to accomplish jobs with confidence.

Mimaki printers are another story, and we could trust them with our work. Mimaki became our printers of choice when it comes to works likely to be repeated, and opportunities to use them increased even more. On the other hand, printers with unstable colour results were used less and less. Because of this, it took additional time to clean the print heads and start up for test prints.

As for the JV330-130, we jumped to procure the machine immediately when we found the announcement of the new product and saw its product specifications. Based on experience, naturally. What we wanted was a printer tailored to large-format, high-speed output. The M-64s printers manufactured by OKI, which Mimaki had been selling, had just reached the end of their maintenance period. So, we thought this product would be a suitable replacement. The M-64s were also fast machines producing stable output, but I preferred the RIP software supplied from Mimaki, and found it easier to use, so I was the one who really wanted the replacement. The shift went smoothly and the familiar RIP output is satisfying. I am happy with the replacement.

Demonstrating power in high-volume jobs

When equipped for 4-coloured (C/M/Y/K) printing, the JV330-130 has an output speed of 45.0 m²/h, almost double that of the JV300 and on par with the output of the M-64s. Therefore, we opted to utilise this machine for high-volume output. As I mentioned earlier, our strongest business is wrapping, and the most common application is wrappings on commercial vehicles such as cabs and buses. Since there are cases where a large number of vehicles are involved, we hope to assign the JV330-130 to such jobs, differentiating from the JV300 series.

We also have the opportunity to undertake wrappings for temporary construction fences, and we believe the JV330-130 will prove its strength in such large-area jobs as well. Since the introduction at the end of April, we have gradually tried the machine out, conducting tests on the way. We are under the impression that the quality is high, stable, and fast in general output mode, as is typical of Mimaki products. Current output is at least 20 metres per day and sometimes in excess of 100 metres on the highest days. Firms taking on jobs requiring the output of a fixed number of square metres would definitely want one of these machines.

Wrappings to render images into form

The most difficult segment of vehicular wrapping is the output and application of wrappings for personal automobiles. Naturally, owners have strong attachments with these cars, and we sometimes receive orders to apply wrapping to so-called “itasha” (painted cars). Most of these orders involve characters from anime, manga, and video games, and are produced on the JV300-130 Plus and other printers.

Regardless of whether it is a commercial or personal vehicle, it is essential to visualise the final result, sharing the same image with the customer prior to the actual wrapping application. At Team Inc., the print data is processed to create a computer graphics image of the state of application on the customer’s vehicle, simulating the actual after-image of the application. When we show this data to our customers, they are often amazed:  “Have you finished the wrapping already?” is a common reaction we often see. Using the generated imagery, we only proceed to the actual application only after the customer is satisfied with the end result. In this process, we are able to provide a very high level of satisfaction even with the most demanding privately owned cars, and we are able to provide a finish that makes people say, “You can’t go wrong with them.” Even for the most difficult of jobs, delivery time is from one to two weeks from the image setting to the application.

Expanding the scope of work with cup-vending machine wrappings

In addition to automobiles, we are also into wrappings for cup vending machines.
We have some major vending machine companies as our customers, and we thought, promoting the installation of vending machines may also expand opportunities for our wrapping business.

So, we came up with a site on vending machine wrappings to be used as a sales tool by vending machine company representatives, devising a system to allow them to use tablets and other devices when proposing the installation of vending machines. At the same time, we provided information on wrappings within the site. The number of vending machines with wrappings applied is gradually increasing, and some of the salespeople are using this system with great success. Since we are good at generating design data and other digital-related services, we are also able to provide services such as the above.

Specialising as a wrapping application company

We intend to proceed with the specialisation in wrappings and improve our skills. We intend to enhance our position in the field of wrapping, taking advantage of our strength in being capable of consistently handling everything from image proposals to design, output, and application. Since we have a lot of experience in vehicular wrapping and have a good understanding of how to apply whatever design is required, we have acquired a reputation for “making fewer mistakes.”

In addition, we have recently obtained an antique dealer’s license and are looking for new business opportunities utilising our wrapping skills. I myself, would like to keep up with my efforts to enhance our brand power so that our company name “Team” will be better known.

Expanding the scope of work with cup-vending machine wrappings

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Designs of unicorns and monsters are currently among the bestsellers produced by the company fahrradaufkleber.shop – made possible through Mimaki’s technology.

For over ten years, fahrradaufkleber.shop has allowed imagination to run wild with individually designed outdoor stickers for bicycles. On site at their facility in Radeberg, Germany, they also operate a local advertising technology shop, offering various advertising technology products, such as car and motorbike stickers.

Previously, the company used a Summa DC5SX thermal printer for the printing. “The printing process we utilise, uses simple resources to create a finished sticker, which is printed and cut without needing to be laminated at the end”, summarises Franco Loreck, the owner of fahrradaufkleber.shop. However, as the production of colour ribbons was discontinued, an alternative had to be found. Through YouTube videos and research, Loreck discovered Mimaki dealer die12Monate, who advised him on the technologies available. When he tested the equipment for himself, a major requirement was the quality of the printed small lettering for the name labels. The UCJV300-160 proved to be particularly impressive during this process.

As Mimaki, global manufacturer of large format inkjet printers and cutting plotters, offers both UV and solvent printing solutions, Loreck had to make a choice. He ultimately decided on the UCJV300-160 printer with a white and clear coating in order to save on the laminating process. “The biggest advantage of our old DC5SX was being able to print colour gradients. The print quality was very good for our stickers, which are often small. This was also a decisive factor when we chose the UCJV300-160 printer.”

Tactile effect

As bicycle stickers are generally printed on a transparent film, printing in white is absolutely vital, so that the print is visible on all surfaces. But white lettering on transparent film is also required for name stickers and other designs beyond bicycle stickers.

“We subsequently upgraded our stickers with a clear coating to produce thin, high-quality stickers, which can be used immediately”. The printer’s cutting function was originally a condition for the purchase to achieve the finished stickers. Loreck adds: “However, in practice we don’t use it because our plotters can cut everything more efficiently and then the printer has more capacity for its actual purpose. But the direct cutting function is certainly important for single prints.”

The UCJV300-160 is equipped with CMYK, white and a clear coating. In principle, white is vital for transparent or coloured media so that the colours don’t look faded. Franco Loreck uses the three-layer function: white – colour – clear coating. The clear coating is applied on the surface at the end, either over the entire print or only partially to achieve a textured effect. The clear coating can be applied in a matte or gloss version, but the company tends to use more matte than gloss. “In our advertising technology shop the printer is also often used to print on materials other than normal transparent film”, says Franco Loreck. A material can be found for almost every application; banner films, reflective films, paper and also canvas are all able to be printed on.

Franco Loreck, owner of fahrradaufkleber.shop, has been operating Mimaki’s printer for over two years.

Behind the scenes of sticker production process

Dinosaur stickers add a touch of fun to a rider’s helmet.

The Mimaki UCJV300-160 printer equipped with CMYK, white and a clear coating

A few refinements have to be undertaken to achieve an optimal print result. “Each film has a few special characteristics. From our perspective, the printer is easy to operate and the settings don’t have to be continually readjusted. As we also carry out smaller jobs and don’t just print those with several meters of substrate, it’s extremely important to ensure that the material is fed in correctly.” Depending on the material, one has to proceed intuitively. But it’s also possible to print on a single sheet, depending on the material. “We insert our rolls into the printer and can start immediately,” Loreck elaborates. “Of course, there shouldn’t be any dirt on the material and the edges must be flat. However, I think that goes without saying if you want to maintain the condition and longevity of such a technology.” For over two years fahrradaufkleber.shop has been relying Mimaki technology, delighted that they can now print as required, that the process is simple and the wait is short – and particularly that the printer has been operating without any problems since day one.

UCJV300 series

The UCJV300 series is a versatile inkjet printer series, which combines the printing and cutting function with UV-curing ink. The model has a new four- or five-layer printing mode. The new function has extended the printer’s field of use and enables high-quality, creative work to be achieved. The print speed is up to 25.8 square meters per hour, the maximum resolution is 1,200 dpi. Additional advantages include the environmentally-friendly LUS-170 UV ink and the LUS-200 flexible UV ink with 200 percent expansibility.

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