FLORA Digital Printing Microfactory/ Debuts at TSCI
Recently, the “FLORA Digital Printing Micro Factory” jointly created by FLORA and Epson was grandly opened at the TSCI 2023 International Textile Supply Chain Industry Expo and the International Digital Printing Industry Application Exhibition (Shaoxing Station) in the same period! The micro factory is based on the theme of “same color, same source, same chip”, and restores the complete digital printing production line for garments.
Mr. Gao Yue, Director of Sales Technology and New Application Development of Inkjet Solution of Epson (China) Co., Ltd, Mr. Yu Maoji, General Manager of Textile Division of Shenzhen Runtianzhi Digital Equipment Co., Ltd, Mr. Cui Chao, General Manager of Shanghai YuanYin Digital Technology Co. Participated in the opening ribbon-cutting ceremony of the micro factory. The opening ceremony invited more than 10 industry media such as printing agency to report live together, the scene was lively and extraordinary.
China’s digital printing market is in a time of change and is undergoing an accelerated transformation from traditional production capacity to digital productivity. The emergence of FLORA digital printing micro factory will bring more imagination to the industry. The micro factory consists of digital 3D design, automated fabric processing, waterless digital fabric printing, garment cutting and sewing, garment live with goods and FLORA digital printing process, etc. It is a new model of garment “front store and back factory”.
On the opening day, the digital printing exhibition area of the Micro Factory attracted great attention! With 23 years of industry experience and Epson’s advanced printing head technology, FLORA and Epson joined forces to release the X5 Inkjet Direct Digital Printing Machine and X3 High-Temperature Disperse Dye Direct Digital Printing Machine. Both of these machines belong to short-process and sustainable digital printing solutions, expanding the user range from printing and dyeing companies to fabric and clothing enterprises, thus lowering the barrier for the popularization of digital printing technology.
For FLORA, it is not just about selling the equipment itself but delivering a complete digital printing solution to the users, co-creating differentiated business models with them.
Mr. Yu Maoji, the General Manager of the Textile Printing Business Unit at Runtianzhi, stated in a media interview that the future development trends of textile printing are twofold: environmental friendliness and simplified processes. He further explained that the X5 Inkjet Direct Digital Printing Machine meets the current demand for the transformation from traditional printing to digital printing. It is capable of fulfilling diverse production needs of users.
The FLORA X5 is equipped with 48 Epson S3200-A3 print heads, arranged in an S-shaped configuration for easy splicing, high production efficiency, and long lifespan. It features four color channels that enable high-fidelity reproduction of the original colors in patterns, which is closely tied to the Epson S3200-A3 print heads’ PrecisionCore printing chip. With 4 rows of 8 columns and a total of 3200 nozzles, each individual print head has a nozzle coverage width of 4.7 inches and a nozzle resolution of 600 dpi (2 columns). It utilizes variable droplet technology to achieve multi-level grayscale printing and supports high-saturation, vibrant color output.
The on-site demonstration mainly focused on the inkjet direct digital printing process, specifically for cotton, linen, and blended fabrics. It offers advantages such as good color fastness, streamlined workflow, environmental friendliness, vibrant color reproduction, and soft texture. This makes it suitable for a range of products, including children’s clothing, footwear materials, backpacks, and home textiles.
The X3 utilizes 20 Epson S3200-A3 print heads and demonstrates excellent stability, specifically designed for 24/7 continuous production. It can achieve a maximum production speed of up to 600 square meters per hour and is compatible with textile fabrics of various specifications with a width of 2000mm. It addresses the technical challenges of conventional dispersed dye sublimation printing, particularly for digital printing on apparel, plush, and fashion fabrics. It offers advantages such as good penetration, deep color saturation, and excellent color fastness, making it suitable for high-quality products.
Compared to dispersed dye sublimation, direct inkjet digital printing emphasizes the integration of inkjet technology and printing processes. FLORA has pioneered the “in-line wet-on-wet printing” system on its scanning-type inkjet digital printing machine. The fabric can be directly printed after passing through the in-line wet-on-wet equipment, eliminating the energy cost (drying) and labor cost associated with separate fabric sizing, while also improving printing efficiency. Furthermore, in-line wet-on-wet printing enhances the color uniformity and penetration of digital printing, thereby improving product quality.
In the industry, there have been numerous speculations about the various forms of “future-oriented” digital printing, with digitization being considered a key factor that influences the cost-effectiveness of the digital printing supply chain. When examining FLORA‘s digital printing micro-factory, it becomes evident that their digital printing solutions are interconnected with multiple stages of the process, integrating smart technologies. From pattern design to printing production and e-commerce retail, digitization is seamlessly integrated throughout.
In the digital pattern production showcase area, users can directly import specific patterns and generate 3D renderings of clothing. Once the design is confirmed with the customer, the system automatically generates production print files, which are then transmitted to FLORA‘s digital printing machines for on-site printing. After printing and sewing, the fabric can seamlessly connect with clothing retail channels, facilitating end-point retail.
The key characteristics of FLORA‘s micro-factory are its speed and efficiency. On one end, it optimizes production control to reduce costs and improve efficiency. On the other end, it meets the demands of a flexible and agile fashion supply chain, allowing for a sales-driven production model and minimizing inventory.
Same color, same source, same chip! The global textile and apparel industry is pursuing sustainable development, and we can clearly perceive that FLORA Digital Printing Micro Factory is depicting the future of digital printing. Under the global environment of carbon neutrality, FLORA‘s low-carbon direct-jet digital printing solution is based on the outline of “wisdom, environmental protection, fashion and quick reaction”, which optimizes the supply and demand structure of textiles and helps enterprises to open up new business models and embrace future challenges.
