Konica Minolta has introduced the Nassenger SP-1, a new single pass-printer that the Japanese technology company believes is the start of the “industrial revolution” in digital printing. The inkjet textile printer boasts high-end features like high speed, productivity and resolution.
The company introduced the technology at textile machinery trade show ITMA in Milan, Italy last week.
Former president and current senior adviser of Konica’s Inkjet Division, Akiyoshi Ohno, said the company developed SP-1 in response to the rise of inkjet textile printing, according to PrintWeek. It would only take 30 of the machines to fulfill the current global market for textile printing,which experts estimate at 20 billion meters of textile printed a year, Ohno said.
The 6-foot wide printer can print up to 6,000 linear meters per hour, depending on resolution. Konica’s ink ejection control technology also allows for better resolution for fine patterns and color gradients, as the printers to select small, medium or large drops.
If nozzles become blocked, the printer can automatically respond to cover any missed spots by increasing corresponding ink droplets.
The SP-1 is also being touted for its speed. Ohno told Print Week if the printer was used six days a week, 11 months out of the year, at a speed of 2,000 linear meters per hour, it would print 6.6 million meters of textiles in one year.
“Our aim is to capture 50 percent of the world single-pass inkjet textile printing market,” he added.
The SP-1 will be on display at ITMA until Nov. 19. Konica is taking the opportunity to showcase the printer at its new Demo and Training Center in Bregnano, Italy, where it will offer live demonstrations of the printer. Konica is also displaying its two new multi-pass inkjet textile printers, the Nassenger 10 and Nassenger 8.