Digital Ink Sciences has launched a new ink formulation for direct to garment (DTG) printers and wide format digital textile printers. The ink, DIS150, is a mid-viscosity ink formulation designed specifically for DX5 and DX7 Epson print heads, according to the company.
The company says it focuses on solving the most common and most costly problems in the printing business. That means developing inks which print the best colours, have the lowest maintenance and the shortest cure times of any aqueous textile ink, it says.
Grant French, business development manager for Digital Ink Sciences, says: “The DIS150 ink set is surpassing our highest expectations. We’re getting better colours, deeper blacks, and the custom ink formulation is reducing maintenance on the print heads.”
The DIS150 inks were specifically designed to decrease start-up time for larger shops, the company says. The ink is also uniquely suited for Epson DX series print heads because it is manufactured with a unique Hot Start Technology. With the new ink set, the need for start-of-day nozzle checks and maintenance can be drastically reduced. This results in a decrease in the time required to create the first print from a cold start, the company adds.
The lower maintenance required when using DIS150 inks leads to time and money savings, says Digital Ink Sciences. The ink set also requires fewer head cleanings and flushes, which means operators can keep the machines running longer. This allows more shirts to be printed in the same amount of time, thus making more money, the company continues.
DIS inks are also compatible with both heat press and tunnel dryers for curing. The 150 series also have short cure times. Digital Ink Sciences says that reduced cure times increase bottom line profits on every print, not just at the beginning or end of a shift.
These gains all stem from what the company calls the Perfect Drop, which means more of the ink lands on the shirt and less gets dispersed into the air. That’s less wasted ink and less overspray on internal components, according to the company. Optimising drop shape and size also helps the printer hit the same spot over and over again, which means the resolution can be lowered to print faster without compromising print quality.
This launch follows Digital Ink Sciences’ introduction of the DIS250 ink formulation for direct to garment printer and wide format printers, using Ricoh print heads.
