At the pre-drupa press conference held in Dusseldorf from 25-27 March, Duncan Ferguson, vice president of Epson Europe’s commercial and industrial printing division, offered a glimpse into the company’s anticipated showcase at drupa 2024. Epson will be present in Hall 5, Stand D20, at the printing and packaging show scheduled to be held from May 28 to June 7 in Dusseldorf.
Titled ‘Changing the Model for Localised Production,’ Ferguson outlined Epson’s commitment to manufacturing, focusing on compact, efficient printing solutions, and emphasizing personalization and on-demand production technology.
His presentation covered several key areas:
- Advanced Printhead Technology: Epson’s latest industrial printhead, the D3000, is tailored for various applications including packaging, labels, textiles, and décor. Special features include high speed, single-pass, 1200 dpi resolution with nozzle-level re-circulation.
- Innovative Product Design: Epson’s new product design concept features space-saving designs, replaceable printheads, enhanced environmental standards, and improved user interfaces. The new platform will be easier to use with a large 4.3-inch user interface display, low profile and flat top design, media cleaner and a media lifter allowing for a single-person set-up.
- Next-Generation Label Press: Epson’s new SurePress labeling concept promises increased productivity and image quality through real-time nozzle detection and additional enhancements.
- Direct-to-Fabric Printing: Ferguson introduced the Monna Lisa 13000, a new digital fabric printing solution offering in-line printing with sustainable pigment inks and enhanced print durability. The innovation aims to revolutionize textile printing by eliminating the need for post-treatment equipment, making it more accessible to commercial printers.
- Productivity Breakthroughs: The SureColor F10000, Epson’s most productive dye-sublimation printer, features jumbo roll capabilities and self-replaceable parts for minimal downtime. The dye-sublimation printer delivers productivity up to 255m2/h, 10L hot-swap inks (LcLm/FyFp) and has self-replaceable parts for easy maintenance.
- Personalization Solutions: Epson’s range of printers targeting the personalization and micro-production market, including hybrid DTG/DTFilm printers and UV flatbed printers. This included the recently launched hybrid DTG/DTFilm SureColor F1000 and the A4 UV flatbed SureColor V1000. Ferguson introduced the A3 UV flatbed SureColor V2000 and new micro-production SureColor F2200 and showed the complete range of mini-lab (D1000, D500) and smaller dye sublimation printers (SureColor F500 and F100).
- Supporting Software and Tools: Epson’s software and process management tools, including the SD-10 Scanning Table and Edge Color Lite software, which enhance color management and consistency. Also launched was the new SD-10 scanning table along with mentions of Epson’s Edge Color Lite and Edge Print software that further the capability to manage distributed printing at the highest quality and consistency.
Focus on services
Ferguson also explained how Epson is delivering successful product reconditioning programs to extend the life of Epson printers and create a more sustainable business model. He talked about Epson’s reconditioning program, which aims to repair, repurpose and upgrade products on its customers‘ premises. He mentioned how Epson has established a central facility for technical refurbishment work and is collecting and returning customer products; how it reuses cartridges and printer parts and collects cartridges that can be refilled with genuine Epson ink.
Future developments
Finally, Ferguson revealed future developments, including support for more sustainable fashion using Epson’s Dry Fiber Technology (DFT). DFT produces durable printable fabric from used garments without any water. He said that the Japanese fashion designer Yuima Nakazato is using DFT to experiment with batches of cotton, polyester and silk and plans to commercialize his range in 2024. Some examples of Dry Fibre fabric fashion items were on display at the presentation.
He discussed Epson’s new direct-to-shape technology and explained how the company is developing its expertise with inkjet technology to print on complex shapes using automation with its robots.
