Digital Textile Printing Technology - New Horizon For Textile Industry

Digital technology is the keyword of this era. Every industry and field has changed with digital technology revolution. Textile industry has also rewarded by digital technology and most of the processes in textile industry have become fast and easy. Textile printing is one of the processes which have changed drastically. The traditional rotary screen printing has now replaced by various innovative technologies. It is interesting to see how digital technology has brought magical change in textile printing. This article talks about the latest digital printing technology and its advantages.

Advantages Of Digital Printing Technology

Earlier, textile printing was carried out with rotary screen printing. This technique was replaced by many other techniques like thermal transfer printing, thermal inkjet, continuous inkjet, piezoelectric inkjet, electrophotography etc. Digital printing technology brought a variety of digital printers to print on papers. Similarly, digital textile printing technology helped print on fabrics. For digital textile printing, it is essential that the fabric must be processed to have an ink holding capability. Digital printing technology has offered many advantages over traditional printing such as –

• Easy and fast process and printing
• Great flexibility for printing
• Availability of more colors and superb quality printing with photo/ realistic effects
• Facility for exclusive / unlimited designs

But these advantages are common advantages of digital printing arena. It offered wonderful benefits to textile industry as well. These advantages are –

• Economical printing – Digital textile printing saved time, increased printing speed and it is cost- effective.
• Accelerated designing and printing – It not only reduced the space requirements for storing plates, screens, films etc. but also saved time for proofing. It helped accelerate design and product development.
• Green technology – It is safe, clean and very less hazardous for environment. It also helps minimize wastage.
• Easy to correct/modify – Unlike traditional techniques, digital textile printing allows to correct or modify designs without delays or increase in costs.
• Facility for short productions to test market trends – With traditional printing, it was difficult to go for short productions because of cost concerns as well as time factor. Digital printing allows printing short productions quickly and in a cost effective way. Thus, it is easy to test new designs and market trends.
• New opportunities – Digital technology has opened new opportunities for designers, sales persons and merchandisers to produce a huge variety of print designs to fulfill market demands and this helped grow textile industry.
• Encouraged fashion era – The ease of textile printing, corrections, short products and reduced delays certainly helped textile industry to serve ever changing demands from fashion industry.

As the digital textile printing machine prints the file stored on computer, it has minimized the risk of design theft. The variety of digital textile printing machines has been developed on the market today. These machines need different types of inks for printing. Usually, disperse dye inks, acid dye inks and reactive dye inks are used for digital textile printing. No doubt, digital technology has brought a miraculous change in textile printing.

Concepts In Textile Printing

When it comes to textile printing, it can be defined as the process by which color is applied on fabrics in different designs and patterns. The fabrics which are printed have the color bonded to the fiber in such a way that it will resist friction or washing. Textile printing is akin to dyeing, but there are differences. If the whole fabric is covered with one color it is considered as dyeing while in textile printing, one or more colors are used in certain arts or in defining patterns or designs.

Textile Printing Devices


When we talk of textile printing machines, a lot of changes have come about in such technology. Before the following printing devices were used:

• Wooden blocks
• Engraved plates
• Stencils
• Silk screens
• Rollers

These were used to place the colors on the fabric. Such primeval and manual technology is still used in many places. There are colorants that are used in printing. Here the dye is thick in order to prevent the color from spreading by capillary attraction beyond the pattern or design borders.

Traditional Textile Printing Technologies

The traditional textile printing techniques and technology can be classified into four main styles:

• You could use direct printing where the colorants consisting of dyes, thickeners and other substances necessary to fix the color are printed on the cloth as per a desired pattern or format.
   
• Printing machines which use a mordant to print the desired pattern on a dyeing cloth.
   
• Resist dyeing is a process by which wax or other substances are printed on the fabric which is then dyed subsequently. The waxed areas do not take on the dye and uncolored patterns are left.
   
• Discharge printing is done by a bleaching agent which is printed on previously dyed fabric to remove some or all of the previous color.

Digital Era

Today the world of textile printing is undergoing a lot of changes. The printing machines and technology used has changed in leaps and bounds. Digital printing technology has come on to meet the demands of innovative design that are done on dress material and saris for the domestic as well as the international market. The man-made fiber industry has progressed much from hand block and screen printing to the modern printing machines used today in the textile industry.

Increasing Market Demand Of Printed Fabrics

Digital technology is being invested in by the textile entrepreneurs. It is accounting for one percent of the global market that deals in printed textiles. The share is increasing as well and is likely to go up by ten percent in the coming five years. There is widespread acceptance of digital printing machines in the textile industry, which is likely to increase further. The technological improvements that are coming about in ink and consumables, printing machinery and print heads are providing innovative opportunities for the designers and manufacturers. It is predicted that printed textiles will reach 32 billion square meters by the year 2015. This innovative textile printing market is seeing major investments in digital printing technology. The production capacity of these machines is much more than traditional printing machines and the innovative and unique design creation possibilities is endless.

Fast, High Quality And Economical Printing With Advanced Printing Machines

Printing industry in India has grown rapidly with emerging printing technologies and growing demands of various printing products in the market. Printing industry shows many traditional printing methods or techniques like lithography, screen printing etc. However; this is an era of digital printing technologies. Printing technologies in India provide all advanced printing machines to cater a wide variety of printing requirements in the market. If you want to know what is going on in the printing industry in India or about different printing machines available, you are right here to know about it.

Serve The Best With Latest Printing Machines 

 

Newspaper printing machines – The most popular newspaper printing machines today are 4-Hi Tower printing machines which facilitate 4 color printing. These machines are ideal for periodical newsletters or publishing, books, posters along with daily newspapers. Three color satellite printing machines are also popular newspaper printing machines.

• Offset Printing Machines – Plenty of offset printing machines are seen in the market. These machines include dry offset printing machines which are used to print on thermoforming or injected containers, sheet-fed offset printing machines are designed to print calendars, stationery, books or similar other printing products. A range of mini offset printing machines to newspaper tabloid machines are available in the market.
• Flex banner printing machines – High speed digital flex and banner printing machines facilitate printing on different media like paper, vinyl, PVC, mesh fabric  etc.
• Label printing machines – A wide variety of four/six color, fast speed and low cost label printers are available to serve label printing requirements. You will also find bar code printers and versatile label printing machines which facilitate printing on different media.

About Label Printing Machines 

 

Discharging Bars

Most of the label printers today come with flexography technology which is also referred as roll label printing. In these printers, roll is loaded at one end and you can avail cut and laminated finished label at the other end. These printers directly print on the substrate with cylindrical printing head. The flexographic system is designed with cutting station which provides single units or separated labels on the roll. The label printing machines are specifically introduced to meet food industry requirements. However, many other industries need different types of labels to provide essential information about the product. Some advanced label printers even help to apply labels on flat or round containers. A range of digital label printing machines and printers provide high resolution, high speed and low cost label printing alternatives.

All these advanced technology printing machines have boosted printing industry amazingly. Just specify your printing requirements and get the perfect printing machine at an ease.

Concept of Material Printing

In the matter of material printing, it could be characterized as the procedure by which shade is connected on fabrics in distinctive plans and examples. The fabrics which are printed have the color reinforced to the fiber in such a path, to the point that it will oppose grinding or washing. Material printing is likened to coloring, yet there are contrasts. On the off chance that the entire fabric is secured with one shade it is recognized as coloring while in material printing, one or more shades are utilized within specific expressions or in characterizing examples or outlines.

Material Printing Devices 

 

When we talk of material printing machines, considerable measures of progressions have come to fruition in such engineering. When the accompanying printing gadgets were utilized:

• wooden squares 
• Engraved plates 
• Stencils 
• Silk screens
• Rollers

These were utilized to place the colors on the fabric. Such antiquated and manual engineering is still utilized as a part of numerous spots. There are colorants that are utilized as a part of printing. Here the color is thick so as to keep the shade from spreading by slender fascination past the example or configuration fringes.

 

Conventional Textile Printing Technologies 

The conventional material printing methods and innovation might be characterized into four primary styles:

• You could utilize immediate printing where the colorants comprising of colors, thickeners and different substances important to alter the shade are printed on the fabric according to a wanted example or configuration.
• Printing machines which utilize a stringent to print the coveted example on a coloring material.
• Resist coloring is a methodology by which wax or different substances are printed on the fabric which is then colored in this way. The waxed zones don't tackle the color and uncolored examples are cleared out.
• Discharge printing is carried out by a dying executor which is printed on formerly colored fabric to evacuate some or the greater part of the past shade. 

Advanced Era

Today the universe of material printing is experiencing a ton of progressions. The printing machines and innovation utilized has changed within a wide margin. Computerized printing innovation has made advances on meet the requests of creative plan that are carried out on dress material and saris for the local and also the universal business sector. The man-made fiber industry has advanced much from hand square and screen printing to the up to date printing machines utilized today as a part of the material business.

Expanding Market Demand Of Printed Fabrics 

Computerized innovation is continuously put resources into by the material business visionaries. It is representing one percent of the worldwide market that arrangements in printed materials. The offer is expanding too and is prone to go up by ten percent in the impending five years. There is across the board acknowledgement of computerized printing machines in the material business, which is liable to build further. The mechanical enhancements that are occurring in ink and consumables, printing apparatus and print heads are giving inventive open doors to the fashioners and producers. It is anticipated that printed materials will achieve 32 billion square meters by the year 2015. This creative material printing business is seeing significant ventures in computerized printing innovation. The processing limit of these machines is substantially more than customary printing machines and the inventive and special outline creation conceivable out.

Automation In Textile Processing

Did you know India bags second number in the production of fiber in the world?  Yes, that is why; textile industry in India has flourished to generate huge opportunities of employment. The textile processing in India mainly includes cotton fibers and other fibers like jute, wool, silk and other man-made/ synthetic fibers. The textile processing is the term refers to manufacturing fibers/ yarns to giving the finest woven fabric. If you are interested to know more about textile processing and processing machinery, you are right here to know about it. This article explores a lot about it.

How Do We Get A Fine Fabric From Raw Materials?

 

Earlier, man used to produce fibers/ woven fabric using hand-looms but today, advanced technology power-loom machines are used to do it. However, the textile processing is a complex process which includes several processes like –

• Spinning – This process includes different operations in the blow room such as cleaning, dust removal, blending, carding, combing etc.
• Weaving – The next process after spinning is weaving in which fabric is produced with a weaving machine or a loom. 
• Dyeing – It is generally takes place in three phases. The fiber, water soluble dye and dye liquor are the three main components in this process. 
• Printing – Once the dye is fixed, printing can be carried out to produce colorful printed fabric. In textile processing, different printing methods are used to print the fabric such as block printing, roller printing, ink-jet printing, heat transfer, screen printing etc.

Once all these processes are carried out, a fine texture, ready to use fabric can be obtained.

Which Textile Processing Machinery Is Used To Derive The End Product?

 

Now, you must be aware that textile processing is a long process and includes several stages / operations before getting final product. But now it is not as difficult as it was earlier. Nowadays, different types of processing machines are developed to get the job done easily. This processing machinery includes various machines like –

• Spinning machines – Spinning process is carried out with blow room machines, carding machines, draw frame, roving frame, comber etc.
• Weaving machines – You will find splendid variety of weaving machines using different techniques like air-jet weaving machines, shuttle/ shuttle-less machines, water jet machines, Rapier, projectile weaving machines.
• Dyeing machines – A range of dyeing machines include polymerising machines, mercerizing machines, bleaching machines, steamers, washing machines etc.
• A range of digital printing machines are devised that give high speed and excellent quality printing output.

Thus, automation of various textile processing helped textile industries to produce quality fabric on large scale.  The textile processing in India has expanded vastly showing around 2500 textile weaving factories and more than 4500 textile finishing industries. This industry is growing rapidly and needs both skilled and unskilled employees. Even the subordinate industries like manufacturing textile processing machines are establishing in order to fulfill demands of the growing textile industry.  

Advance Printing Technologies in India

From the ancient times, man tried to develop different print media to preserve the knowledge, express various art forms. Today, print media have flourished with amazing technology revolution. The history of today’s printing technology can be seen from hand impregnated typewriters, simple dot matrix printers to latest advanced printing machines which print millions of copies giving excellent quality. Advanced printing technologies in India have emerged to give a wide variety of printing machines to suit different printing requirements across the print industries.   

 

Explore The Advanced Printing Machines In India

Printing technology in India has remarkably changed with the evolution of digital technology. Whether you own a publication or provide different printing services, you will find a wide variety of printing machines developed specifically to fulfill different printing requirements. These machines are available easily at an affordable price. The list of advanced printing machines can be endless but to name some –

• Label printing machines – You will find different label printing machines based on Memjet technology or other technologies.
• Variety of Laser printers and machines that can be connected to computers to print different types of documents.
• Commercial printers/ machines which are heavy duty machines offering quality prints.
• Offset printing machines – To print information on metals, polythene, clothes, wood or other materials, advanced laser offset printing machines have been developed on the market.
• 3D printers – 3D printing is the next step of ordinary printing where 3D object can be manufactured using 3D printing technology.   

IT technology and digital printing technology together have established excellent printing machines and solutions for print industry. Simultaneously, the printing materials are also improved to give finest quality printing. Inks for color inkjet printing, LED and evolution of solid printing ink technology has enhanced the printing quality.  

Benefits Of Advanced Printing Machines

 

A splendid variety of 4 color printing machines are available at reliable cost. These machines are useful in printing variety of printing products right from newsletters, magazines, catalogs to brochures, invitation cards etc. Print industries as well as print product customers are benefited with the advanced printing machines of these days.

• Printing cost has reduced significantly
• Printing speed is fast, one gets print products quickly
• Print quality has improved remarkably
• Ultimately advanced printing machines have saved time, efforts and money to avail classic printing products.

Now, it is easy to print labels to fine graphics, advertisements or logos with these printing machines.

3D printing technology has given third dimension to the printing industry. This technology is one of the advanced printing technologies in India. A wide variety of 3D printers are available in the market. These 3D printers need different print materials right from ABS plastic, polyamide to ceramic, resin and other metals to produce fine quality 3D objects. Especially, 3D printers are very useful in designing and establishing models/ prototypes. Nowadays, affordable 3D printers are also available for hobbyists to bring their ideas into reality. A range of 3D printers has been developed fulfill various requirements. If you need a printing machine to suit your requirements, there is a wide range of alternatives to choose the best for you.