Ricoh has revealed to Digital Textile Printer more specifications of its recently-announced ‘industrial’ DtG polyester printer, reported on 19 February.
The forthcoming Ri 4000 supports platen sizes up to 40 x 50cm and will print at resolutions of up to 1200 x 1200dpi. It has an CMYK + white ink set for printing on dark garments, which it can produce at the rate of 15 per hour.
Running costs for the printer’s built-in pre-treatment system are said to be comparable to the premium for pre-treated garments made of other fabrics, though Ricoh notes that no one as yet offers pre-treated polyester garments for DtG printing.
A post-print drying stage is required, as with most types of textile print. Ricoh recommends this is done with a heat press. The print is said to have ‘a T-shirt lifetime’ durability.
Features to maintain reliable performance and consistent quality include a built-in automatic cleaning system so that no manual printhead cleaning by the operator is required. Ricoh has also confirmed that there is a white ink circulation system to avoid pigment settlement/ printhead clogging issues.
The Ri 4000 will be delivered with ColorGate’s Textile Production Server 23 Rip software, plus a business analytics software offering, and will have its official launch at Fespa Global Print Expo in Amsterdam, from 19 – 22 March 2024.