Roland DG Launches its first direct to garment printer for on-demand personalisation

IndPrint

Roland DG has announced the forthcoming launch of the VersaStudio BT-12 desktop direct to garment printer for printing directly on cotton based products. Built for on-demand personalisation, the BT-12, which will be available from April 2019, is ideal for businesses looking for new revenue opportunities by offering an engaging in-store experience for their customers.

According to Etsuo Harada, division president of Coto Business Division for Roland DG, since the introduction of VersaCamm SP-300 in 2003, Roland DG inkjet printers have increasingly been used in the production of custom apparel and fabric goods. ‘More recently,’ Stsuo said, ‘in-store personalisation services for printing customer designs have grown rapidly. To meet this demand, the Coto Business Division has developed the new DTG printer.’

The BT-12 is an easy to use A4 size printer that prints full colour graphics including photos, logos and text directly on a wide variety of cotton based items, such as t-shirts, tote bags and textile interior decoration products. Its compact size and affordable pricing enables businesses to offer personalisation services with a low initial investment and in locations where space is limited, including shopping malls, kiosks, apparel stores, hotel gift shops and tourist destinations, and even at events.

Capable of producing a product from start to finish in just a few minutes, the BT-12 is designed for ultimate ease of use. Bundled with Roland Design Software, which features an intuitive user interface, with the BT-12 users can create unique designs with minimal training. Cassettes hold the items for printing and finishing, ensuring the safety of operators and customers.

The printer unit requires very little space, with dimensions of 399 mm (w) x 760 mm (d), and the optional HB-12 finishing equipment stacks with the BT-12. This clever design dramatically reduces the installation space that is typically required for a traditional direct to garment printer.

The BT-12 can be used as a standalone in-store personalisation solution, or as a complement to Roland’s VersaStudio BN-20 printer/cutter, VersaUV LEF Series UV-LED printers and the LD-80 digital foil decorator. These solutions not only help to add value to merchandise, but also provide customers with a rewarding new shopping experience.