New Monna Lisa 8000

Print Solutions IndPrint

Epson has announced the ML-8000 – the entry model in the Monna Lisa series that combines performance and usability to meet the needs of the digital textile market for flexibility and sustainability. With its eight latest PrecisionCore printheads, the ML-8000 reaches typical print speed of 155 square metres per hour.

The ML-8000 is a next generation digital textile printer with high print quality, productivity, stable operation with minimal downtime, and allows easy operation for an affordable price, making it the ideal printer for companies looking to move into digital printing.

Guy Martin, sales development specialist at Epson UK, said: ‘Digital printing has become increasingly popular with fashion and textile designers across Western Europe as they strive meet the increased demands for short runs and fast fashion while under pressure from public criticism to ease environmental burdens. The capability to conduct digital designs for digital print for demand enables businesses to offer their customers a faster turnaround of designs, when they need it, without having to rely on mass shipments of stock crossing continents, much of which will have incurred higher waste streams due to analogue printing. The Monna Lisa 8000 is symbolic of the all-round quality of Epson’s digital print technology, blended with the uncompromising standards of fashion inspired by Epson’s print partner Robustelli and its rich history of textile design and manufacturing in Italy’s Como province.’

The ML-8000’s superior image quality is enabled by Epson’s high quality printheads. Epson’s exclusive Microweave and lookup table (LUT) technologies reduce banding and graininess, and advanced new Multi-Layer Halftone Technology (MLHT), which randomises the halftone dot pattern on each layer, reduces image degradation caused by dot misalignment. Dynamic Alignment Stabilizer (DAS) technology also ensures stable print quality by controlling waveforms on each printhead chip for higher dot placement accuracy and more uniform dot density on each pass. The ML-8000 also features symmetrical colour alignment for consistent colour overlap order during bidirectional low pass printing, and Accurate Belt Position Control (ABPC) technology automatically detects the belt feeding distance to ensure highly precise fabric feeding. The result is optimal quality and speed, with superb reproduction of colour gradations, fine details, and complex geometric patterns.

Stable operation with unprecedented usability is realised with the advanced cleaning mechanisms and automated adjustment functions. A fluff blower system removes fluff from the fabric surface before it enters the printing area, and an ink mist extraction system helps prevent ink mist from adhering to the nozzle surface. Nozzle verification technology (NVT) detects missing dots that indicate nozzle clogging and adjusts ink delivery to maintain image quality and reduce printing errors. An easy-to-replace fabric wiper roll continuously wipes the printhead nozzles clean automatically, reducing daily manual maintenance work. High accuracy of printhead alignment technology allows the user to replace the head quickly. Thanks to an automatic calibration function by an RGB camera, operators can carry out printhead replacement including adjustments in as little as 30 minutes. Epson Remote Monitoring System enables a quick response to potential problems, reducing downtime and service calls.

Ease of use is enhanced by an LCD touch panel that displays current printer status, operating instructions, and regular maintenance procedures, and by hot-swappable, dual 10 litre or three litre high capacity ink cartridges that allow uninterrupted production.

Epson Genesta inks are available in Acid, Reactive, Disperse, and Pigment formulations in a degassed vacuum pack. They are Eco Passport certified to meet globally recognised standards for environmentally friendly textile printing. In addition, the Acid ink is bluesign approved, and the Reactive and Pigment inks are GOTS approved by Ecocert.

The Monna Lisa 8000 will be available in the UK from January 2021.