Polyester has reigned supreme in the textile printing industry for decades, primarily due to its compatibility with digital sublimation—an efficient and cost-effective process. However, sublimation is limited to polyester, leaving a significant market gap for printing on other fabrics, such as cotton and blends.
Direct-to-textile printing has emerged as a partial solution, but it demands expensive equipment and time-consuming pre- and post-processing to ensure colour accuracy and fabric compatibility. This labour-intensive approach has sparked a growing demand for a more sustainable and affordable solution to accommodate a wider range of textiles.
Mimaki invested six years in developing TRAPIS, a groundbreaking two-step textile transfer printing solution to address this need. This innovative system consists of an inkjet printer and a high-pressure calender. The process involves printing designs onto Texcol pigment ink transfer paper, which is then applied to various fabrics via the calendar.
TRAPIS eliminates the need for pre-treatment and washing, making it quick, affordable, and eco-friendly for printing on non-polyester materials. It delivers vibrant, colourfast designs on natural fibres like cotton and silk without compromising stretchability or quality. This versatile system employs just one ink, making it adaptable to a wide range of materials.
In contrast to traditional digital dye printing, which generates substantial wastewater, TRAPIS is nearly waterless—saving up to 14.5 litres per square metre, a reduction of nearly 90%. This significantly simplifies installation and reduces the need for wastewater treatment facilities.
Given that traditional dyeing processes produce approximately 2 billion tonnes of wastewater daily worldwide, TRAPIS’s impact on reducing environmental harm is considerable. Additionally, its streamlined workflow helps decrease CO2 emissions associated with the overseas transportation of textile products.
Mimaki’s specially formulated Textile Pigment Ink for TRAPIS has achieved ZDHC MRSL Level 3 certification and is bluesign APPROVED. This not only ensures environmental safety but also guarantees the inks are safe for both workers and consumers. (1)
