Epson, a pioneer in digital textile printing, and its subsidiary For.Tex, a leading producer of dye, thickeners and textile pre/post-treatment products, are launching Pregen PCC, the innovative textile pre-treatment formula for digital pigment-printed fabrics that allows them to reach a grade 4 rating for fastness to rubbing along with unprecedented brilliance and colour intensity. Pregen PCC is already available and is suitable for fabrics used for both clothing and interior decorating.
Brilliant colours lasting longer. This is the result achieved with the new formula Pregen PCC. Compared to current pre-treatment products, it guarantees improved colour performance (20 per cent higher intensity) and better rubbing fastness in both dry and wet tests (grade 4). Pigment printing is also environment-friendly: It does not require steaming or washing units, thereby reducing water and energy consumption.
“We are happy to see that the market is learning to appreciate pigment technology. We were the first to believe in it – with the first Genesta PG pigment inks launched in 2005 – and we are convinced that the new pre-treatment formula will facilitate the adoption of this technique,” explained Pietro Roncoroni, Chairman of For.Tex. “Pregen PCC is another step forward in the simplification and efficiency of the printing process, as it considerably reduces time and costs. In reaching a higher level of colour fastness, switching from traditional to digital printing is becoming increasingly more convenient.”
Monna Lisa, Genesta pigment inks, and Pregen: The integrated system that guarantees reliable, high-quality digital printing. Pregen PCC, the new pre-treatment for pigment-printed textiles, is only the latest product developed by For.Tex as they work continuously to improve the chemical component of digital printing. Since the introduction in 2005 of Genesta PG pigment inks, with over 6 mn sqr mtr printed to date, Monna Lisa has ensured a level of quality and reliability that are unmatched in this sector. The ongoing research has now produced Pregen PCC, another target achieved in improving quality while reducing time and costs (no particular treatment is required after printing to obtain maximum results) for digital pigment-printed textiles. This is an indispensable pre-condition for a sector that promises significant growth rates in coming years, and new efforts towards a reduced environmental impact.
