In an exclusive interview with Apparel Views, Kenichiro Seki – Managing Director of Mimaki India discusses the brand’s long term vision for the Indian market and other aspects, relevant to the digital printing segment. Kenichiro Seki embarked on his journey with Mimaki Engineering in 2007, initially as a sales executive responsible for expanding the company’s footprint in India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia—regions where Mimaki had yet to establish subsidiaries. In 2015, he transitioned to Mimaki Europe in the Netherlands, taking on the role of Product Manager and further broadening his expertise. By 2017, Seki had moved to Singapore, where he served as Managing Director at Mimaki Singapore, overseeing operations across multiple Southeast Asian countries for five successful years. In 2022, he took on a new leadership role as Managing Director of Mimaki India, continuing his legacy of driving growth and innovation across the region.
Can you give us a brief introduction of your company and Indian operations?
Mimaki India Pvt. Ltd. is a subsidiary of Mimaki Engineering Co Ltd, a Japanese company specialising in industrial inkjet printers. We are focused on bringing Mimaki’s high-quality printing technology and inks to the Indian market.
Mimaki India operates from two primary locations: our main office in Gurgaon and a branch office in Mumbai. Each office houses both sales and service teams, ensuring seamless support for our customers and dealers across the country.
What products do you offer for the textile segment and new products recently launched by you?
Our offerings for the textile market mainly include printers and inks designed for dye sublimation. We cater to a range of demands with our product lineup, from entry-level to high-end models. In addition to dye sublimation, we provide direct-to-fabric printers with reactive and pigment inks, as well as DTF (Direct to Film) printers.
In 2023, we introduced the high-end Tiger 600-1800TS dye sublimation printer. It utilises the latest print head technology, firing ink droplets with minimal ink satellites, enabling high-density printing even at fast print modes. Additional core technologies further enhance image quality, density, stability, and usability. The Tiger 600’s ink is one of the most eco-friendly options available, holding certifications like OEKO-TEX Eco Passport and ZDHC MRSL Level 3, which are crucial for export markets.
Globally, what are your key markets in textiles, and where does India stand among them? How many textile machines have you installed in India?
Our focus spans both production and consumer countries, as textile printing occurs mainly in production regions, though inkjet printers are utilised worldwide. India holds a dual role as both a production and consumer market, which, coupled with rapid growth, makes it one of Mimaki’s most crucial markets.
Mimaki has been a pioneer in textile inkjet printing. In India, we currently have close to 1,000 printers dedicated to textile applications.
Which print heads are used in your machines? Do you produce your own inks? How do they compare cost-wise?
We source our print heads from multiple suppliers. Mimaki printers operate on a closed system that is compatible only with Mimaki genuine inks, ensuring reliability and quality.
Yes, Mimaki produces its own inks. While our inks may not be the cheapest on the market, we prioritise stability and colour consistency, which we believe deliver greater value for our customers.
How has India’s digital textile printing industry evolved? how did 2023 perform and where do you see Mimaki in the next 3–5 years?
Demand for dye sublimation printers remains strong, especially for entry to mid-range products. However, we are seeing increased interest in high-speed printers for mass production, and we aim to meet these needs with our high end solutions. We achieved nearly 15% growth in 2023. For this year, we’re aiming even higher, especially considering the opportunities in India’s market.
What is your opinion about single-pass technology. Is Mimaki planning to introduce such technology for textiles?
No, we currently have no plans to enter the single-pass segment.
What global trends are shaping the future of digital textile printing? Do you believe pigment ink is the future?
Pigment ink is becoming a key focus due to its environmental benefits. Unlike reactive inks, pigment inks are water-free during printing. Mimaki’s TRAPIS technology, a pigment transfer system, allows pigment printing on cotton with a process similar to dye sublimation printing. Yes, as mentioned, we see significant potential in pigment ink, particularly with our TRAPIS technology.
What areas do you think the Indian textile printing industry needs to improve? What factors should end-users consider while investing in machines?
I wouldn’t say there are specific areas where the Indian textile printing industry is lacking. However, the market could benefit from more companies introducing unique, innovative products for both domestic and global markets.
In my opinion, machine stability, consumable reliability, and strong service support are critical. While machine and ink costs are important, overall system stability ultimately leads to lower total costs and higher profitability.
Do you have any future plans to establish a manufacturing base in India?
No, at the moment, we don’t have any plans. But in the future, it may be considered as every manufacturing company worldwide, seeing India is a good manufacturing hub.
