Canon Solutions America, Inc., adds MS Impres™ Soft Signage Dye Sublimation Printers to its portfolio
Canon Solutions America, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announces the addition of the MS Impres hybrid dye sublimation printers to its portfolio. The versatile MS Impres soft signage printers provide service providers and implants with fast production speeds combined with industry-leading color and image quality for POP (point of purchase) advertising, backlit signage, flags and banners, and exhibit and stadium graphics. The hybrid design of the MS Impres printers permits the option to print solely transfer printing or a combination of transfer and direct-to-fabric.
The MS Impres 4180 prints up to 64” wide with four Kyocera 300 dpi printheads in a 4-color ink configuration and can print at speeds up to 3,120 sq ft/hr. The MS Impres 4180 EVO expands the capabilities of the 4180 with eight 600 dpi printheads and higher print speeds up to 3,354 sq ft/hr.
For wider printing applications, the MS Impres 4320 model handles media up to 126” in width and operates with four Kyocera 300 dpi printheads running at print speeds up to 4,632 sq ft/hr. The MS Impres 4320 EVO includes the expanded eight 600 dpi printheads and print speeds up to 4,952 sq ft/hr.
Additional features offered by the MS Impres printers include:
- The Qwizard digital front end, which features a built-in touch-screen control panel for managing the job queue directly from the printer, combined with the Caldera GrandRIP+ software.
- High-quality, cost-efficient Dybrid™ hybrid inks and Dysubli™ transfer inks with a wide color gamut and exceptional print results.
- Large 10-liter ink tanks to maximize printer uptime for unattended printer operation.
- Stable media positioning with an advanced print vacuum plate.
- Bulk media handing of media rolls up to 19.7” in diameter.
“At Canon Solutions America, we are committed to delivering complete end-to-end solutions that help maximize productivity, efficiency and quality for our customers, as well as help them to create new opportunities to expand into new markets and offerings,” said Peter P. Kowalczuk, president, Canon Solutions America, Inc. “We are excited to offer the MS Impres printers to expand our lineup of dye sublimation printing solutions for soft signage and textile printing applications.’’
Lectra acquires Gemini CAD Systems
The acquisition will enhance the depth of Lectra’s fashion software portfolio. Lectra recently announced the signature of an agreement to acquire the entire capital and voting rights of the Romanian company Gemini CAD Systems. A major global player in the fashion, automotive, and furniture markets, Lectra designs and produces industrial intelligence solutions – software, hardware, data and services – for brands, manufacturers and retailers.
Founded in 2004, Gemini CAD Systems (Gemini) has developed several innovative software solutions, essentially Computer Aided Design (CAD), for small and medium-sized fashion companies. Thanks to its network of partners, Gemini is present in over 60 countries.
“We are thrilled to welcome the talented teams of Gemini who have created impressive software solutions that are relevant to the way fashion companies wish to work today. Gemini’s product portfolio complements Lectra’s software offers, which has already been strengthened by the recent acquisition of Gerber Technology,” says Daniel Harari, Chairman and CEO, Lectra.
“Together, we will create synergies between Gemini, Lectra and Gerber Technology’s current offers and bring new, disruptive innovations to the fashion industry,” he concludes. This acquisition is in line with Lectra’s strategy of developing its presence in the fashion market and enriching its value proposition.
“We are delighted to join Lectra’s family. We are convinced that with Lectra’s strong leadership, its unparalleled expertise in the fashion industry and the strength of its teams, we will be able to boost our customer’s competitiveness and help them accelerate their digital transformation,” states Traian Luca, CEO and founder of Gemini.
The transaction concerns the acquisition of 60% of Gemini right now for 7.6 million euros. The acquisition of the remaining capital and voting rights will take place in two steps, in September 2024 and September 2026. The total consideration for the acquisition of 100% of Gemini’s capital will depend on Gemini’s revenue growth, and should be comprised of between 13 and 20 million euros.
Coloreel and D-house to combine their textile expertise, announce partnership
Coloreel and D-house recently announced that they have entered into an exciting partnership; demonstrating and offering Coloreel’s ground-breaking instant thread colouring technology for creative and sustainable embroideries through D-house’s design and technology centre for fashion brands in Milan, Italy.
Together, Coloreel and D-house bring trusted expertise across the textile and embroidery industry and demonstrate a commitment to sustainable, creative and innovative technologies and responsible innovation. Through the partnership, D-house and Coloreel will be able to offer clients projects exploring how to utilize the Coloreel technology for creative and sustainable embroideries, helping brands to find the way towards more sustainable manufacturing.
Visits and demonstrations at D-house are available through appointment. Customers, designers and fashion brands will be able to experience D-house capabilities and Coloreel technology on September 7th in Milan, during D-house open house. D-house and Coloreel will also co-exhibit on selected industry trade fairs, starting with Lineapelle in Milan on September 22nd to 24th.
Loreto di Rienzo, Technology Ambassador Dyloan commented, “D-house is all about technology and sustainability, we are always on search for new sustainable technologies such as Coloreel”
Torbjörn Bäck, CEO Coloreel Group added, “The D-house partnership is a great opportunity for Coloreel to demonstrate our technology and for the fashion world to learn how to enhance consumer experience and perception of their brands through a new level of modern, creative and sustainable embroideries. D-house location in the center of Milan, Italy, and their expertise in running design projects will provide a perfect hub for different customers to experience the Coloreel technology hands-on.”
Coloreel is a Swedish textile innovation brand with a groundbreaking technology for embroidery that enables high-quality colouring of textile thread on demand, unlocking a world of potential. They use their technology to both preserve the craftsmanship of embroidery and take embroidery to the next level. The unique solution makes previously complicated designs accessible, including gradients, textures and other stunning effects. Using only a single thread and needle means that it also significantly improves quality and efficiency, enabling immediate start up and faster delivery. In short, Coloreel empowers creativity and enhances quality and efficiency, making the ordinary extraordinary. In the future, the technology can also be used for sewing, knitting, weaving and more.
Zünd Connect – a way to optimize productivity
Zünd Connect compiles production data from integrated Zünd cutting systems into meaningful key performance indicators, such as cutter capacity, availability, and overall equipment effectiveness. Zünd Connect creates transparency and identifies areas in the digital cutting workflow with potential for optimization.
There are many ways to optimize digital cutting and ensure maximum productivity, which is the reason why Zünd now offers Zünd Connect, a monitoring tool that helps the user recognize this potential and increase productivity. Using Zünd Connect, the user can see at a glance when and, more importantly, why machine interruptions occur, how much time is spent in setup, and what the availability of each machine is.
The most successful companies are the ones that produce the most saleable products per hour. High machine availability and productivity are essential for profitable cutting and finishing. As simple as this may sound, it is no small thing in the day-to-day production environment. Where do the relevant key performance indicators come from? Is data available that enables monitoring? And last but not least, how is the data compiled so that it can be interpreted accurately and reliably?
This is where Zünd Connect comes in. The web-based monitoring tool gives the user access to cutter- performance data at a glance, any time of day. Reliable key performance indicators are available at all times to help users maximize productivity. The system records productivity levels over a freely definable period using Zünd Cut Center – ZCC (Version 3.4 or later) as data source. Data monitoring provides information users need in order to make informed decisions. This comprehensive overview of production data reveals connections that are often overlooked. Zünd Connect supplies valuable key performance indicators for assessing how efficiently cutting systems are working. To be able to improve cutter efficiency, potential areas of improvement must be uncovered and recognized. This potential lies primarily in the technology but also in the way it is being used. Zünd Connect consists of multiple dashboards with specific options for evaluating data:
Overview – This dashboard provides past production data and indicates, for example, fluctuations in machine utilization. The user can select various views and switch between indices for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), availability, and capacity. In addition, a filter function can be used to compare performance across different shifts.
Job list – This shows a list of processed jobs, what they entailed, the time it took to produce them, and the cutting distance travelled per job. Diagrams show the time spent by each individual material/substrate, processing method, tool, and module. In reference to materials, for example, bar graphs show the processing time for each material used during a specified time frame.
Loss detection – This view visualizes losses in terms of time. It shows, for example, when process interruptions tend to occur most often. Loss detection enables the user to evaluate factors such as the specific time frames, materials, or tools most likely to be associated with interruptions.
Interruption statistics – This lists the reasons for such interruptions. The user can filter for time of day, material, method, tool, or module. The statistical representation shows the user how many hours the cutters were unable to produce during a specified period because of machine interruptions.
Zünd Connect is available in a “Monitor” or an “Analyzer” version. As the name suggests, “Monitor” consists of a graphical display of overall equipment effectiveness and is available to all ZCC users for free. “Analyzer”, on the other hand, makes it possible to perform subsequent analysis and pinpoint productivity losses. “Analyzer” provides the necessary tools for the user to be able to evaluate the production process and recommend improvements.
Twine Solutions announces partnership with Gerber Technology
The TS-1800 machine by Twine will be installed at the Gerber Innovation center in New York City in early September. This machine is the world’s first on-demand digital thread and yarn dyeing solution. The system can dye various types of filament and spun polyster. It is designed to be implemented in any production environment and can be operated by anyone.
Twine Solutions is a technology start-up in Israel which was founded in 2105. The company has developed a proprietary and revolutionary digital on-demand thread dyeing system and a digital dye-to-match colour application. Gerber Technology is a USA-based company founded in 1968. In June 2021, it was acquired by Lectra. Gerber Technology develops software and automation solutions for fashion, automotive, furniture and other businesses across the globe.
The best rapier technology for technical textile applications
Technical textiles are textiles that are engineered with a definite functionality. The sector of such functional textiles is regarded as a sunrise sector as it has varied and growing applications across multiple industries such as healthcare, construction, automobile, aerospace, sports, defense, and agriculture. Indian textile mills have realised that the wide-ranging uses of technical textiles represent a huge opportunity and are enhancing their capabilities to create a greater variety of technical textiles. India is becoming a key player in the global technical textile scene.
In the past few years, woven fabrics manufactured on rapier looms have comprised a significant part of the total production of technical textiles, especially for applications such as agro textiles, airbags, canvas fabrics, car seats, coating fabrics, conveyor belts, gauze, geo grids, filter fabric, fiberglass fabric, tire cord, etc.
SMIT srl, a globally renowned weaving machine manufacturing company from Italy with more than 80 years of history, has been supplying advanced rapier looms for technical textile applications. A.T.E. – committed to supporting the Indian textile industry with the latest technology solutions –has recently joined hands with SMIT for the promotion of their rapier looms in India. A.T.E. is a one window solution provider in textile engineering across the textile value chain, with 80+ years of experience. The partnership between these two textile engineering leaders is expected to provide a fillip to the Indian technical textile segment.
SMIT was recognised for the development of the well-known dynamically controlled rapier ribbon system in the late 80s, which was the most significant development of the guideless carbon punched tape technology. The philosophy of innovation at SMIT is evident in its new, revolutionary weaving machine – the SMIT-ONE– a patented single rapier weft transfer weaving machine for the manufacture of technical textiles.
Key features of the SMIT-ONE:
SMIT-ONE gripper system has a smaller cross section that complies with the warp shed geometry, which is narrower compared to a traditional double gripper machine
- Weft insertion at low weft tension, resulting in higher insertion efficiency
- Reduced warp shed amplitude, thus increasing efficiency
- Easy to adjust machine during article change, reducing machine downtime
- Can use all yarn types that were so far not weavable on traditional rapier systems – such as delicate yarns, fancy yarns, carbon yarns, etc.
- Special pliers that perfectly hold any weft shape, weight, and consistency
- Laser stop motion, or full-width temple can be offered
- PosiLeno® system: positively controlled leno system which ensures perfect leno binding; is applicable for all fabric constructions including technical fabrics
- Reinforced backrest structure increases warp tension by more than 50%, thus enabling the production of heavy density technical fabrics
- Special type of pressure rollers prevents slippage of cloth on take-up roller
- Stronger sley bar enables production of dense fabrics on the machine
- Take-up designed for ultra-high warp tension
- Working width – 1700 mm to 2200 mm
- Weaver beams up to 1100 mm and fancy beam can be used
Benefits:
Fabrics for technical, fashion, furnishing applications, as well as classic fabrics with exclusive yarns and patterns, can be woven with excellent quality and high efficiency on the SMIT-ONE
SMIT’s “dynamically controlled” flexible free-flight tape rapiers system, combined with the development of advanced solutions enhances the weft insertion
The highest versatility and efficiency in terms of weft insertion allows the use of a wide range of yarns, and unparalleled simplicity in the article change, as well as minimum maintenance costs
- Free flight technology – no friction on the warp yarn
- Minimum stress on warp
- Consistent fabric properties from full to empty warp beams
- Laser warp stop motion to avoid friction on the warp ends
- Special type of full width temple for low cloth recoiling or high weft density
The SMIT-ONE can be used in the manufacture of:
Fashion fabrics
- Safety gear
- Glass fabrics
- Carbon fabrics
- Filter fabrics
- Sportswear
- Sophisticated clothing and furnishing
- Suitable to produce fabrics in which complicated yarns are used
Mono-rapier system has been tested mainly in fashion fabrics with different and complicated weft.
Carbon fabrics
Fibre glass fabrics
Filter fabrics
Further, SMIT-ONE offers highest versatility, efficiency in terms of weft insertion, flexibility with the widest range of fabrics, and energy savings. Due to these numerous benefits, SMIT-ONE is emerging as a preferred choice for weavers around the world to meet the rising demand for technical textiles.
