Inkjet Wholesale News aims to provide updates on the latest significant occurrences in the field of printing. Whether it’s the launch of a new technology or volatility of market prices, we’ll be here to give you the lowdown on what happened, when it happened, and what it means!
OEM Introduces Mimaki Tiger-1800B; Moves into Industrial Textile Printing Segment
Our last report on Mimaki wasn’t that far back. We reported on the launch of the Mimaki JFX200-2531 UV-LED Extended-Bed printer only a couple of months back in October 2016. While that release was essentially an upgrade to a previously existing product, Mimaki has just released a printer model that will give it access to a new industry segment. The new printer model is the Mimaki Tiger-1800B and it will allow Mimaki to move into the industrial textile printing market.
The release of the Mimaki Tiger-1800B was made possible by the company’s acquisition of La Meccanica in the initial months of this year. La Meccanica was an Italian textile machine manufacturer. The Mimaki Tiger-1800B is an eight colour printer that has an impressive print speed. This printer can print at speeds up to 385 square metres per hour.
The print quality will also be good since the printer model is rated to a maximum resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi). The versatility of the Mimaki Tiger-1800B is evident by the maximum width it can handle. The device can print on media spanning as much as 1.85 metres.
The machine is actually aimed at printers of items such as interior fabrics, sports apparel, flags, and furnishings. However, what makes it special is that it will give those printers the capability to digitally print those items in high volumes. Till now, printers have been using traditional textile printing technologies to print those items simply because it was more cost effective.
Buyers will also get to choose from a number of optional add-ons when they choose Mimaki Tiger-1800B. Choices available include a folding arm unit for storing fabric post printing, multiple heating units, and multiple feeding units designed for handling folded fabrics and jumbo rolls.
According to the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), the Mimaki Tiger-1800B is currently designed for the fashion industry where the use of reactive inks is the norm. Mike Horsten, the General Marketing Manager of Mimaki EMEA, specifically stated that the reactive ink industry is not only a large market for Mimaki to tap into but also very fast paced.
The Mimaki Tiger-1800B represents the first step by the OEM towards this general direction. Mimaki can be expected to release a number of associated models in the future to further this new generation of offerings. For example, Horsten also said that the OEM is currently in the process of developing a wider version of the Mimaki Tiger-1800B that will be “3.2 metres wide” which will allow them to target the “bedspread market”.
Horsten also gave his views on the industrial textile market in general. He said that textile printing is “one of the two biggest growth areas in the printing industry” along with corrugated packaging. The OEM has made the Mimaki Tiger-1800B commercially available immediately and will be showcasing it at some trade exhibitions soon. As of now, the OEM plans to leverage the Heimtextil 2017 which will be followed by a display at the FESPA 2017.
Xerox Offered $4.4 Million Low-Interest Loan by the State of Connecticut
If the mainstream news is anything to go by, there’s a lot that is happening with Xerox lately. Our last two posts were a month apart. We reported on the OEM upgrading its C60 and C70 printer models in early November and later talked about the multiple lawsuits it was dealing with in early December. However, while these news items were important, the real story with Xerox has been the great Xerox split that has been taking place for some time now.
Regarding the same split, new developments have come to the fore. One of the concerns with the split was that the OEM will look to divest its focus on Norwalk and maybe move its headquarters or part of its headquarters elsewhere. Every time something like this happens, loss of job ensues for the locals and loss of income occurs for the regional government.
So, it isn’t surprising that the local government is trying to prevent this from happening. What is their method of encouraging Xerox to keep its headquarters in Norwalk post-split? The State of Connecticut is offering Xerox a low-interest loan worth $4.4 million to keep its headquarters in the same place. The State of Connecticut’s worries about Xerox moving its headquarters were valid too.
Recently, there was news that the building in which Xerox is operating right now has been put back up for tenancy in the market. This occurred even though Xerox senior management categorically stated that they’re yet to make a final decision on the headquarters. At the very least, though, the OEM has specified that it’ll be keeping its printer – copier business in Norwalk. Xerox’s printer – copier business’s revenues in 2015 were to the tune of $11 billion. The OEM’s business process outsourcing company, Conduent, however, will be moved to New Jersey from December 31st onwards. Conduent’s revenues in 2015 were $7 billion.
According to the state of Connecticut, the loan agreement will see Xerox stay in Norwalk, which means continuity for its 150 local workers. Furthermore, the OEM would also be expected to add 20 to 40 new jobs per year. The loan being offered has a term of ten years.
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