With the ever-increasing demand to push the boundaries of limitation in knitwear design, digital print is becoming a hot topic, according to Derbyshire, UK based Shima Seiki Europe Ltd. Accordingly the company has set up a brand new and fully operational ‘digital printing for knitwear’ demonstration facility at its Castle Donington showrooms.

With the wider introduction of the company’s SIP160F inkjet printer to the UK and Europe, the rules are at last being broken, the company says, promising far greater opportunity to knitted garment designers, manufacturers and retailers.

Although working on the same principle as an inkjet printer the SIP160F actually prints with reactive or acid dyes, as Shima Seiki Europe’s SIP Sales Manager Simon Cross explains: “This means that unlike inks the dyes are ‘set in’ the fibres as opposed to ‘sitting on’ the fibres thus forming a permanent and colourfast bond.”

“Take that to the next level together with adjustable print head height and you cannot only print on 3D textures but you can achieve a fine and detailed print on even the most luxurious yarns like silk, cashmere and mohair without affecting the handle of the fabric in any way,” adds Simon.

Watch the Shima Seiki SIP160F in action...

“If all of this wasn’t exciting enough,” he continues, “The SIP160F has been designed to print onto finished garments too – whether it be placement print or the seamless print and dye of garments like Shima’s Wholegarment® knitwear.”

According to Shima Seiki Europe, the SIP160F is not only pushing these boundaries it is also opening doors for UK manufacturers to partner with retailers and design houses to offer quick response and agile manufacturing from ‘next day’ sampling to long term, short run production.

“Of course the opportunities do not end there. With the SIP160F manufacturers can offer added value, unlimited colours, stock regeneration and short lead times to name just a few. And let’s not forget the new fashion ‘must have’ - personalisation,” enthuses Simon.

Simon points out that with more and more design brands offering this type of premium service there is no better process than digital print to deliver such an on-demand, user friendly and highly commercial service.

Shima Seiki SIP160F’s ‘virtual print bed’ user-friendly interface allows the user to scan substrates, garments, gloves, scarves, hats and other knitted items in situ allowing specific and accurate image or data placement on each item. “This means that you can print as many different designs, colours and placements as you like onto as many substrates as you can fit on the bed all in one single print run,” concludes Simon.

With Shima Seiki’s heritage in knitwear production technology, the SIP160F has been designed with knitted garments in mind and with its recent launch in the UK and Europe, backed by a dedicated sales and support team in the UK, perhaps the timing is right for British and European companies to embrace this technology - especially those retailers and manufacturers who are bringing manufacturing back to Europe.

Shima Seiki Europe Ltd is a subsidiary company of Shima Seiki Mfg. Ltd of Wakayama, which is a global leader in the manufacturer of advanced computerized flat knitting machines, seamless glove and sock knitting machines, digital printing equipment, computer graphic systems, CAD/CAM systems and other peripheral equipment.

Further information

For further information please contact:

Simon Cross

SIP Sales Manager

Shima Seiki Europe Ltd

Sills Road, Willow Farm Business Park, Castle Donington, Derbyshire, United Kingdom, DE74 2US.

Tel: +44 (0) 1332 814770

[email protected]

www.shimaseiki.co.uk