Ricoh will make available two new direct-to-garment printers, the Ri 3000 and the Ri 6000. The two devices give printers flexible and cost-effective digital systems traditionally serviced by analogue equipment.

The new direct-to-garment printers are ideal for promotional items like T-shirts, cloth bags, hoodies, sweatshirts, and socks, says Vaughan Patterson, product marketing operations manager for Production Print at Ricoh SA. Both can print on a wide range of materials from 100 per cent cotton and light polyester to mixed polyester and even 50/50 blends.

Screen printers, specialist direct-to-garment printers, sign and display printers, commercial graphic arts printers, and entrepreneurs can create valuable products for many industries, as well as fashion, education, corporates, small and medium businesses, home decoration, youth groups, sports clubs, and charities.

One of the key benefits of the digital direct-to-garment devices is that it shortens traditional production processes in this environment, says Patterson. They get colourfast, machine-washable prints that stretch without cracking. And the ink is environmentally friendly. It also integrates the process with the rest of the print workflows. Printers can get low volume, personalised jobs finished to high quality specifications on light and dark garments without limiting half tones, dumbing down their designs, and even using photographs.

The systems also include user-friendly maintenance features such as an automatic ink circulation system for white channels that improves ink flow and performance. It also incorporates the seven-inch touch-enabled panel. The printers will be progressively available throughout Europe and South Africa from the third quarter of 2017.