A world first, the new MTEX Mini-lab comprises coater, steamer, washer and dryer which, when coupled with a digital textile pigment, acid or reactive printer, will produce 1m square samples accurately in a controlled professional environment.

The MTEX CW-100 coater/ washer coats standard fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk ready for digital textile printing. Once coated, the material is passed through two rollers to squeeze out excess liquid and gain the correct coating weight. The fabric is then put through the MTEX D-100 dryer and dries ready to be printed.

Once the print sample is complete, the printed fabric is then mounted into the MTEX S-100 steamer and steamed for the required amount of time depending on the ink/dye type used. The MTEX S-100 features controlled humidity and an inbuilt steam generator so the unit is concise, compact, with a small footprint and only requires a standard cold water connection. Once steamed, the fabric can then be washed in the CW-100 wash tank and again dried on the D-100 dryer to complete the process. The entire workflow will take between 20-30 minutes depending on the dye type and length of time in the steamer.

The whole solution, minus the printer will be advertised at €59,950 and MTEX expects the workflow to attract a wide range of visitors at their booth at ITMA.

Eloi Ferreira, CEO of MTEX Solutions comments, “The MTEX Mini-Lab will be fully working on our stand at the show. This is one of the most important launches into the industry this year as it will offer textile printers an extremely easy and cost-effective way to produce samples on their own equipment to the highest professional standard without having to compromise on any part of the textile printing workflow. We have invested months of research and development into this solution, proves our determination and commitment as a company to truly digitise the whole textile printing process, from sampling, through to coating, printing, steaming, washing and drying.”

MTEX will be showing at ITMA in Milan from 12th – 19th November, Hall 18, booth 112.

About MTEX

MTEX Solutions was borne out of many years experience in the wide format digital print sector with a driving ambition to bring digital technology in the truest sense of the word, to the textile industry. The idea was revolutionary. Since then MTEX’s technology and expertise has grown to the extent that they now offer a solution for almost any kind of digital textile print application for both the traditional textile industry and sign & display. MTEX Solutions offer a full range of machines covering the entire spectrum of the digital textile print workflow – including pre- and post treatment. The company’s solutions enable digital printing onto woven and knitted fabrics using a range of printers with different ink types that include Reactive, Acid, Pigment and Disperse dyes, allowing users to digitally print on to almost every fabric type including naturals, polyesters and polyamides, and manufacturers finishing solutions for each one. MTEX is a European manufacturer with offices and demonstration suites in Portugal, America and the UK.