Kyocera is the latest print technology manufacturer turning its focus to the expanding digital textile printing market, announcing it will launch its first textile printer later this year.
Fabrics printed using Epson's inkjet textile printing technology
“Kyocera will launch its first digital textile printer in the fall [Japanese autumn is September to November],” according to a report by Japan-based Nikkei Asia.
“The company hopes to reach annual sales of 10 billion yen ($US74 million) by fiscal 2026 for the unit, whose base price is in the tens of millions of yen. Kyocera aims to set up a recurring-business model, with customers continuing to buy ink from the company, and is looking at medium- to long-term sales of around 100 billion yen.”
Companies including Seiko Epson, EFI and Kornit Digital are already established in the digital textile printing market, which is “set to expand thanks to its water-saving potential,” the report said.
“Standard dyeing methods, in which one colour is applied at a time and multiple washings are necessary, are said to require about 150 litres of water per kilogram of fabric. Water pollution from ink and chemicals is also a problem.
“Kyocera's new printer, which uses a unique ink whose colour sets when it dries, requires only about 20 millilitres of water per kilogram of fabric. The company took six years to develop technology to accurately spray highly viscous pigment ink and fixing agent.”
The global market for digital textile printing is expected to grow to $US7.5 billion in 2030, according to U.S.-based Grand View Research.
https://www.kyoceradocumentsolutions.com.au
