Ricoh has introduced the Ri 2000 direct-to-garment (DtG) printer, which offers 1200 x 1200dpi printing on a range of textile products, from T-shirts and tote bags to face masks and safety vests.

Claimed to set ‘a nw benchmark in terms of productivity and efficiency in its class’, the new printer is said to enable colour consistency, automation of production workflows and creation of white layers for printing on dark garments via ColorGate RIP technology. Ink supply, temperature and humidity are continuously monitored and maintenance instructions for non-automated tasks presented via colour touchscreen. Cleaning is automated and printhead cleaning is achieved via a head cleaning jig.

Extended applications include canvas shoes, baseball caps and long sleeved shirts. A magnetic platen and automatic table height adjustment facilitate changing between garment types.

Graham Kennedy, director Industrial Printing, Ricoh Europe, said, ‘Working closely with early adopters in the continuously growing DtG market during product development, Ricoh customers can now enjoy the benefits of a DtG turnkey solution. The Ri 2000 meets the needs of innovative digital print providers, custom apparel online retailers, as well as traditional businesses offering added value by printing on garments.

The R1 200 joins Ricoh’s DTG portfolio that already includes the Ri 100 and Ri 1000 devices as the production flagship. It will be available from November 2020.