Following up on the excitement generated earlier this year when it launched its award-winning Ricoh Ri 100 compact garment printing system, AnaJet, a Ricoh company, unveiled its latest direct-to-garment (DTG) printer at the 2018 SGIA Expo, the Ricoh Ri 1000. Able to print full color graphics at 1,200x1,200 dpi on garments of various sizes, colors and materials, the Ri 1000 can print 10-by-8-inch CMYK graphics in just 28 seconds.
"The Ricoh Ri 1000 is our most user-friendly, full-featured DTG machine yet,” proclaimed AnaJet CEO Karl Tipre. "With the Ricoh Ri 1000’s affordable price point, automatic maintenance features and built-in Interactive Operation Guide, capitalizing on the garment market opportunity has never been so attainable."
The Ricoh Ri 1000 joins the Ricoh Ri 6000 — a highlight of last year's SGIA Expo — and the entry level Ri 100 in the Anajet booth, which is set up to demonstrate real-world applications.
Among the time-saving features on the Ri 1000 are its quick-change magnetic platens, which come in multiple styles and sizes up to 16-by-19.6 inches. They easily snap on and off the machine, so switching between different garment styles and sizes requires virtually no downtime. Platens are dressable, for hassle-free loading, precision printing and garment protection.
Automated maintenance sequences clean print heads and agitate white ink regularly, saving operators time and making the device easier to use and maintain. The Ricoh Ri 1000 continuously monitors its ink supply, air level and dampers, adjusting where necessary.
"It's always ready to print," Marketing Director Paul Crocker told IPG during an SGIA booth visit. "It's walk-up ready."
At the @AnaJet booth at @SGIAExpo Paul Crocker and Marcia Mody show off the new #Ricoh Ri 1000 direct to garment printer, debuting here in Vegas. pic.twitter.com/RQU6VLQQgU
— In-plant Impressions (@IP_Impressions) October 18, 2018
For those maintenance tasks that aren’t automated, the device’s 7˝ touchscreen display includes a built-in Interactive Operation Guide, which provides alerts reminding users to perform manual maintenance tasks. This touchscreen also allows for intuitive job and workflow management.
Crocker says the company is taking orders for the Ricoh Ri 1000 at the SGIA Expo. "We expect to be shipping in November," he added.
Related story: Adding Value With Wearable Print
Bob has served as editor of In-plant Impressions since October of 1994. Prior to that he served for three years as managing editor of Printing Impressions, a commercial printing publication. Mr. Neubauer is very active in the U.S. in-plant industry. He attends all the major in-plant conferences and has visited more than 180 in-plant operations around the world. He has given presentations to numerous in-plant groups in the U.S., Canada and Australia, including the Association of College and University Printers and the In-plant Printing and Mailing Association. He also coordinates the annual In-Print contest, co-sponsored by IPMA and In-plant Impressions.