Events and exhibitions print specialist Rocket tackles growing trend for textile printing with new MTEX 5032Pro wide-format printer.
Watford-based Rocket, a large format digital production company focusing on events, exhibitions, retail, interiors and environments, has added a new MTEX 5032Pro direct-to-textile digital printer to its growing stable of printers.
Rocket specialises in large and grand format digital print onto a wide range of materials for both internal and external applications.
Commercial Director Antony Rider said: “We decided to purchase the 5032Pro as it meets our needs as far as speed and quality go, and it was the most up to date model. It’s also commercially viable as a part of our overall fleet and it came out at the right price.”
The company, which currently has 42 staff, was founded in 1996 and has seen double digit growth over the last three years.
The experiential market is constantly looking for innovation, with a strong move at the moment towards textile, skins and stretchable print rather than hard board. The development in textile print technology driven by companies like MTEX, coupled with developments in proprietary frame systems, are driving this trend.
“There is a growth pattern – both for our company and in the digital textile industry in general – and this investment in the new MTEX will support that growth and keep us at the forefront of technology,” added Antony.
Commenting on the installation, Production Director Phil Eames added: “When the MTEX 5032Pro was installed in June, it replaced an older machine with a matching footprint – as there’s no need for a separate calendar with the MTEX we didn’t need to take up any valuable extra space.
“The installation itself, the training and support have all been professional, on time and ongoing – essential to us because as soon as the printer went in we were putting live work through it and we needed to be up to speed.
“The 5032Pro complements the work we were already producing, meaning we can expand our offering to our clients, and some jobs where we would previously have printed with UV as standard can now go on the 5032 for better quality and colour gamut.
“We’re generally working with a base set of substrates while we’re still learning about this new machine, but when we have more stability we’ll be looking at additional media and applications, and we look forward to working with the MTEX team on that.”
MTEX Technologies Managing Director Stewart Bell says they are delighted to be working with Rocket. “The 5032Pro is a great addition to the print fleet for a company like Rocket, which stands out from the crowd by remaining at the leading edge of wide format digital print technology.
“The Pro model of our market-leading MTEX 5032 3.2m wide textile printer has a new integrated platform as well as a new feeding and take up system which supports bigger and heavier rolls for greater productivity and unattended printing. There is also a new continuous ink feeding system and integrated infrared fixation.
“With a print speed of up to 58sqm/h and resolution up to 1440dpi, what you have is a high quality, production standard dye sub printer that delivers brilliant and vivid colours, ideal for brand implementation across a range of applications for demanding clients who know exactly what they want.”
Antony concluded: “While we have a solid forward order book with annual events and exhibitions booked well in advance, we can’t rest on our laurels. Our clients want their spaces to stand out so we need to keep ahead of the curve, and lead not follow on new trends – and at the moment, the new trend is textile.”
