Printing Innovations You Can See And Touch

Durst Rho P10 250

Although decades of innovations and developments have been made in the textile printing industry, a small percentage of the world’s printed textiles are produced digitally. Durst (Booth 1548) has seen the emergence of digital textile printing in recent years, and has introduced software, ink and print technology that link customer demand with printer capabilities.

Over a number of decades, there have been modernizations that are easy to see, but not yet ones you can touch, until now. Its long-time customer, Astek Inc. is making incredible strides in wallcoverings using the Durst P10 250 and Durst’s newly-developed HAPT technology.

Astek has been in the business of designing and creating custom wallcoverings for more than 20 years, ranging from traditional, to dramatic and extravagant. While wallpaper refers to basic paper, coverings at Asktek range can include cork, foil or even quartz. In addition to wallcoverings, Astek is a full print production house and design studio offering a variety of wallcoverings including indoor/outdoor murals, magnetic walls and ceiling applications.

“The use of the new HAPT option has allowed our team to serve a range of new client needs, like creating brush stokes for fine art work,” says Aaron Kirsch, Owner of Astek Inc.

The HAPT technology was introduced to the P10 250 HS in mid-2017 at FESPA, giving the printer the ability to print with a raised, or embossed, surface. Derived from the word “haptic”, meaning any interaction involving touch, the HAPT technology creates optical and 3D-effects in imaging. The “embossing” is achieved by applying up to eight layers of white ink before finishing the image with the standard process colors in one printing process.

HAPT technology allows for new applications — like Braille cells, or replication of brush strokes in an oil painting — to be achieved in one printing process. The HAPT features achieve a superior result where ink flexibility is not required.

Astek has incorporated HAPT printing in a variety of products, including applications like textured wallcovering and fine art work.

Durst’s digital inkjet technology and advancements in textile and wallcovering printing provides the solution to the current challenges faced by the textile industry: increased flexibility, greater productivity, higher efficiency, better print quality, more designs, more colors and a greater margin as a result.

At the same time, Durst high-performance multi-pass inkjet technology reduces production costs, production time, the amount of energy required and the burden on the environment, in comparison to traditional production methods.

“With Durst, Astek is able to add real dimensional elements and 3D effects to our product offering,” Kirsch says.