Jun 27 2006
Two major players in the textile printing industry – BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, and Stork Digital Imaging, leading supplier of printing solutions for the textile and graphic industries – combine their expertise to develop a complete, easy-to-use, high-performance pigment ink solution for the digital textile printer. The new pigment ink solution makes its world début at ITM 2006 in Istanbul taking place end of June.
BASF’s extensive knowledge in the field of digital textile printing played a pivotal role in helping Stork Digital Imaging launch the new pigment ink. Stork’s research in areas of workflows and ink bulk feed systems and BASF’s inkjet ink formulation know-how enabled the development of a pigment ink with a larger colour gamut and higher speed performance. Furthermore, Stork perfected the external ink system that guarantees a smooth, uninterrupted and stable ink supply, so nozzle performance is optimized throughout the longest of production runs.
The pigment ink solution has Stork U See® accreditation. The U See approval will thus guarantee exact reproductions at any place or time worldwide, enabling customers to organize production with greater flexibility – for instance by choosing to produce prints close to the confection centres in the Asia – Pacific Region, when necessary, while sampling locally.
The new pigment ink is calibrated for the Stork PrinterServer software, ensuring reproducibility between individual print runs, along with an extensive back-up from BASF and Stork’s global support networks.
Comments Dr. Gernot Diehlmann, head of BASF´s Ink Jet business: “With Stork's excellent reputation and extensive system integration expertise, we have found an ideal partner for the further evolution of digital textile printing."
This collaboration signifies the first step towards a long-term partnership between the two corporations, with the aim of further enhancing the joint textile pigment ink programme.
Fred Boes, managing director of Stork Digital Imaging, comments: “Our machine knowledge coupled with BASF’s know-how in pigment ink forms an ideal strategic fit. We are delighted to be pooling our resources in this way, and look forward to building a long standing relationship that will help us both deliver enhanced solutions to the textile printing industry.”