INTRODUCING THE S4 DIGITAL PRETREAT UNIT

M&R is known as one of the largest manufacturers of screen-printing equipment, worldwide. However, the company has also been creating DTG digital printers, direct-to-film (DTF) systems and an extensive range of presses, dryers and finishing equipment for almost 40 years. 

The business began as a repair service for other manufacturers’ machines. As a result, M&R learned the ins and outs of the needs of printers. Today, customer support is still at the heart of the company’s ethos. Its worldwide service network offers 24/7 support and technicians ensure the optimum value is reached with each M&R machine.

In DTG printing, there can be a few roadblocks along the way. These can make the process difficult and one of the biggest is pretreatment. Unwanted pretreatment marks – known as the ‘box’ – pop up on garments, especially those using vibrant blues, reds, pastels and blended fabrics. It is frustrating, time consuming and can limit printing onto certain garments. The new Polaris DTG and S4 Digital Pretreat Unit can change this.

The S4 digitally applies pretreatment only where it is needed

The M&R Polaris was developed out of a need – in the textile-printing industry – for a high-speed, retail-quality, industrial DTG printer. It was first launched in May 2021 and, since then, has changed the way DTG-printed garments look and feel. M&R accomplished this with its extensive knowledge in textile printing, together with the expectations of major brands and consumers. 

The Polaris was inspired by M&R’s popular automatic oval press. The press provides a high-quality, smooth-operating, servo-drive indexer at the precision level that DTG printing demands. This base also makes the Polaris modular, upgradable and expandable. When improvements in technology appear, the component/s can be upgraded without replacing the entire platform. With impressively fast print speeds and rugged construction, the Polaris is designed and manufactured with M&R’s commitment to quality and exacting standards.

Consumable waste is reduced due to the accurate application of pretreatment

The Polaris DTG and S4 Digital Pretreat Unit was designed specifically to resolve unwanted pretreatment marks – ’the box’. The S4 digitally applies pretreatment only where it is needed. In other words, directly under the design. In this way, it eliminates the need to pretreat everywhere to avoid visible ‘boxes’ and UV staining. Some DTG printers may avoid printing onto certain garments because of their propensity to stain or leave marks. The S4 enables printing onto bright blues, reds, greens, pastels, garment-dyed, heathered and blended fabrics, without these concerns.

The S4 not only applies pretreatment solely on the design area, but the density can also be controlled. This targeted application means no more ‘boxes’ or UV staining, creating consistently clean, high-quality prints. As a result, garment types that may have been avoided are no longer a challenge.

Consumable waste is reduced due to the accurate application of pretreatment. Less pretreatment means lower costs and a more efficient printing process. Consistency is reliable with the S4 and no extra steps are needed to hide unwanted marks.

M&R offers full support from quick fixes to preventative maintenance and troubleshooting, in order to keep operations running at peak performance. A worldwide network of technicians means faster response times and minimal downtime.

As well as avoiding pretreatment difficulties, adding the S4 Digital Pretreat Unit to the Polaris, has the capacity to increase business. With the S4, a broader range of products can be offered and fabric/garment limitations reduced. This can result in new revenue and more satisfied customers. Plus, the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of targeted pretreatment application means that resources are not being wasted.

The S4 Digital Pretreat Unit is not simply an upgrade to the Polaris

The S4 Digital Pretreat Unit is not simply an upgrade to the Polaris. By applying pretreatment only where it is needed, the Polaris DTG and S4 Digital Pretreat Unit makes pretreat ‘boxes’ and UV staining a thing of the past. This enables more garment options, better prints and a smoother overall printing process. Additionally, M&R’s extensive customer support optimises the use of its Polaris. This equipment can make a difference to daily operations and a print company’s bottom line.