CUSTOM DIGITALLY PRINTED TEXTILES, FLAGS, DISPLAYS, APPAREL, MATS, FINE & CANVAS ART PRINTS

As we humans continue to over populate the earth the preservation of the planets natural resources becomes more imperative. As individuals and businesses we need to take a share of the responsibility in changing and reducing the negative impact of doing business on the environment and conserving valuable resources.

 

Digital textile printing in particular Digital Dye-Sublimation Printing provides less environmental impact over other printing methods.

 

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What is Digital Dye-Sublimation Printing?

 

   Sublimation is when a substance transitions between the solid and gas states without going through a liquid stage. Our Dye-Sublimation printers use the water-based organic printing inks, which are printed onto a transfer paper or directly onto the polyester fabric.  The printed media is heated up using a heat press until the dye turns into  gas, at which point it, it bonds at a molecular level to the fabric.

 

Digital printing greatly reduces water wastage and the use of water based organic dyes cause no harmful emissions and are biodegradable. The polyester fabrics and papers are all recyclable.

 

The Environmental Advantages of DigitalDecor's Dye Sublimation Printing on to Fabric

 

Reduced Water Use

Digital Dye Sublimation is a completely waterless printing process. Prints are dry and ready to use once they have come out of the heat press. There is NO waste water going into the environment.

 

Reduced Ink use

We use Ergosoft RIP Software which gives us much more control of the amount of ink we put onto transfer paper or fabric.

   When printing transfer paper that means less cockling (which is like when you drop water onto a piece of paper it swells up an no longer lies flat) which means less head strikes which ruin the print. Because we get less cockling we can use lighter paper, usually 70gsm which in turn releases most of the ink when heated. Some companies use heavier transfer paper up to 150gsm, which absorbs the ink, but you need to use more ink and more heat or energy to get the same result. There is also a lot of ink left in the paper, probably more than we use on light paper!

   On fabric that means we can use uncoated fabrics to print directly onto polyester fabrics.  Most direct to fabric printers use coated fabrics because they are using so much ink it blots when it touches the fabric. Uncoated fabrics give near to 100% show through of prints, important on flags.

    Less ink on the printed substrate means we can do most printing unattended. In our plant one technician can look after up to 5 printers working. We also do a lot of printing overnight when everybody has gone home.

 

Water based inks have no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's)

VOC's are organic chemical compounds that can cause health problems and damage the environment. VOC's are often in hard solvent based inks. The inks used in our Dye-Sublimation printing are water based therefore they don’t produce the Volatile Organic Compounds.

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Polyester Fabric Graphics

The base graphic substrate is polyester which is recyclable  and our premium fabric ensures a colour fast and vibrant result as well as optimum ink penetration. It is bio-degradable and leaves very little residue in the environment (unlike PVC and other traditional banner materials). Governments around the world are banning the use of PVCs.

 

All Wastage is recyclable

The main wastage of the digital dye sublimation process is used transfer paper and polyester fabric off cuts. Both of these by products are recyclable.

 

European low energy heat presses

We only use new Monti Antonio heat presses, which use minimal energy to heat our sublimation prints. Our heat presses comply to EU low energy requirements.

 

Reduced Carbon Footprint

    Compact - Fabrics can be folded up which means it takes up very little storage space

    Lightweight -  Lower volume and therefore less expensive to ship

    Transport -  Fabric doesn’t need to rolled into cumbersome and large cardboard tubes for transport

    Washable – If fabric prints get dirty simply wash them! They can handle hundreds of washes

    Reusable -  No risk of creases, kinks or damage (unlike traditional banner materials).

    Iron proof  - If you graphic does get creased simply iron it on the polyester setting on your iron

    No Curl   -  Edges of your valuable graphic print won't curl, even when in the sun.

    Less replacements  -  The almost indestructible graphic can be used over and over again

 

Environmentally Responsible Hardware – Recyclable Aluminium

 

As well as being light and strong, the Aluminium extrusions used in all our display systems is totally recyclable. When compared to manufacturing new aluminium recycling requires only 5% of the energy. Aluminium doesn't lose any of its structural integrity and is therefore infinitely recyclable.

 

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