Technology was one of the great protagonists of the 2024 edition of PTE, taking the limelight in the discussions, while at the same time sparking a bizarre challenge among exhibitors. Armed with “virgin” T-shirts and thermo-adhesive transfers, they competed to present buyers and other visitors with T-shirts personalised with astronauts, little Gremlin-like monsters and a thousand other motifs, applied to the fabric in no time at all using their machines. In the case of the 60 cm All-in-One DTF, brought to the exhibition by T-Shirt Makers, it’s a genuine system, comprising a two-head plotter, dryer oven and fume purifier.

There were also major developments from Nanodiy: This Croatian brand, presented at PTE by Global Graphics, has focused on DTF since the technology’s beginnings, and is now reaping the benefits of arriving at its fourth generation of machines. Crios Transfer emphasises the factors of saving and speed with its new €10/m DTF printing service with delivery within 24 hours (without compromising quality, as demonstrated by the certifications).

Some like it hybrid

DTF is also leading the charge in the category of hybrid DTF-DTG printers, where Awservice is focusing. At PTE, it reserved the place of honour for the Epson SC-F2200, a machine that can handle white ink – a blessing and a curse for customisers – with ease. Gi-an has developed an entire production line around the DTF-DTG, renamed S-Line and made up of a print plotter, adhesive sifter, oven and rewinder. DTF UV technology represents one more niche. In this area, Modico presented a wide range of Neonjet-branded accessories at the exhibition, from normal transparent films to gold and silver foil, as well as the Modico Graphics rolling machine.

The best of the markers

In the laser field, the latest trend is UV markers, which have a much shorter wavelength than ones based on fibre or CO₂. This translates into lower marking power, ideal for more delicate jobs, like those involving glass or paper, or where there is a risk of damaging the surface of the surrounding materials. The many representatives of laser specialists who attended PTE 2024 included Lasermake, with the Lm-Rft-Uv machine, and Worklinestore, with the Splua Galvanometric UV laser marker.

Gravotech presented its complete line of laser solutions at the exhibition, like the WeLase, a compact laser marker for engraving jewellery and customising objects, cutlery, gifts and perfumes. Its high speed, high-quality marking and large windows make it an experience like no other in the store. Thanks to a wide range of options and accessories, this laser marking station can be configured to suit different needs and specific items. For example: to personalise the inside of a ring with engraving, or engrave the outside of fine metal bracelets, for customising perfume bottles, glasses, make-up, silverware (cutlery, napkin holders, knives), items made of anodised aluminium, plastic, wood or leather, and many other possibilities. It’s useful that the software is available both in versions for the “less experienced” (ABC, Catalog) and for “professionals” (Gravostyle, Lasertrace).

Put your business into circulation

Circular economy. Sustainability. Authentic green practices instead of greenwashing. There is an increasingly widespread focus on these criteria, which in the coming years will become crucial to determine the bankability of the companies in question. That means it’s no surprise that Colorcopy placed a lot of emphasis on the eco-friendly printing of high-definition Roland Eco-Sol Max 2 and Eco-Sol Max 3 inks at the exhibition. They’re suitable for the BN2-20 and BN2-20A printers, 100% nickel-free and available in seven colours, in addition to white and metallic. These are joined by the new Greenguard-certified Roland TR2 inks: dedicated to TrueVIS printers, they are completely odourless, don’t require any special ventilation or environmental equipment and offer white and the new shades of orange and green in addition to the seven colours. Hurricane has been working in a similar direction, with its line of Oeko-Tex-certified water-based DTF inks.

Weaving success

The charm of needle and thread is a constant in the world of customisation, a sector where professionals can rely on machinery with ever increasing speed, precision and connectivity. One example is Happy Japan HCD3, among the showpieces at the Embroidery Service stand. It offers both winning Japanese quality, on this compact 15-needle full-industrial single-head embroidery machine, and the winning possibility of operational leasing on offer.

On the subject of Happy Japan, the compact 7-needle Plus model shone in the hands of the Market Screentypographic specialists and Cristian Baronio, who produced “Fabric Bubbles” for 3D effects on sweatshirts during the PTE Lab sessions. This new technique has been studied and perfected at the Atelier della Stampa training academy in Milan.

Gnoato Lino too looks eastward with Brother Entrepreneur Pro X PR1055X and its Creative solutions, like the magnetic frame for easy embroidering on thick materials, as well as Business solutions like the tubular frame support, which aids work on large projects.

The past still has a bright future

As well as DTF technology, more traditional techniques were also in the spotlight at PTE. Pubblicità & Stampa has successfully updated offset, an art that arose out of the historic lithographic method, with solutions that allow it to print on a vast range of paper media, including porous and tactile paper, with remarkable precision.

And screen printing is another technique that is not yet ready to be written off. This was shown by Fabrizio Selis of Market Screentypographic who, in the PTE Lab area, demonstrated the versatility of this technique on different types of papers and fabrics with the help of the Goccopro digital frame, achieving special 3D effects. Another example is Angelo Barzaghi of the Accademia della Serigrafia. At the exhibition, he presented a prototype conceived, designed and created in collaboration with a technical workshop which is highly skilled in designing and repairing screen-printing machines and machinery for the textile sector in general. The result is a manual machine with a huge supply of accessories that can be added (the table, with 9 cm travel, also allows you to customise diaries or boxes made of any kind of material) and replaced with a click, like the different frames that let you apply practically infinite layers of colour. This makes the machine, which can also interface with DTG direct digital printing, perfect for those who are starting out: it is simple, versatile and offers a good professional quality. It is a training field for those who want to experiment with screen printing on fabric, but also with stickers or window stickers, and for those who want to prototype production.

Piccola Serigrafia Artigiana and LV Decors also provided convincing demonstrations of silk-screen printing on scarves, shopping bags and T-shirts, while Giesse exploited all of its experience in sublimation, bringing to the exhibition beach towels capable of overcoming the dark, dull weather in Milan at the beginning of the year with the illusion of summer sun.