ITMA 2023: the sustainable revolution in the textile world with Epson

ITMA is the international trade fair for textile technology. Since 1951, it has been established as the key event for key players in the industry. Its 2023 edition, held in Milan, paid attention to a crucial topic: sustainability. "Revolutionizing the world of textiles" was the ambitious leitmotif that catalysed the attention of manufacturers, experts and professionals from different parts of the world, launching the challenge of making the textile industry compatible with safeguarding the planet.

The concept of revolution is not limited to the production of fashionable clothes, but extends to a broader and more responsible view of the entire industrial process. It is a challenging mission to reinvent the industry's practices in a way that harmonises with global environmental needs through innovative technologies, the use of waste materials and the adoption of sustainable measures that promote a circular economy.

Far from being just a slogan, the concept of the latest edition is meant to be a confirmation of a tangible and concrete commitment.

Sustainability and innovation, two watchwords for ITMA 2023

In line with this commitment to sustainability and the digitisation of processes, Epson presented its innovations in digital printing solutions, combining innovative technologies and respect for the environment to meet the needs of up-to-date textile manufacturers.

Thanks to advanced inkjet printing technologies, application possibilities are expanding to new, more environmentally friendly materials and fibres.
This new technology for the textile industry is based on several factors: first and foremost, the availability of new-generation, reliable and high-performance printheads equipped with MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems), designed to offer significant improvements in quality and cost-effectiveness.

In addition, the continuous development of inks and pre- and post-print treatments allows the creation of innovative applications and the penetration of new markets, as well as the expansion of the range of fabrics for digital printing that includes new eco-sustainable materials, such as those of vegetable origin, essential in the mission to reduce the environmental impact of the textile industry.

According to a survey by the Industrial Association for Finishing (IVGT) in April 2022, 71% of manufacturers have increased investment in research and development, focusing on innovative materials. This trend is set to continue in the coming years, with an increasing focus on sustainable fibres, yarns, fabrics and composites. The reduction of environmental impact and the use of biodegradable, microplastic-free materials are at the heart of these new research processes.

At the same time, textile machine manufacturers are also focusing on sustainability, trying to reduce the waste of resources such as electricity, water and gas, without compromising efficiency. Among the most promising innovations are water-saving dyeing processes, cutting technologies with minimal waste and digital solutions to reduce overproduction.

New Monna Lisa and SureColor printers at ITMA: advanced technology for every market need

During the last edition of ITMA, Epson presented its new Monna Lisa and SureColor range of industrial printers, ideal for covering all market needs: haute couture, home textiles, accessories, luggage, furniture, swimwear and sportswear. The SureColor printers, in particular, are ideal for printing on finished cotton garments, sublimation printing and faux leather printing.

The star of the event was the new Monna Lisa ML-16000HY, a hybrid version of the ML-16000.
Equipped with two different types of ink (pigment and paste), the Monna Lisa ML-16000 HY hybrid printer was developed to reproduce sophisticated effects on modern fabrics, including gold, silver and glossy highlights, marble and more.

With an ever-changing textile market, there is a growing demand for efficient solutions that offer unique results and high productivity. This printer is ideal for companies looking to optimise the production of complex prints, offering a wide range of creative possibilities.

With this new addition to the Monna Lisa series, already renowned for its print quality, ink optimisation and flexibility, special effects can be achieved on any fabric without additional steps.

With a combination of 8 colours, 16 PrecisionCore print heads and 64 injectors, the Monna Lisa ML-16000 HY makes it possible to digitally print special effects, which could previously only be done through traditional square or cylinder printing. Using water-based Genesta inks, it ensures colour accuracy and resistance in fabric prints, while special pastes developed by Epson Como Printing Technologies enable the creation of special effects.
The Monna Lisa ML-16000 HY is a demonstration of how Epson's R&D department continues to look to the future. This innovation from Epson makes it possible to recreate any print effect digitally, thus meeting the needs of various markets, from fashion to home textiles and even swimwear and sportswear.

 

Sempre per l'occasione, Epson ha presentato al pubblico anche Monna Lisa ML-32000 340, altamente versatile, adatta a ogni esigenza del mercato con stampa fronte/retro fino al formato 340 cm. La configurazione dei canali a 8+8 colori rende possibile caricarla con diversi tipi di pigmenti allo stesso tempo, e ridurre anche l’attesa di stampa tra tipologie diverse di tessuti.

L’operatività è notevolmente semplificata e più veloce grazie alla pulitura automatica degli ugelli, che permette la rimozione della lanugine, all'auto-allineamento e alla calibrazione delle testine. Infine, la presenza di un cloud super performante, ne permette il controllo interamente da remoto.

Infine MonnaLisa ML-24000, che vanta la presenza di un chip Micro TFP di nuova generazione. Con le sue ventiquattro testine di stampa Epson PrecisionCore, nonché la possibilità di integrare dodici colori, i tempi di inattività dovuti al cambio degli inchiostri sono notevolmente ridotti. Monna Lisa ML-24000 risulta perfetta anche per ottenere risultati uniformi e precisi grazie alle nuove tecnologie di allineamento simmetrico dei colori e l’Accurate Belt Position Control.

Tra le tante caratteristiche che annovera, questa stampante dispone della particolarità di poter stampare su moltissimi tessuti differenti, naturali o sintetici, ma anche più particolari quali cocco o banano.

Anche in questo caso, la sostenibilità non viene trascurata, ML-24000 dispone infatti di prestigiose certificazioni come GOTS e OEKOTEXT.

Carbon neutral mission: a new look into the future

The event also offered a privileged look at automation and the digital future of the textile industry, which is opening up new avenues for efficiency and sustainability, as well as new opportunities to optimise production processes and reduce environmental impact. Epson is at the forefront of this journey towards a lower environmental impact within the textile industry, aiming to reduce its CO² emissions and ideally become carbon negative by 2050. Through the Monna Lisa Carbon-Neutral Printing initiative, Epson is committed to offsetting the footprint of every Monna Lisa operating in the market through various actions, including planting trees to achieve carbon neutrality.

Furthermore, the lifecycle of Monna Lisa printers is impressively long: it is estimated that of all the machines introduced to the market since 2003, 90% are still working properly.

With a view to offsetting emissions produced during ITMA 2023, Epson has entered into an important partnership with ReteClima, a non-profit organisation that follows companies on their path towards sustainability and decarbonisation, in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the UN.

After an analysis of certain factors (such as participant mobility, transport of materials, energy consumption of the location, materials used for set-ups, catering & accommodation, and waste produced) carried out by ReteClima, Epson committed to offsetting its emissions through the cancellation of a number of carbon credits equal to the value of the carbon footprint of the event itself (expressed in terms of tCO2).

Emissions, estimated at around 130 tCO2 for the event, were actively offset by supporting a solar power project certified to VCS-Verra standards. In particular, the VCS 1230 - Solar Photovoltaic Power Project in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India, aims to generate clean electricity using solar energy. This project aims to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, helping to avoid significant emissions of air pollutants that impact public health, such as SOx, NOx and suspended particulate matter (SPM).

Italy and Japan: a bridge towards sustainability

If ITMA, the largest international trade fair for textile and clothing technology, showcases the innovations that will transform the industry, Epson has decided to play a leading role with an innovative stand that represents the fusion of Italian creativity and Japanese technology, symbolised by a bridge connecting these two worlds.

The fusion of Italian creativity and excellence with Japanese technological innovation has led to the introduction of the high-performance printers in the Monna Lisa range onto the market.

To remain consistent with its great commitment, Epson has entrusted the realisation of the stand to companies that care about sustainability.
The entire stand design followed a green approach: materials and signage were reduced to a bare minimum to reduce waste, furniture elements were designed to be reusable on future occasions, and all materials used were sourced locally, thus avoiding the consumption associated with shipping.

Finally, the general attitude was characterised by an ethical approach, from waste management to the use of transport or car-pooling.
To coordinate the project and oversee the execution phase, Epson turned to XCompany, an Italian company with 20 years' experience in customised stand construction.

The walls of the stand were painted with Airlite colours, a technology that purifies the air thanks to the semiconductor principle; the semi-finished wood products were supplied by Bonzano, a company that believes in the circular economy and the re-purposing of industrial waste; and the stand's flooring was supplied by Egger, a company that guarantees that the wood comes from legally managed forests. Furnishings, such as carpeting, was also chosen according to the same criteria, and therefore entrusted to the company Montecolino, which is committed to reducing its environmental impact through careful analysis of energy efficiency, and the installation of a photovoltaic system.

Finally, the installation was performed by Arianese, a company that respects the criteria of energy autonomy, proper waste management, and the sustainable selection of raw materials and semi-finished products.

 



 

With more than 1,570 exhibitors from 42 countries, over 200,000 square metres of exhibition space, and more than 150,000 visitors, ITMA confirmed itself as the ideal platform to explore the latest trends and innovations in the textile industry. This success was also made possible thanks to the fundamental contribution of companies like Epson, who demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and innovation in their field.