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PRODUCT PORTFOLIO

Star product

Kornit Apollo

The Apollo is an automated high-speed digital garment press for runs of one up to a few thousand, says Simon Eccles

The ink is suited to a wide range of fabric
types, but is optimised for cotton and cot-
ton- rich blends. Kornit cites suitable fab-
rics as cotton, polyester, cotton-polyester
blends, Lycra/Spandex, rayon/viscose, silk,
leather, denim, linen, wool, “and more.”
No offline pre-treatment is required – all of
Kornit’s solutions use its ‘wet-on-wet’ tech-
nology with all processes handled inter-
nally.

Does it replace anything?
No, Apollo is an all-new system in the
Kornit range, with more speed and automa-
tion. Kornit claims it is unique in the mar-
ket.

What’s the USP?
What does it do? director of Kornit’s Mass Production
According to Kornit, it’s a combination of
It’s a high-throughput, fully automated Segment: “This is an industrial solution, “ground-breaking productivity” with a sin-
digital direct-to-garment printing system meant to complement a fleet of analogue gle operator, thanks to semi-automatic
that can output up to 400 impressions carousels.” The Apollo’s speed is about the
per hour, cured and ready to despatch. Specifications same as an average carousel, and the con- loading, fully automatic printing with
transfer to Tesoma-based smart curing and
Each can be a one-off, or part of a long Process Inkjet with cept is that in a high-throughput environ-
run. It’s intended for volume production Dimatix StarFire ment, Apollo can take care of one-offs and delivery. It incorporates Qualiset tech for
of shirts or hoodies (with or without 1024 Twinflex runs of up to a few thousand, alongside con- colour technology, and it can reproduce
pockets) and variations, where each printheads, plus ventional screen print carousels that can Pantone values and other brand colours.
handle the long runs of thousands of identi-
image can be unique and it can instantly inline curing cal garments. “Apollo can fit a range of mar- How easy is it to use/learn?
switch from handling white to coloured kets, from retail through promotional and
materials. This is a big system, with a Colours CMYK plus licensing, thanks to the ability to match Levy says: “Apollo makes the training
14.8x5.6m footprint, yet only one opera- red, green, white Pantone and spot colours, with on-demand short and easy, since our smart production
and primers
tor is needed. All running costs, includ- production,” says Levy. The speed means it takes care of all of the technical knowhow
ing the machine, installation and Ink Water-based can replace multiple “legacy” DTG digital that is needed to operate the system. The
consumables, are covered by a single Kornit Eco Rapid or analogue printers. operator can focus on loading and nothing
click rate based on a yearly estimate of NeoPigment more, making the training process and
sales. How does it work? ramp-up very quick. We offer full training
Max resolution packages that bring your team up to speed
When was it introduced and what are 1,200dpi This is an inkjet printing system that can with all of the technical tools that are
the target markets? print six colours (CMYK, red and green), needed to run the system on a daily basis.
Garment types plus white as a base layer on dark fabrics, an
Kornit has been developing DTG printers Shirts and hoodies ‘intensifier’ and a fixer. The inkjet system is The process takes two to four weeks, and
since it was founded in Israel in 2004, and (with or without Kornit’s MAX technology, previously used includes all operation, applications and
it developed the first digital white inks for pockets) on its high-volume Atlas MAX and Atlas maintenance.”
dark textiles. Apollo is its largest and fastest Poly printers, which are slower and have
model so far, able to handle volumes up to a less automation. It uses Kornit’s Eco Rapid, What does it cost?
million garments per year. It was launched NeoPigment water-based inks. Kornit says At Kornit’s Drupa press conference, CEO
in ITMA 2023 in Milan, Italy, and output all its inks are designed to meet the highest Ronen Samuel said: “Apollo would cost
garments were featured on Kornit’s stand environmental standards as well as con- $1.8m (£1.4m), plus ink and service con-
at Drupa – visitors were also invited to see sumption reductions. Eco Rapid ink is cer- tract. But instead we offer all-SaaS models
one of the large lines in action at Kornit’s tified to stricter regulations and is for clicks, which includes the machine.
European HQ in a nearby factory unit in compliant with GOTS and OEKO Passport This frees up capital, so clients only pay for
Düsseldorf. According to Moran Levy, certified, and BlueSign System Partner. clicks, ie sold jobs.”
“It was launched in ITMA 2023 in Milan, Italy, and output garments were featured at Drupa.”

30 PrintWeek MENA September 2024 www.printweekmena.com