Overview

The press release announces the first sale and installation of Konica Minolta’s NASSENGER SP-1e digital textile printer in India. The machine delivers a rated production speed of up to 6,400 square metres per hour, which translates to a theoretical maximum of approximately 153,600 square metres in a 24‑hour period, subject to operating conditions, fabric type, print mode, maintenance and utilisation.

Product Details

The NASSENGER SP-1e employs a single‑pass architecture in which fixed printing units remain stationary while the fabric moves continuously beneath them. This contrasts with multipass printers that require the print carriage to traverse the fabric repeatedly, enabling the SP-1e to achieve industrial‑scale throughput. In addition to the SP-1e, Konica Minolta markets two other models to address different production needs:

  • NASSENGER 10e: Capable of up to 1,120 sqm/hour, configurable for Reactive, Disperse and Acid inks, suitable for high‑productivity environments that still require multipass flexibility.
  • NASSENGER 8: Offers up to 380 sqm/hour with a printing width of roughly 1,850 mm, also supporting Reactive, Disperse and Acid inks, and is positioned for sampling, short runs and medium‑volume commercial production.

Market Implications

The transition from conventional rotary and screen printing to digital is driven by shorter fashion cycles, reduced inventory levels, faster design changes, fragmented order quantities and heightened expectations around quality, sustainability and delivery timelines. Digital textile printing eliminates the need for physical screens, allowing manufacturers to move directly from a digital design file to production. This reduces setup dependency, shortens lead times and makes it feasible to handle multiple designs and varying order sizes within a single production run.

Sustainability Benefits

Digital printing reduces the consumption of screens, lowers wastewater generation and diminishes the use of chemicals associated with screen preparation and cleaning. As global apparel brands intensify requirements for wastewater reduction, chemical compliance, traceability and responsible manufacturing, these sustainability attributes become a competitive business requirement rather than merely an environmental consideration.

Indian Textile Export Opportunity

India possesses a comprehensive textile ecosystem—including fibres, yarns, weaving, knitting, processing, garmenting and a large skilled workforce—positioning it to capture a larger share of global textile and apparel exports. The availability of a technology pathway ranging from the NASSENGER 8 (380 sqm/hr) through the NASSENGER 10e (1,120 sqm/hr) to the high‑speed SP-1e (6,400 sqm/hr) enables manufacturers at various stages of digital transformation to scale production, improve sustainability, meet international quality standards and increase export competitiveness.

Disclaimer

The information is presented as a press release supplied under an arrangement with NRDPL. PTI assumes no editorial responsibility for the content.