Ichinose iUGO - Hybrid Printer (Inkjet + Flat Screen)
Ichinose iUGO is a revolutionary Hybrid Printing Machine developed by Toshin Kogyo (Ichinose) that combines the best of two worlds: the high-quality, unlimited design capabilities of Inkjet Printing and the uniformity, penetration, and cost-effectiveness of Flat Screen Printing.
By utilizing Inkjet for the motif design (the intricate pattern) and Flat Screen for the ground color (the background), the iUGO system solves the limitations of using either method alone. It offers lower production costs, special printing effects (like gold, silver, and glitter), and easy integration with existing flat screen machines.
Unlike traditional screen printing which can be limited by screen size and complexity, the iUGO uses Inkjet technology for the motif. This means you can print unlimited colors, gradients, and complex photographic designs without the need for multiple screens.
Inkjet ink is expensive. The iUGO reduces ink consumption by up to 30-40% by using Flat Screen color paste for the ground color. You only use ink for the motif, while the background is printed efficiently with color paste.
The Flat Screen component allows you to print special effects that Inkjet cannot achieve, such as Gold powder, Silver powder, Glitter, and Opal prints. This opens up new possibilities for high-value fashion textiles.
The iUGO features a dedicated pretreatment unit directly on the machine. This allows the fabric to be pretreated and printed in a continuous, streamlined workflow, significantly simplifying the production process and reducing manual handling compared to offline pretreatment methods.
| Feature | Inkjet Only | iUGO Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Color Cost | High (Uses expensive ink) | Low (Uses color paste) |
| Special Effects | Limited | Gold, Silver, Glitter, Opal |
| Pretreatment | Separate process required | Done during printing |
| Design Complexity | Unlimited | Unlimited (Inkjet Motif) |
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Printing System | Hybrid (Inkjet + Flat Screen) |
| Inkjet Section | For Motif Design (Unlimited colors) |
| Flat Screen Section | For Ground Color & Special Effects |
| Compatible Inks | Reactive, Disperse, Acid, Pigment |
| Special Effects | Gold, Silver, Glitter, Opal |
| Pretreatment | Integrated / Simultaneous Printing |
| Ink Savings | Reduces ink consumption by up to 1/3 |