How can you tell that it’s time for a printer upgrade?

A Textile Industry Success Story

We recently assisted a long-standing global customer with upgrading their textile label printing solution. Their journey highlights the importance of staying current with printer technology and recognizing when it’s time for an upgrade. Here’s a look at the evolution of a selection of our printers:

 

The Customer’s Journey

Our customer was operating with legacy equipment that had become increasingly challenging to maintain:

• Original Installation: Soabar S35t / Avery Dennison TTK (introduced in the 1990s)
• First Upgrade: Soabar S7.4t / Avery Dennison AP7.t
• Support Status: Discontinued in 2009, with spare parts only available until July 2014

Despite these printers serving reliably for years, technology limitations and maintenance challenges made an upgrade necessary.

Warning Signs Your Textile Printer Needs Replacing

Industry Insight: Many textile manufacturers continue using legacy equipment well beyond recommended lifespans, often costing more in downtime and maintenance than a new system would require.

Key Indicators It’s Time to Upgrade:

1. Age-Related Issues:
   • ⚠️ Equipment manufactured before 2010
   • ⚠️ Discontinued product lines with limited support
   • ⚠️ Increasingly difficult to source compatible supplies
2. Performance Degradation:
   • ⚠️ Inconsistent print quality or fading
   • ⚠️ Decreasing print speeds compared to original specifications
   • ⚠️ More frequent calibration requirements
   • ⚠️ Streaking, distortion or misalignment in printed labels
3. Maintenance Challenges:
   • ⚠️ Increased frequency of repairs
   • ⚠️ Rising maintenance costs
   • ⚠️ Difficulty finding qualified technicians familiar with legacy systems
   • ⚠️ Extended downtime waiting for specialized parts
4. Software Compatibility:
   • ⚠️ Inability to run current operating systems
   • ⚠️ Lack of modern connectivity options (USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth)
   • ⚠️ Limited compatibility with current design software
5. Material Processing Issues:
   • ⚠️ Frequent label jams or feeding problems
   • ⚠️ Difficulty handling modern label materials
   • ⚠️ Unreliable cutting mechanism performance
   • ⚠️ Inconsistent stacking of cut labels

The Perfect Solution: T5 Textile Printer with TCS

After consulting with the customer to understand their specific requirements, we recommended our T5 textile printer with Textile Cutter Stacker (TCS) as the ideal replacement. The solution perfectly matched their needs:

• Media Specifications:
  • 38mm width x 80mm height labels
  • Polyester satin material
  • FD full resin ink ribbon for wash care durability
• Performance Capabilities:
  • Available in both 200dpi and 300dpi print resolutions
  • Production capacity of up to 4,000 labels per hour
  • SoLabel professional design software included with complete wash care symbol library
  • Automatic cutting and stacking functionality for seamless production workflow

Real-World Application Example

A major clothing manufacturer upgraded from an S7.4t to the T5 system and reported:

• 40% reduction in printer-related production stoppages
• 25% increase in daily label output
• Significant improvement in label readability after repeated washing cycles
• Streamlined workflow for machine operators with the improved stacking system

The Soabar Commitment

At Soabar, we understand the textile industry’s unique challenges and requirements. Our expertise allows us to help you:

• Select the right printer, software, and label materials for your specific application
• Implement complete solutions that enhance efficiency and reduce costs
• Provide UK on-site installation, comprehensive training, and warranty protection

Preserving Textile Printing History

We take pride in our long-standing presence in the textile printing industry. If you’re currently operating legacy Soabar equipment such as the S35t/TTK or S7.4t/AP7.t, we’d love to hear your story and discuss how our solutions have benefited your business over the years. And if necessary, help you to progress onto newer equipment that will mean ease and higher print quality. 

Next Steps

Ready to upgrade your textile printing capabilities?

• View detailed specifications of our T5 Textile Printer.
• Request an on-site demonstration
• Speak with our textile printing specialists about your specific requirements
• Learn about financing and trade-in options for existing equipment

Contact our team today to explore how modern textile printing technology can enhance your operations.