2023 DYE SUBLIMATION REVIEW Q1: PART II - SUBLIMATION INKS AND TRANSFER PAPERS
Dye Sublimation: Inks and Papers Review Q1 2023 “With a combined market potential total approaching USD 3 billion by 2030, unsurprisingly production of Dye Sublimation Ink and Paper, has attracted substantial commercial interest in the manufacturing community. With the start of 2023 witnessing widespread and comprehensive offers from the most reputable manufacturers.” - Texintel Technical Editor
Part II - Sublimation Inks & Transfer Papers
Specialist inks and transfer papers form the backbone of dye sublimation workflow enabling consistent print performance at speed, whilst delivering brilliant colours at super high fastnesses with strong surface durability. Sublimation inks and transfer papers form substantial global market in their own right.
The global sublimation ink market is expected to grow from USD 1.02 Billion in 2022 to USD 2.06 Billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2022 to 2030 (Dataintelo).
According to a recent market research study (by Zion Market Research) the demand analysis of global Heat Transfer Paper, market size & share revenue, was valued at around USD 579.68 Million in 2022 - and is estimated to grow about USD 805.62 million by 2030, at a CAGR of approximately 4.20% between 2023 and 2030.
With a combined market potential total of the two approaching USD 3 billion by 2030, unsurprisingly production of these two valuable consumables, Inks and Paper, have attracted substantial commercial interest in the manufacturing community with the start of 2023 witnessing widespread and comprehensive offers from the most reputable manufacturers.
Dye Sublimation Ink Supply
Whilst many machinery manufacturers, such as Mimaki, Epson and HP offer their own inks, there is also considerable choice for the user outside these OEM sources, these suppliers include:
Kiian Digital offer a complete selection of own brand sublimation inks, designed and tested to work on Panasonic, Kyocera, Ricoh & Epson printheads. Kiian Digital is a premium digital inks brand in the digital textile printing market, with leading technologies, providing cutting-edge solutions to enhance performance. By providing the highest quality sublimation inks, Kiian enables optimum print performance in transfer and direct printing with a variety of print heads in several applications.
With its solid history of manufacturing quality inks and pigments, STS Inks have become a proven leader in the field of Inkjet inks. They offer 3rd party Aqueous dye sublimation transfer inks suitable for multiple manufacturers: Epson, Mimaki, Mutoh and Roland bulk ink systems, amongst others. Their high viscosity wide gamut sublimation ink produces brilliant colours, and its low sedimentation rate prevents nozzle clogging, achieving excellent print results.
From Dupont come the Artistri® Xite dye sublimation inks that are primarily used on polyester for printing signs and banners, home furnishings, and flags. These inks are the first dye sublimation inks from DuPont® designed exclusively for OEMs and roll-to-roll printers.
Sun Chemical’s portfolio of digital sublimation inks enables users to benefit from the best colour and print performance across a range of demanding applications from fashion and sports apparel to home textiles, sign & display, and hard surfaces. Based on dye dispersions developed and manufactured in house, Sun Chemical has a digital sublimation ink for a full range of inkjet printers with options for low, mid, and high viscosity technology offering outstanding reliability and application performance.
Swiss Performance Chemicals premium Swiss-made Swissjet sublimation inks are water-based formulations without VOCs and are manufactured under the ecological and toxicological guidelines provided by ETAD®. The inks adhere to all relevant regulatory directives (e.g. REACH) and in addition conform to the requirements for the following Industry Standards: GOTS, Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, IndiTex Clear-to-Wear.
Finally, from NUtec Digital of South Africa, comes their Aquamarine range of sublimation inks designed for Epson, Kyocera and Panasonic printheads. NUtec Digital Ink has recently achieved ECO PASSPORT by OEKO-TEX accreditation for select products within its water-based Aquamarine ink range, certifying them for sustainable textile and clothing production.
Transfer Papers have an equally dense supplier base in 2023.
Neenah Coldenhove supply an extensive range of papers for fast plotters with water-based sublimation inks. With just 66 gsm, Jetcol® HTR1000 from Neenah Coldenhove, is the lightest paper grade in the Jetcol® Original family. This paper is designed for the faster plotters, with water-based sublimation inks most often used by the fashion industry.
From Texo Trade Services the range of TexoTrans SX sublimation papers cover all possible applications in the field of dye sublimation - from textile printing in soft-signage, fashion, interior, sportswear & apparel, to hard substrates printing on mugs, aluminium or rigged film for the ski industry.
Sappi’s dye sublimation product portfolio includes coated and uncoated sublimation papers for digital transfer printing with water-based dye sublimation inks. Sappi's sublimation papers are designed for maximum and consistent colour transfer with minimum ink consumption. Whether industrial or non-industrial printers, their dye sublimation papers are suitable for different machine types and speeds to cover a wide range of polyester-based application segments.
From Ahlstrom come the EcoJet™ Dye Sublimation transfer papers designed for a wide range of applications. The low basis weight papers are available with and without coatings and display excellent image transfer and fast dry-time.
Taken as a whole, whether it is inks or transfer paper, the Dye Sublimation Textile sector has a broad base of supply, well capable of servicing the growth that is expected over the next ten years.
Research and developments continue, generating ever-faster machines, more vibrant colours and ever lower paper weights, all in the search of improved productivity, new product lines and even better economic performance.
As the market continues to grow, we look forward to many more innovations and performance updates.
Collaboration is key, as the industry works together with its stakeholders - across the supply chain - to deliver efficient, production in an expanding marketplace.
