Flat-bed Printing of Carpet Squares by Vacuum Press Techniques

The market for domestic carpet tiles in the UK is currently fairly small, amounting to 2% of the total carpet market, but it is expanding. Printed carpet squares, co-ordinated with plain colours, are helping to increase design and colour flexibility and to further establish carpet squares as a viable floorcovering for the home. This paper discusses a flat-bed vacuum-transfer process for printing carpet squares. Basic machine parameters are described and the process limitations assessed against the machine’s unique advantage of being able to produce print/tile registration. The further prerequisites of base fabric requirements and the various techniques available for paper printing are also examined