My first impression of the new Brother GTX was “… This IS the next generation machine…”. It is a great technological improvement from the Brother GT3 range.
The first thing you will notice is its new look compared to the GT341. Much longer and sleeker.But what are the benefits?
Here they are…
- New Print Heads
- New (Innobella) Inks
- Next Gen Processor
- 800mb Onboard Memory
- Fast Printing Speed
New Print Heads
Brother GTX Next-Generation’s printheads deliver an impressively faster print speed at constant 1200×1200 dpi.
At the same time, they maintain one-pass printing up to a new maximum print size of 40.64 x 53.54cm.
This is it largest print area of any Brother DTG printers.
But, their speed is the most impressive item. More on that soon…
New (Innobella) Inks
Alongside the print heads, Brother has developed the new Innobella Textile Inks which deliver a much wider colour range (stronger purples, blues and pinks).
These are special inks made just for the GTX.
The inks are expensive compared to standard inks available, but the cost is offset by the faster print speeds.
Did I mention speed already? Again, more on that later…
Next Gen Processor
Brother has introduced a new onboard processor, especially for the GTX model. Faster processing time and strongly built.
800mb Onboard Memory
With the inclusion of 800mb of inbuilt memory, the GTX has more on-board storage capacity. The company states that “… this allows the operator to store up to 100 queued designs in the printer itself”.
Brother co
If needed, the Brother GTX can be operated without a PC or USB.
Footprint
The machine takes up approximately 1400mm W x 1290mm D x 535mm H (~1.81 SQM)
Like What You're Reading?
Pre-Treatment
T-shirts need to be pre-treated before printing on the GTX. You will need a pre-treatment solution if you purchase this machine. You will need to apply pre-treatment using either manually or with a pre-treat machine. There are a lot of different pre-treatment machines on the market. Brother also has a range available.
Once the garment is printed, you then need to dry the garment (cure the ink) using a heat-press, or a tunnel drying oven.
Print Resolution
The Brother GTX Pro is capable of 1200 x 1200 dpi print resolution. So the fine detail it produces is quite spectacular.
Fast Printing Speed
This is it.
The most important thing I can confirm about the Brother GTX Next Generation machine is the speed. Not only speed of print, but also speed of ink curing.
I have timed it. You can easily print 30 full sized prints on black t-shirts in an hour.
I have also printed a sample of full colour design, roughly 30cmx30cm. The print time on a black shirt was about a minute and a half , which is impressive.
Plus, the print was high quality on the “Standard” mode, which it is similar to the “High” in the previous range.
Note: The factory recommended speed tests sounds really great. However you need to remember, these numbers are never accurate. Nor do they actually reflect what happens in real life production. We always recommend you do your own ‘speed-tests’ at the dealers showroom or at a trade show.
Fast Ink Cure Times
The cure time is also fast: 35 seconds. Single press.
Although I have yet to test the print durability, if anyone has any experience with it, I would love to hear from you.
Maintenance
Brother has plenty of experience using their own print-heads.
They have an ink formula that matches the print heads, which creates an outstanding performance.
The more you use a Brother machine, the better inks and heads work together. This equals low maintenance.
Actually, the more items you print the less you spend for cleaning the machine. This is another benefit of the Brother GTX.
Benefits of DTG
The Brother GTX gives you all the benefits a of direct to garment plus many other features that you’ll only find with a GTX Pro. Advanced technical sophistication and ease of use is what you can expect from a next generation of garment printer.
Capable of printing the most complicated and color-intense designs, including photographs and full colour designs. faster and with more eye-popping resolution faster than ever before.
Final Thoughts
If you are undecided between the Epson or the Brother machines, the Brother GTXPro Next Generation costs about $30K compared to the Epson F-2160, which is roughly $22K.
However, remember the Brother GTX is better value simply because of its print speed.
The Ricoh Ri 6000 is a close competitor to the Brother GTX for speed and output. Machines like the Ricoh Ri 6000 run on less expensive inks, so you may need to compare ink costs when purchasing a machine.
Interested In Brother Printers? – Contact the Dealer Directly
To enquire about the cost price and to arrange a demonstration, contact the dealer by using the form below. View the website here.