Explore ideas, evidence and developments across the textile value chain.
373 articles · latest first · 145–168
Epson Italia SpA has taken full control of digital-textile ink distributor and print-chemicals producer For.Tex SRL, which is a key player in supporting the Monna Lisa textile-printing solution.
Wide-format printer manufacturer EFI has pulled out of the forthcoming ITMA textile-machinery show in Milan, WTiN has learned. To date EFI has been only a marginal player in textile applications, which it has addressed through the limited soft-signage capabilities of its VUTEk printers. But this global company has been generally understood to have ambitions for the mainstream textile market and a major ‘pre-ITMA’ announcement was expected at last week’s FESPA exhibition in Germany. The omission of any such announcement and the subsequent cancellation of EFI’s ITMA space must be taken as an indication that the company’s plans have not progressed as rapidly as it had hoped. EFI has yet to comment.
The commercial launch of Kornit Digital’s much heralded Allegro roll-to-roll textile printing solution took place this week at the FESPA exhibition in Cologne, Germany. It was a significant event for the company, which is already the market leader in industrial direct-to-garment (DTG) applications. Its unique wide-format pigment application was first demonstrated around two years ago but that initial ‘launch’ has been followed by an extended period of further development. During that time it scored the high-profile success of a partnership with American web-to-consumer printer Spoonflower, which now operates two Allegro machines, with a third in the pipeline.
Digital textile printing has long been expected to make inroads into the markets for traditional screenprinting – first the flatbed segment and then higher-speed rotary. But the possibility that it might also impact the business of other textile segments has scarcely been considered.
A glance at the product ranges of Sensient and Xennia shows that this week’s pending acquisition should prove a good fit for the diversified US-based chemical producer as it seeks to expand its offer in the growing digital-textile marketplace. Since it began major investment at its production site in Morges, Switzerland, in early 2012, Sensient Colors – an operating division of the group – has focused mainly on its ElvaJet family of dye-sublimation inks, complemented last year by ElvaJet pigmented inks. Notable successes have included commercial partnerships with Reggiani and Konica Minolta – two of the heavyweights in industrial digital-textile printing.
News6 May 2015Global Inkjet Systems (GIS), which develops software, drivers and electronics for industrial inkjet print heads, has announced that it now supports the Ricoh MH5420/5440 print heads, formerly known as Gen 5. The heads are used in a number of industrial digital-textile printing systems.
Insight5 May 2015The Voluntary Emissions Control Action programme (VECAP), a product-stewardship programme that aims to reduce potential emissions of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), is ten years old. The regulatory environment for textile-industry users or these products has changed beyond recognition in the meantime and pressure in Europe and America to eliminate all BFRs almost makes one ask: was all that effort worthwhile?
Insight5 May 2015The textile industry is frequently criticised for its negative social and environmental impacts, but there are some initiatives that show it in a more positive light. German retailer Otto is intent on providing people in the Cotton made in Africa growing regions with access to clean water and hygienic living conditions – two precious commodities in regions where safe drinking water and efficient sanitation cannot be taken for granted.
Insight28 Apr 2015Opportunities in Iran are on the radar of both exporters and investors as progress in international talks over the country’s uranium enrichment programme holds out the prospect of a relaxation in sanctions.
Insight16 Apr 2015A successful early adopter of Kornit Digital’s Paradigm II technology, combining screen and digital techniques in garment printing, has been World Of Textiles, based in Konradsreuth, Germany. A family-owned business that has been trading for more than 90 years, this company’s origins were as a weaving mill before it moved into screenprinting of textiles. Today production takes places at six sites worldwide, these being the company’s headquarters where 280 staff are employed, plus the Czech Republic, China, Bangladesh, India and Thailand.
Insight16 Apr 2015In the screenprinting fraternity, particularly among garment producers, the attraction of digital technology is perceived to be high – but its practical integration into a business set up primarily to use analogue methodology is considered a challenge.
Insight15 Apr 2015Northern Italy’s textile sector takes the technical training of the next generation very seriously – even supporting vocational education in schools. One key addition to this infrastructure has been the recently opened Epson/For.Tex Textile Solution Center (TSC) in Como, located adjacent to the For.Tex headquarters and containing Monna Lisa digital printing technology alongside a range of Epson printers and associated finishing equipment.
News15 Apr 2015India’s Colorjet is to introduce a new, faster model in its Vastrajet series of digital textile printers when it participates next month at the Garfab-TX exhibition in Surat. The VJD 4824 is designed for direct printing with disperse-dye inks on polyester fabrics, including delicate constructions such as georgette, moss crepe, weightless and chiffon.
Insight9 Apr 2015Konica Minolta has confirmed to WTiN that it is building its first single-pass digital textile printer. The machine will be installed at the Demo Center of Konica Minolta IJ Textile Europe, in Como, Italy, and is scheduled to start printing on a demonstration basis in the early autumn of this year.
Insight2 Apr 2015Building on feedback from last December’s customer event, which gave a ‘sneak preview’ of its PIKE single-pass digital textile printer, SPGPrints says it has already begun engineering work for an extra-wide version to be launched in the second half of 2016.
Garment-printing technology company Kornit Digital is expected to raise at least US$71 million today with its Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 7.1 million shares on the Nasdaq exchange. The Israeli company, owned by the Fortissimo Capital private-equity fund, yesterday announced a price per ordinary share of $10, which was slightly lower than the $13-15 anticipated by the market.
Norwegian biotech company Borregaard LignoTech has announced an immediate change of strategy, in which it will sell its lignosulfonate based dispersants directly to the textile-dye industry. Previously it had a distribution agreement with US-headquartered packaging and speciality-chemicals company MeadWestvaco.
News19 Mar 2015Chinese customers now have direct access to Richard Hough’s unique roll technology, after the opening of a new China Service Centre. The company says growing demand for its special roll solutions across textile, metal and automotive industries will be met by the new hub, located in the city of Changzhou, in Jiangsu province.
