David Savastano, Editor08.10.17
As digital printing technologies make inroads into the world of textiles, reaching more than $1 billion in sales, textile manufacturers are seeing more advantages to using inkjet printing, particularly in the apparel and soft signage segments. These benefits include quality, customization and speed to market.
For example, Tommy Martin, product manager, Textiles & Apparel Business Development for Mimaki USA, noted that high quality prints, low overhead cost, more efficient, easy web-to-print custom goods delivery are key benefits.
Dr. Christophe Bulliard, marketing director, Sensient Imaging Technologies SA, said that the ability to rapidly produce new lines is a huge advantage. Being able to compete on cost will be the next major hurdle, he added.
“So far, digital printing has been an essential brick allowing the construction of fast fashion, a model based on very short cycles at the retailer levels,” Dr. Bulliard observed. “The higher ‘per copy’ costs of digital being overcompensated by the added value of ‘always at the latest model’ and by the fact that virtually one was producing only items that were sold already. The next step could be to demonstrate that inkjet is able to compete with traditional already at the cost per linear meter level.”
Susie Mendelssohn, North American sales manager and international marketing manager for INX Digital, said that there are three major advantages to digital printing in the textile industry. “One is responsiveness for answering market demands,” Mendelssohn noted. “The second is increased creativity so more designs can be printed, and third is where collections can specifically be done digitally.”
“Digital textile printing is not a replacement for traditional analog production, which excels at high-volume print jobs of the same design,” said Tim Check, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “Digital textile production’s most important benefits are that it is profitable to produce small to medium runs up to several thousand pieces, immediately change print designs without setup costs and delay, predictable costs, faster production turn-around from ‘runway to rack’ and no limit on size of the design or number of colors.”
Mike Wozny, senior product manager, EFI Inkjet, said that quality, speed to market and re-usability are key advantages for textile manufacturers.
“The higher-end look and feel brand owners want, faster time to market, and re-usability are all important benefits,” added Wozny. “Re-usability is really the key in why digital printed soft signage works so well in the market place. For printing companies, it really addresses their customers’ demands. Sometimes, those customers are also tracking the sustainability advantages they get, which are significant as well. Soft signage is lightweight, which means it does not require a lot of fuel or other resources to ship, especially when you compare that to the energy and waste required to print and dispose of multiple signs.”
Jos Notermans, commercial manager digital textiles at SPGPrints, said that textile printing brings quality benefits, significant cost reductions in the supply chain and the ability to react much faster to fashion trends.
“Printing digitally with the latest inks and ink delivery systems such as SPGPrints’ Archer technology enables a much broader gamut of color than is possible conventionally,” Notermans reported. “A much wider range of creative designs are achievable because it enables precise reproduction of very fine lines, strong color blotches, sharp geometrics, and especially the micro-floral patterns which are highly popular now.
“Thanks to digital printing with its simple workflow and the ability to print on-demand from the file, companies can carry less stock, warehousing costs are dramatically cut, and there are much faster times to market,” Notermans added. “SPGPrints’ PIKE and JAVELIN users, for example, are supplying 50,000 linear meter orders in a matter of days. All these advantages reduce risk in the supply chain, which makes working with a printer with digital capabilities more attractive. While these benefits are noticeably exploited by the fast-fashion houses, similar benefits are enjoyed at the higher end of the market with easier and more affordable production of shorter runs and limited editions. Digital textile printing makes sample making and trial runs much more affordable, so more designs may be tested.”
Tony Cox, business manager, Sun Chemical, said that the adoption of digital printing in the textile market has created some new and exciting opportunities.
“The design and color flexibility of digital textile printing has enabled more customization and personalization, as well as economic short runs, and shorter delivery times with no need to hold large stocks,” said Cox. “These are the key drivers leading to the strong growth forecasts in the digital textile market over the coming years.”
Because digital printing reduces costs throughout the supply chain as well as lowering inventory, Notermans said that cost figures favor inkjet printing.
“Digital printing has made traditional cost-per-meter calculations obsolete,” Notermans added. “Cost-per-sale is now the criteria because, while the cost-per-meter of digital may be higher, the end-to-end costs are significantly lower. Savings are made all along the workflow and supply chain.”
“I believe we will continue to see strong double-digit growth in digital inkjet textile printing for the next several years,” Check added. “This is due to the need for textile products to get to market faster and the demand by end customers for unique products that are not mass produced.”
For example, Tommy Martin, product manager, Textiles & Apparel Business Development for Mimaki USA, noted that high quality prints, low overhead cost, more efficient, easy web-to-print custom goods delivery are key benefits.
Dr. Christophe Bulliard, marketing director, Sensient Imaging Technologies SA, said that the ability to rapidly produce new lines is a huge advantage. Being able to compete on cost will be the next major hurdle, he added.
“So far, digital printing has been an essential brick allowing the construction of fast fashion, a model based on very short cycles at the retailer levels,” Dr. Bulliard observed. “The higher ‘per copy’ costs of digital being overcompensated by the added value of ‘always at the latest model’ and by the fact that virtually one was producing only items that were sold already. The next step could be to demonstrate that inkjet is able to compete with traditional already at the cost per linear meter level.”
Susie Mendelssohn, North American sales manager and international marketing manager for INX Digital, said that there are three major advantages to digital printing in the textile industry. “One is responsiveness for answering market demands,” Mendelssohn noted. “The second is increased creativity so more designs can be printed, and third is where collections can specifically be done digitally.”
“Digital textile printing is not a replacement for traditional analog production, which excels at high-volume print jobs of the same design,” said Tim Check, product manager, Professional Imaging, Epson America, Inc. “Digital textile production’s most important benefits are that it is profitable to produce small to medium runs up to several thousand pieces, immediately change print designs without setup costs and delay, predictable costs, faster production turn-around from ‘runway to rack’ and no limit on size of the design or number of colors.”
Mike Wozny, senior product manager, EFI Inkjet, said that quality, speed to market and re-usability are key advantages for textile manufacturers.
“The higher-end look and feel brand owners want, faster time to market, and re-usability are all important benefits,” added Wozny. “Re-usability is really the key in why digital printed soft signage works so well in the market place. For printing companies, it really addresses their customers’ demands. Sometimes, those customers are also tracking the sustainability advantages they get, which are significant as well. Soft signage is lightweight, which means it does not require a lot of fuel or other resources to ship, especially when you compare that to the energy and waste required to print and dispose of multiple signs.”
Jos Notermans, commercial manager digital textiles at SPGPrints, said that textile printing brings quality benefits, significant cost reductions in the supply chain and the ability to react much faster to fashion trends.
“Printing digitally with the latest inks and ink delivery systems such as SPGPrints’ Archer technology enables a much broader gamut of color than is possible conventionally,” Notermans reported. “A much wider range of creative designs are achievable because it enables precise reproduction of very fine lines, strong color blotches, sharp geometrics, and especially the micro-floral patterns which are highly popular now.
“Thanks to digital printing with its simple workflow and the ability to print on-demand from the file, companies can carry less stock, warehousing costs are dramatically cut, and there are much faster times to market,” Notermans added. “SPGPrints’ PIKE and JAVELIN users, for example, are supplying 50,000 linear meter orders in a matter of days. All these advantages reduce risk in the supply chain, which makes working with a printer with digital capabilities more attractive. While these benefits are noticeably exploited by the fast-fashion houses, similar benefits are enjoyed at the higher end of the market with easier and more affordable production of shorter runs and limited editions. Digital textile printing makes sample making and trial runs much more affordable, so more designs may be tested.”
Tony Cox, business manager, Sun Chemical, said that the adoption of digital printing in the textile market has created some new and exciting opportunities.
“The design and color flexibility of digital textile printing has enabled more customization and personalization, as well as economic short runs, and shorter delivery times with no need to hold large stocks,” said Cox. “These are the key drivers leading to the strong growth forecasts in the digital textile market over the coming years.”
Because digital printing reduces costs throughout the supply chain as well as lowering inventory, Notermans said that cost figures favor inkjet printing.
“Digital printing has made traditional cost-per-meter calculations obsolete,” Notermans added. “Cost-per-sale is now the criteria because, while the cost-per-meter of digital may be higher, the end-to-end costs are significantly lower. Savings are made all along the workflow and supply chain.”
“I believe we will continue to see strong double-digit growth in digital inkjet textile printing for the next several years,” Check added. “This is due to the need for textile products to get to market faster and the demand by end customers for unique products that are not mass produced.”