#Digital Printing

2021-03-25

Durst provides the agility key to unlock VGL growth opportunity

VGL Production Director Mark Elen © 2021 Durst

VGL, a long-standing customer of Durst, manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has invested in a new Rhotex 325 production press to meet growing customer demands for more flexible and agile ways of working.

Live production has started this month at VGL’s headquarters in Reading, Berkshire, with the Durst Rhotex 325 perfectly suited to the multi award-winning screen and digital print company’s expansion requirements. Already owning several Durst digital production presses, VGL needed to increase capacity and speed to cope with changing market demands. One new specialist area will involve printing on stretch materials, as well as on transfer papers and textiles.

“We needed a decisive response to increased demands for fast turnaround and just-in-time delivery,” said VGL Production Director Mark Elen. “The Durst Rho 325 literally eats the volumes and is 3-4 times faster than the machines it will replace. Speed is really important when you have multiple clients all wanting their jobs straight away. It’s apparent from this pandemic, more than ever you need to be extremely agile. It’s an even more competitive market where, for example, we get asked by internationally-renowned brands to change job specications at a moment’s notice. And often you won’t know whether it’s 300 or 3,000 square meters to be printed. The Durst machines are absolutely superb and extremely reliable.”

VGL’s broad portfolio covers outdoor signage, transport, architectural, retail and promotional work as well as consultancy and strategic project management. The one-stop shop also has a creative studio and provides full services from idea concept through to installation completion. In recent years, it has won awards such ‘Out of Home’ printer (PrintWeek), ‘Innovation’ (Digital Printer) and ‘Posters’ / Best in Show (both FESPA).

Mr Elen said: “We’re dedicated to innovation and committed to investing in the latest technology, which Durst provides. Durst, like VGL, is a family-owned business and has people who are easy to deal. The organization understands our business, is very supportive to our exacting requirements and the service levels are high. This is a real partnership.”

The Rhotex 325 is a dual purpose printing system that combines direct-to textile printing with dye sublimation transfer printing technology. Depending on the application and fabric, this printing system can alternate between paper transfer and direct printing on polyester-based materials in no time. This is possible, thanks to the new Durst WTS printhead technology, which achieves an exceptionally high-quality print using water-based environmentally friendly dispersion inks for various printing materials, and reaches a printing speed of up to 4,195 sq ft/hour.

Peter Bray, Managing Director of Durst UK & Ireland, said: “VGL is an example of how companies continue to buy into the Durst ethos and world-class expertise, rather than just an investment in systems and software. This provides the confidence to control costs and make the most of new business opportunities. We’re extremely proud that our systems continue to be the catalyst to help them grow and open new avenues, including printing on transfer paper and textiles. We anticipate making more announcements soon.”

Durst Como is born

The Durst Group, a leading manufacturer of digital printing and production technologies, is setting another milestone in the digital textile industry: the merger with Aleph SrL is entering its final phase. With legal completion expected by the end of 2025, Aleph will be fully integrated into the Durst Group, and Durst Como will emerge as a new center of excellence for digital textile printing.

EFI and Agfa’s DPS Business to combine andform a global, full-service industrial inkjet company

Electronics for Imaging, Inc. (“EFI”), a leading industrial inkjet business and portfolio company of Siris, and Agfa-Gevaert (“Agfa”) today announced a definitive agreement to combine Agfa’s Digital Printing Solutions business (“Agfa DPS”) with EFI. An affiliate of Siris will hold a 60% interest and Agfa will hold a 40% interest in the jointly held company, which will bring together the operating capabilities of EFI and Agfa DPS under a governance structure whereby Siris and Agfa will act as equal partners.

Leading UK garment decorator expands short-run apparel production and print-on-demand fulfillment with Kornit Digital

Kornit Digital (NASDAQ: KRNT), a global pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production technologies, announced that leading UK garment decorator Fifth Column has expanded its apparel decoration capabilities with the installation of a Kornit Atlas MAX PLUS system. Based in the United Kingdom, Fifth Column specializes in garment decoration, including screen printing, embroidery, digital printing, garment finishing, and print-on-demand production. Its customer base spans breweries, music merchandise companies, workwear providers, designer brands, and retail businesses.

Mimaki advances DTF productivity and stability with new TxF330-800

Mimaki Europe, a leading manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and cutting plotters, announces the TxF330-800, its new direct-to-film (DTF) printer. Designed to support stable, high-quality garment decoration in demanding print environments, the system combines automated maintenance, expanded white ink capacity and advanced production capabilities to streamline workflow.

New Cotton Review examines competitiveness, market risk, and opportunities

From moving record volumes of Brazilian cotton to market, to managing price volatility, unlocking Ethiopia’s production potential, and strengthening African textile trade, the latest edition of Cotton: Review of the World Situation examines some of the most consequential opportunities and challenges facing the global cotton industry.

Long John puts KARL MAYER's RDJ 7/3 into operation and strengthens its position as a market leader

KARL MAYER has just unveiled its new RDJ 7/3 Jacquard Double Needle Bar Raschel Machine in the international trade press, and the innovation is already causing a stir in the market: The Long John Group, a leading manufacturer of performance footwear fabrics and a long-standing partner of renowned brands, was the first customer to invest in the new machine and celebrated its official launch at its Indonesian plant on August 20.

An eco-friendly alternative to fluorocarbon treatments

Protective and outdoor clothing derives its durable water-, dirt- and oil- repellent properties from the application of fluorinated polymers or per- and polyfluorinated low-molecular- weight chemicals (PFCs). The beneficial properties thus achieved on textiles are offset by environmental and human health risks. For manufacturers of sports, medical, protective and automotive textiles, researchers at the Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e.V. and the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research have developed liquid-applied dispersions and solutions to functionalise textiles without the use of fluorine.