2018 has been a hectic and interesting year for our textile printing equipment business. Whilst the majority of new installations have been in Asia, we have seen trends developing that has seen a recovery in production requirements in Europe, especially in labelling for household & soft furnishings. There are changes, often in surprising directions. The long heralded decline of traditional printing methods for ribbons & narrow textiles has not only failed to materialise, but the opposite has in fact occurred. Letterflex/Flexographic/Silk Screen methodologies and technologies are still going strong – the latest design machines offering unparalleled flexibility and productivity to enterprising businesses.

One reason for the comparatively slow growth of digital printing on textiles may be related to the extreme demands of the textile applications and the wide selection of types of textiles used in the industry. Fabric has always been inherently more difficult to print due to its flexible nature. The level of flexibility varies from warp to weft and with each degree around the bias, so guiding the fabric precisely through a digital printing press has proven to be very difficult, not forgetting the challenges of softness, fading, rub and wash resistance.

With increasing pressures from buyers to reduce stock levels in print & packaging and to create more innovative and attractive promotions to compete in the retail arena, the challenge on suppliers is to respond quicker and be more dynamic in the way they operate, within the supply chain & actively promote their business.

Packaging Company Of The Month Here at Business and Industry Today we are delighted to recommend companies that offer an astounding product and service. This is why we are pleased to present Focus Label Machinery Ltd with our Packaging Company of the Month profile.

Historically there have been a number of chosen methods for production of printed garment / apparel labels / ribbons.

A printing press is an important investment. It’s not a time for false economy, and nor is it a time for settling for something that’s not a perfect match for your needs. Whatever press type you have we would recommend you always purchase original parts or seek approved technical support. This might not be possible if you have imported a machine or it is an older model no longer in production or supported. At Focus Labels, we take a very pragmatic approach to a client’s relationship with their flexo-press. We’re engineers who have designed, built, and maintained our machines, and who are committed to keeping them in excellent working order.