INDUSTRY DEBATE: Resilience Redefined: Preparing Supply Chains for an Uncertain Future with The Fashion Network
The era of 'set it and forget it' supply chains is over.
“The challenges are immense, but they are not insurmountable. The path forward requires a fundamental shift in mindset—from reactive crisis management to proactive, strategic resilience-building.”
In a post-pandemic world, it’s no longer a question of if your supply chain will face disruption, but when.
Business leaders have weathered an unprecedented storm of challenges, from global health crises and port congestion to geopolitical conflicts and extreme climate events. The volatility has been relentless. Now, the question isn't what went wrong—it's how we ensure we're ready for what's next.
For leaders in fashion, apparel, and fast-moving consumer goods, building a supply chain that bends without breaking is paramount. The old models are no longer sufficient. We need to design for resilience, agility, and sustainable growth. This article outlines the critical challenges facing the textile industry and provides actionable strategies to future-proof your operations based on a recent masterclass hosted by The Fashion Network with leading experts:
Keith Gaskin: Supply Chain Management Consultant at ShiftX
Geoff Shucksmith: Supply Chain Consultant
Adam Wood: Chief Commercial Officer at Barbourne Brook
Gareth Jones: NED, Country Manager at WETEX Manufacturing
The Modern Minefield: Key Challenges Disrupting Supply Chains
Today’s supply chain is a complex web of interconnected risks. Understanding these threats is the first step toward building resilience. This panel of experts identified several key areas of vulnerability that demand immediate attention:
Geopolitical Hotspots and Trade Friction
Global trade routes are increasingly fragile. As Geoff Shucksmith, a seasoned Supply Chain Consultant, highlighted, major arteries of sea freight are under constant threat. “We’re seeing disruption across key global hot spots, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Straits of Malacca, and the Panama Canal,” he noted. These chokepoints, combined with tariff changes, evolving trade deals, and regional conflicts, create a landscape of continuous uncertainty. Brexit, for instance, continues to cause "friction across the north" for many companies, adding layers of cost and complexity.
Rising Costs and Demand Volatility
Freight and shipping delays are now commonplace, but their knock-on effect is a sharp rise in logistical costs. Keith Gaskin, Co Founder of ShiftX UK, specialises in bringing transparency to ocean freight. He emphasised the need for accurate forecasting to secure favourable terms, a task made difficult by unpredictable consumer demand. Businesses are caught between absorbing rising costs and passing them onto consumers, all while trying to predict purchasing habits that have become increasingly erratic since 2020.
Intensifying Compliance and Regulatory Scrutiny
The regulatory environment is becoming more stringent. Adam Wood, Chief Commercial Officer at Barbourne Brook, pointed to the increasing focus on customs compliance. "HMRC will have AI and digital tools far more advanced than any of us do, and they'll be using that to scrutinize what's going on," he warned. Furthermore, environmental regulations are tightening. As Geoff Shucksmith explained, products imported into the EU will soon need to come from sources certified as deforestation-free, adding another layer of sourcing complexity for the fashion industry.
Forging a Resilient Future: Actionable Strategies for Your Business
Navigating these challenges requires more than just reactive problem-solving. It demands a proactive, strategic redesign of how we manage our supply chains. In conversation, four seasoned experts shared their blueprints for building operations that can withstand future shocks.
Master Your Data Through End-to-End Visibility
You cannot manage what you cannot see. The foundational step to building resilience is achieving complete supply chain visibility. "The most important thing is to map your supply chain, end-to-end, with every single logistics node touch point," advised Geoff Shucksmith. This means going beyond your tier-one suppliers to understand the entire ecosystem.
Digital tools are essential here. Keith Gaskin explained how ShiftX helps clients by "managing their purchase orders, interfacing with their system on an API, and putting them in control of their purchasing." This level of visibility allows for scenario modeling and 'what-if' analysis, enabling leaders to make informed strategic decisions rather than panicked operational ones. Adam Wood added that accessing customs data is crucial for understanding "the true cost of your supply chain and where the areas for improvement are."
Rethink Your Network: Near-Shoring and Diversification
The logic of a globalised, cost-optimised supply chain is being re-evaluated. "Shortening the supply chain from point-to-point" is now a key strategy, according to Geoff Shucksmith. This includes exploring near-shoring opportunities in Europe—citing Spain, Portugal, and Turkey—to bring production closer to the end customer.
This isn't just about reducing lead times; it’s about agility. Gareth Jones, Country Manager for WETEX Manufacturing, noted that a diversified supplier base is critical. Relying on a single region or manufacturer is a high-risk strategy in today's world. By spreading production, you mitigate the impact of localised disruptions, whether they are political, economic, or environmental.
Embrace "Hyper-Collaboration" with Stakeholders
In a fragmented world, collaboration is your superpower. Geoff Shucksmith urged leaders to "hyper-collaborate with internal and external stakeholders." This means breaking down silos between your own departments—from design and procurement to finance and logistics—and fostering transparent, partnership-based relationships with your suppliers, freight forwarders, and even your customers.
Keith Gaskin highlighted the power of collective action, such as collective procurement, to secure better terms with shipping lines. When businesses work together, they create a more stable and predictable environment for everyone. This collaborative mindset must extend to managing returns, a growing challenge that can be optimised through shared intelligence and infrastructure.
Instill a Culture of Proactive Auditing and Awareness
Resilience is not a one-time project; it is an ongoing practice. Gareth Jones offered a final piece of practical advice: "Carry out a critical audit of your supply chain on a regular basis. Read the news, keep your eyes on what's happening globally, and try to assess how that's going to affect your supply chain."
Leaders must foster a culture of awareness within their organisations. This includes staying informed about geopolitical shifts, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies. As Gareth concluded, when you enter a minefield, "get advice from people who really know what they're doing." Don't be afraid to lean on external expertise to navigate complexities like customs, trade law, and logistics.
Your Call to Action: Invest in Stability
The era of 'set it and forget it' supply chains is over. The challenges are immense, but they are not insurmountable. The path forward requires a fundamental shift in mindset—from reactive crisis management to proactive, strategic resilience-building.
For every designer, supplier, and retailer in the textile marketplace, the message is clear: the most valuable investment you can make is in the stability of your supply chain.
Invest the time to map your network. Invest the resources to gain true visibility. Most importantly, invest in your relationships.
Collaborate with and support your stakeholders, from the factory floor to the final customer. By working together to build a more transparent, agile, and robust ecosystem, we can create supply chains that not only withstand disruption but emerge stronger on the other side.
Watch the Webinar Here:
About the Panelists:
Dale Hicks, the co-founder of the Fashion Network and the host moderator for the session.
Keith Gaskin: Supply Chain Management Consultant at ShiftX
Geoff Shucksmith: Supply Chain Consultant
Adam Wood: Chief Commercial Officer at Barbourne Brook
Gareth Jones: NED, Country Manager at WETEX Manufacturing
Colour Is Too Important to Leave to Chance
Print will always be the part of the garment people see first.
But the sum of all parts — the fabric, the trims, the fasteners, the finish — is what determines whether a design actually delivers on its promise. Brands that continue to treat colour as a single creative decision, rather than a coordinated technical discipline spanning their entire supply chain, will keep paying for it in re-dips, delays, and disappointed design teams.
A Century of Textiles, and an Ever-changing World
Few companies can trace their roots back more than a century and still count themselves among their industry's innovators. Texia, headquartered in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, is one of them.
But the story of Texia is not simply one of longevity.
It is a story of continual reinvention. As the textile industry has grown more global and competitive, Texia has repeatedly reshaped its business, investing in technology, developing its own brands, and placing sustainability at the centre of its mission. In doing so, it offers a compelling example of how a heritage manufacturer can lead rather than follow through a period of profound industry change. Image Credit: Texia
What are we craving Ultimately?
The instinct to slow down while simultaneously optimising every measurable aspect of life isn't a passing curiosity. It's a structural response to a world that feels increasingly unstable, and it's reshaping what people expect from their homes, hotels, workplaces and healthcare environments alike.
For the design and manufacturing sectors, this means rethinking both product and process.
The Structual Shift is Real and its Already Here
Volumes are moving east, where digital production is accelerating rapidly. Consumer behaviour has shifted.
Demand is now driven by personalisation, shorter buying cycles, and an expectation of near-instant responsiveness. Regulatory pressure is intensifying, with supply chain transparency now a legal and commercial fact in many markets. And margins? They are under sustained, structural pressure.
This is not a temporary disruption. It is a fundamental reordering of how textile manufacturing must operate.
The Challenge: Standing Firm as the Industry Shifts
The wallpaper landscape has changed dramatically. Digital printing has lowered the barrier to entry, spawning countless direct-to-consumer brands and pushing much of the market towards faster, cheaper production.
At the same time, manufacturing in the UK has grown steadily harder - rising minimum wage, national insurance, energy and substrate costs all bear down on margins. Surface Print have embraced all of these challenges - and stand resolutely prepared for the future.
From Helsinki's printing mill to Paris's Le Marais, discover how Marimekko is scaling a design-led brand with purpose, craft, and bold innovation.
But what makes Marimekko's story compelling is not just its aesthetic legacy?
The word "toxic" carries weight. It conjures danger, harm, and things best avoided.
“Yet in the textile industry - Where between 3,000 and 10,000 chemicals move through the supply chain, a reflexive fear of the term is one of our biggest obstacles to progress.”
This article distils the key takeaways and what buyers, designers, and brands should be asking right now.
What Is the Digital Product Passport?
At its core, a Digital Product Passport is a digital record attached to a physical product - For a printed textile product, this means the DPP would capture data on the substrate, inks and dyes used, the printing process and technology, chemical compliance, environmental impact (including water and energy use), supply chain traceability, and end-of-life instructions.
The Market Gap that Changed Everything
Future Fashion was founded in 2019, timed deliberately to coincide with a pivotal moment in global textile technology: the commercial launch of the EFI Reggiani BOLT Single-Pass digital printing system.
The founders recognised that single-pass architecture had fundamentally changed what was industrially possible - and that Pakistan's domestic market had yet to catch up.
Print is no longer defined by the inefficiencies that once characterised it…as advances in production processes and technology have significantly improved its environmental performance.
Taran Rai, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Epson explains why?
The story of what happens when young designers access digital technology is still being written.
What once was a theoretical sustainability goal seems to have shifted into an active regulatory reality.
Is the Textile Market Finally Recovering?
After a difficult few years, there are genuine reasons for optimism. Duncan was candid about the challenges: "The market for textiles has been very difficult over the last three years. I'm not going to hide the truth there. But the tide is turning.“
A profound shift is currently reshaping the sector
Changing consumer expectations demand greater design diversity, faster turnaround times, and sustainable manufacturing practices.
To thrive, interior brands must adapt their supply chains, bringing production closer to the end consumer and moving away from bulk manufacturing.
Digital textile printing offers a definitive solution to these operational bottlenecks.
Digital transformation doesn't announce itself.
It accumulates - one innovation at a time - until an entire industry looks back and realises the ground has shifted beneath its feet. That's precisely where textiles stands today.
The conversations happening now about AI, automation, sustainability, and digital product passports are not theoretical. They are shaping decisions being made on factory floors and in boardrooms right now.
“By leveraging advanced digital textile printing, Marylene Madou has successfully merged traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. Her approach offers a blueprint for how independent designers can scale their brands globally while maintaining a minimal environmental footprint.”
The textile industry is undergoing a vital transformation. As the insights from Techtextil and Texprocess reveal, the path forward relies on a combination of sustainable hardware, intelligent chemistry, and seamless digital workflows.
From Zimmer's industrial-scale energy reductions and Stratasys's on-demand 3D embellishments, to Kornit's single-step technical printing and the unified digital ecosystems of NedGraphics and Optitex, the tools for change are here. To stay competitive, brands and manufacturers must adopt these innovations, moving away from fragmented, wasteful processes towards a truly connected, circular economy.
Friedmans stands as a testament to the power of combining traditional textile knowledge with forward-thinking innovation.
“Operating from their UK headquarters, Friedmans now serves a diverse array of sectors, including swimwear, dance, entertainment, sportswear, interior decor, prosthetics, and even pet apparel. With a strategic supply chain that reliably serves clients worldwide”
The apparel decoration industry is decisively moving away from isolated, analogue production tools toward connected digital manufacturing environments.
"Kornit’s unwavering commitment to transformative technology continues to disrupt the status quo. For business leaders and innovators ready to capture the future of apparel manufacturing, the path forward is clear”
The Urgent Need for Sustainability at Scale
The transformation at Coats provides a vital blueprint for the wider textile and apparel sector. True sustainability cannot be achieved in silos. As Dearing emphasised:
“Cross-industry collaboration is the engine of meaningful change. Brands, machinery suppliers, chemical providers, and fibre producers must act as an interconnected ecosystem”
Today’s customers demand superior product quality, real-time data visibility, and lightning-fast turnaround times.
For large-scale garment decorators, managing these expectations while balancing seasonal demand fluctuations - such as the massive surges seen during Black Friday - presents a monumental challenge.
"Relying on transactional vendor relationships and outdated legacy equipment is no longer sufficient to secure long-term stability and growth.”
Printing method is never a secondary detail. It shapes the entire life cycle of a product, from concept to customer. In today’s fashion industry, where margins are tighter and speed matters more than ever, technical knowledge has become a competitive advantage.
“The future of textile design belongs to professionals who can combine creativity with execution, aesthetics with practicality, and vision with production reality”.
Birmingham, UK – September 2026 – Epson UK & Ireland will be exhibiting at The Print Show 2026, taking place at the NEC Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October 2026.
Visitors can find Epson at Stand S130, where the company will present live demonstrations of its latest professional printing technologies across UV, Direct-to-Garment (DTG), Direct-to-Film (DTF), and flatbed printing.
Ashby de la Zouch – September 2026 – Vivid Laminating Technologies has unveiled its most ambitious innovation to date: the Veloblade Nexus 5x5, a cutting-edge solution engineered to finish materials up to five metres wide and five metres long.
Wrapped in a striking carbon fibre finish, the launch marks a step change in large-format cutting technology for the print, fabric, and textile industries.
The Veloblade Nexus 5x5 is designed to meet the growing industry demand for precision, speed, and scale.
New York - September 2026– NedGraphics, a global leader in textile design technology, has today announced the upcoming launch of NedGraphics 2027, a new generation of software set to redefine how designers bring their creative visions to life.
The countdown to the full reveal is now underway, with the company inviting the industry to follow along as details unfold.
Hanover, Germany – 24 September 2026 – CEMATEX has selected 20 emerging start-ups from nine countries to receive the CEMATEX Start-Up Grant and showcase their innovations at Start-Up Valley during ITMA 2027 in Hanover.
Their participation will be fully funded by CEMATEX, giving promising early-stage companies access to the world's leading textile and garment technology platform.
The selected start-ups span six product areas: Colourants & Chemicals, Fibres, Yarns & Fabrics, Garment Making, Recycling, Software & Automation, and Testing.
Crewe = Cheshire – UK – September 2026 Three new UV flatbed printers with updated automation and productivity capabilities, all equipped with next generation RasterLink workflow and RIP software will launch on the Hybrid stand at The Print Show
Mimaki has announced the introduction of three new UV flatbed printers: the large-format JFX220-2515, and the small-format UJF200 Series (UJF200-3042 and UJF200-6042).
Developed to make advanced UV printing easier to operate and more accessible to print service providers, the new products combine simplified workflows and increased automation to support more efficient, productive print operations.
Frankfurt am Main, 23 September 2026 – Even more young design talent and creative ideas: at the upcoming Heimtextil, the New Talent Area returns for its second edition with a stronger presence.
From 12 to 15 January 2027, the curated area will welcome more than 30 participants, many of whom are presenting on the international stage for the first time.
In Frankfurt, they will showcase exciting textile designs, surprising materials and market-ready products.
Leicester – UK – September 23rd 2026 – Pantone has today announced the addition of 224 new colours to its globally recognised Matching System, marking one of the most significant expansions in the standard's history.
The update reflects a wider industry shift towards bolder, more expressive colour choices in design, and the new shades are now available through VeriVide's latest Pantone Formula Guide, Colour Bridge, and Solid Chips.
Cape Town, South Africa – September 2026 – FESPA has concluded a successful General Assembly in Cape Town, bringing together the Presidents of its 37 National Associations alongside the FESPA Ltd team for a week of strategic discussion and collaboration.
The annual gathering serves as a cornerstone event for the global print and signage community, offering leadership a dedicated forum to address the pressing challenges and emerging opportunities shaping the industry's future
Upper Caldecote - September 2026 – Print-Spec, a Bedfordshire-based provider of industrial screen printing and safety signage solutions, has announced a new equipment partnership that will see the business adopt the VelobladeNexus cutting system.
The move follows a collaboration between Spandex UK and Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd, aimed at identifying the right technology to support Print-Spec's continued growth.
Paris, September 2026 – Lectra today announced the launch of Apogy, its cloud-based solution dedicated to product development, the critical phase between garment design and production.
Nearly fifty years after establishing the global standard for CAD solutions dedicated to the fashion industry, Lectra is opening a new chapter with Apogy, combining artificial intelligence, industry-specific agents and product data to revolutionise the way products are designed and developed.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Sun Chemical today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23-25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre.
Visitors are invited to booth C2880, where the company will present its latest advances in digital ink, textile, industrial, and sustainability-focused printing solutions designed to help printers transform their businesses.
At the heart of Sun Chemical's presence is a commitment to helping customers improve print quality, enhance sustainability, and optimise productivity.
Las Vegas, NV – August 2026 – Agfa will return to PRINTING United Expo 2026, one of the printing industry's most important events, to connect with print professionals from across North America and beyond.
The company will exhibit at Booths 1149 and 1161 at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from 23–25 September 2026.
At the show, Agfa will demonstrate how its latest inkjet solutions help businesses increase productivity, expand application possibilities, and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving print market.
Groningen, Netherlands – September 2026– Klieverik, a recognised innovator in sublimation calendaring technology will bring live sublimation production to PRINTING United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas.
Visitors are invited to witness the Klieverik GTC101-3500 in action at Booth C2015, where the company will demonstrate the machine's capabilities in real time
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Barbieri Electronics, a leading innovator in colour measurement and management solutions, today announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, where the company will unveil its latest advancements in colour technology for digital and textile printing.
Attendees can visit Barbieri Electronics at booth C-841 to experience live product demonstrations and engage directly with company leadership.
Las Vegas, NV – September 2026 – Caldera, a leading provider of print workflow software solutions, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place 23–25 September 2026 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Visitors can find Caldera at Booth C1469, where the company will showcase its latest innovations in print workflow automation, colour management, and apparel decoration.
Aarhus, DK & Milwaukee, WI — September 2, 2026 — FASTSEWN will showcase the next generation of its flatbed automated textile finishing at PRINTING United 2026 with the U.S. debut demonstration of its innovative full 3.3M width StitchNCut™ flatbed sewing and laser cutting solution.
This solution is designed specifically for high-volume production of Silicone Edge Graphics (SEG), pillowcase graphics, and other grand-format and industrial textile applications.
The centerpiece of the launch will be live remote demonstrations from FASTSEWN’s headquarters, where attendees will see the company’s full-size StitchNCut 3.3-meter automated flatbed sewing and laser cutting system producing finished SEG graphics and pillow graphics under real market-based production conditions.
Ottawa, Ontario – September 2026 – Corel today announced the CorelDRAW® Graphics Suite September 2026 Update, delivering dramatically expanded AI capabilities, including Text-to-vector AI, giving customers total creative control as they work faster, explore a multitude of creative options, and generate high-quality vector artwork that's ready for any project.
CorelDRAW's new AI tools have been designed to accelerate workflows while keeping the user's inspiration at the centre of the creative process.
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – September, 2026 – Epson will showcase its latest digital printing solutions at PRINTING United Expo 2026, the annual event bringing together the print industry to explore the latest innovations in commercial, apparel, packaging, wide-format and specialty printing.
Taking place Sept. 23-25 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, Epson will introduce new solutions for textile applications and showcase its extensive portfolio of commercial, industrial and business inkjet solutions.
Brixen, 22 September 2026 – Durst Group, a leading manufacturer of advanced digital printing and production technologies, has reached a significant milestone with its P5 500 TEX iSUB.
50 systems have been sold worldwide since its market introduction at FESPA Global Print Expo 2025.
Blackpool, UK – September 2026– Standfast & Barracks has been named Global Business of the Year at the 2026 British Insurance Business Awards (BIBAs), recognising the company's sustained growth and impact across international markets, including its expanding presence in the United States.
The award was presented on Friday evening at a ceremony in Blackpool, where members of the Standfast team gathered to celebrate the achievement together.
Garden Grove, Calif. – 21 September 2026 – Media One ("M1"), a leading full-service integrator and value-added distributor of wide-format printing solutions, today announced it has acquired the U.S. business and assets of Premex Solutions, a leading supplier of high-quality, print-ready fabrics for the digital textile printing industry.
The acquisition strengthens Media One's home décor and apparel offering with expanded fabrics, pigment printing technology and technical expertise, reinforcing the company's commitment to delivering forward-thinking, end-to-end solutions across the industry
Las Vegas – Nevada – September 2026 – Greentex Global, a global provider of fabrics, blanks, sportswear, apparel and home textiles, has announced its participation in PRINTING United Expo 2026, taking place in Las Vegas from 23 to 25 September.
The company will welcome attendees to Booth C323, where it will present its latest range of sustainable textile solutions for the printing and apparel industries.
Signal Iduna- Park Dortmund– Germany – FabricVision GmbH has confirmed the successful deployment of its STARFLAG and BLOCKFLAG textile solutions in a large-format giant flag application at the German Supercup, one of German football's most closely watched fixtures.
The combination was used by a FabricVision customer to produce a pitch-covering display, demonstrating the fabrics' capability to meet the exacting demands of major sporting events.
Melville, NY – September 2026 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced it will return as title sponsor of PRINTING United Expo 2026, showcasing its latest innovations in production and large-format print.
Attendees can visit Booth #N5801 at the Las Vegas Convention Center from 23-25 September to experience Canon's diverse range of equipment and solutions.
Thetford – Norfolk - September 21, 2026 - Norfolk-based graphics, signage and print business MultiSigns Ltd said its recent investment in a new Vivid VeloBlade Nexus digital cutting system from Soyang Europe has allowed the company to bring more production in-house and significantly reduce turnaround times for customers
London – UK – September 2026 – ARTS THREAD has announced the call for applications for the Designers in Residence Pforzheim 2027 programme, a fully funded three-month residency hosted at EMMA Creative Center Pforzheim.
The residency will run from 1 April to 30 June 2027, offering emerging designers a rare opportunity to develop their practice within a dedicated creative environment.
Applications close on 2 November 2026 at 23:59 CET.
Oberthausen – Germany – September 2026 – KARL MAYER has announced the launch of a new, highly productive model of its HKS 3-M EL, engineered to meet the escalating demands of the sporting goods market.
The extra-wide tricot machine combines a working width of 330", expandable by a further 10", with production speeds of up to 2,800 min⁻¹, setting a new performance benchmark for manufacturers of modern sporting goods.
Crewe – Cheshire - UK – 18 September 2026 – Hybrid Services Ltd, the official Mimaki distributor for the UK and Ireland, today highlighted how Mimaki's advanced white ink technology is setting a new standard for Direct-to-Film (DTF) printing, addressing a critical challenge facing garment decorators across the industry.
Tonbridge – UK – September 2026 Compass Business Finance will return to The Print Show this year, inviting visitors to explore their game plans for growth and the strategic decisions that can help drive long-term success in an increasingly fast-moving market.
Located on Stand P580, Compass will deliver an immersive experience designed to explore the challenges, opportunities and key business decisions facing print companies today.
Rather than offering generic advice, the stand will encourage visitors to think differently about their ambitions, investment priorities, and the practical steps required to move their businesses forward with confidence
Anglesey – September 2026 – Nova Chrome UK has today announced the launch of the Filmjet Mini, a new series of all-in-one direct-to-film (DTF) printers designed to eliminate the complexity of running separate printing, powder application, and curing units.
Built by PolyPrint, a garment printer manufacturer since 2006, the Filmjet Mini brings together everything a business needs to start DTF production within a single, compact machine.