ALL HAIL THE POWER OF PRINT - DIGITAL TEXTILE INNOVATIONS ABOUND AT ITMA, MILAN 2023

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21 Jun

“Packed with innovations at all levels the show proved to be an incredible success. Visitor numbers reached 111,000 from an impressive 143 countries, exhibitors peaked at 1,709 spread across an incredible 200,000 sqm of exhibition space. All in all, ITMA was an incredible show, packed with the technology and innovation required to re-equip the industry and to deliver environmental manufacturing and address key market shifts. More ITMA insights to follow in the weeks ahead…”
Image Credit: Epson - Monna Lisa

All Hail the Power of Print – For ITMA didn’t disappoint. Packed with innovations at all levels the show proved to be an incredible success.

Visitor numbers reached 111,000 from an impressive 143 countries, exhibitors peaked at 1,709 spread across an incredible 200,000 sqm of exhibition space. The venue was well organised, easy to reach and well serviced and for those that exhibited and those that visited - credited as a truly successful experience.

Post pandemic, the textile industry has faced many challenges, commercial and environmental, it is the latter where innovation and reform now reside – the commercial aspects will take care of themselves. Surely there can now be NO doubt that digital technologies are the future of the industry. Digital technologies offer a viable solution for systemic reform, an impressive suite of innovations, and an essential bridge to sustainable manufacturing, on-demand and in-time. Looking at the number of machines sold during the exhibition (Kornit Digital 25 Prestos’!) the facts seem to speak for themselves.

The future is now, and textile manufacturers across the globe are investing in digital technology for commercial success – success that is tied to environmental production and sustainable process.

Hall 7 and hall 5 were the focus for those interested in textile printing, and with so much technology to experience it was difficult (if not impossible) to find the time to venture anywhere else. Post pandemic, this was the first opportunity for the industry to gather on what has become a global stage for textile innovation. Packed with cutting-edge technologies, automation and AI, the halls of ITMA were alive with a new energy, and an appetite for change.

Here’s just a few of the key takeaways from the show, with more to follow. In the weeks ahead, we will come back to elaborate and revisit ITMA exhibitors and the countless innovations that made their debuts and take the time to dive deep into the important technologies launched at the show: The Highlights.

Simplicity – Single Step Production

Across the sector a marked move towards delivering simplicity. New iterations of digital technologies were launched at the show, each focussed on streamlining the process – to simplify production.

Removing or automating the steps of printed textile. Each scaling down ancillary process to offer a smaller, energy efficient footprint for printed production. Kornit Digital continued their success with the Presto, EFI Reggiani presented a new BOLT XS (single pass), and new models for the Hyper which now functions with pigment inks, Epson launched a new vision for the ML8000 with inline pre and post finishing and a whole suite of innovations for the Monna Lisa series (printed resin, more on that later).

In summary: all exhibitors in hall 7 delivered one message – Keep it Simple.

Size versus Speed – Small and Mighty

Single pass technologies were presented as smaller, smarter iterations, looking nothing like the footprint of rotary but equalling the speed of screen. Small and Mighty - single pass has evolved inline with print head and ink technology to offer automated, high speed (100mpm) AI driven technology for efficient industrial production.

Inks take on Hybrid Function

Digital inks across all processes have evolved, whether Pigment, Dye sub, or Reactive - ink is no longer just ink! Manufactures now offer hybrid versions with pre-coating added or even post costing (triggered by heat) all present in the ink formulation. Importantly these inks are now available from independents like Sun Chemical, and thus serves to rationalise both process and ink prices.

DTF makes a move on DTG

The noise and excitement surrounding DTF (direct to film) continues with Mimaki launching their own DTF machine. As this agenda evolves the print quality of DTF, as seen on the STS booth at the show is improving. Handle varies across vendors, with vast improvements on the synthetic, rubberised handle of early machinery and inks. Controlling the white is key as is the quality and delivery of the powdered adhesive post print. With numerous benefits, DTF has a key role to play in garment decoration. Watch this space.

Automation meets with AI

Circling back to where we started and the need to offer simplified production and process: Automation and AI are driving the development of new iterations of existing machinery and new emerging technologies. All of which is underpinned by the need for efficient, effective workflow automation – human hand and machine - as seen in the newly launched Apollo from Kornit Digital.

AI has a large role to play in colour management, machine performance and ultimately in controlling waste and energy efficiency.

Data is the new gold – and when twinned with AI it can deliver the transparency and traceability that the textile printing industry urgently needs to make sure that we monitor and quantify our environmental impact.