SUN CHEMICAL
Sun Chemical: Transforming the Digital Textile Printing Landscape
A Legacy of Color and Innovation
Since our founding in 1818, Sun Chemical has been a beacon of innovation in the printing industry and pioneers of digital printing inks for more than 30 years.
This experience combined with a deep knowledge of the textile industry allows us to bring innovative textile ink solutions to our partners.
In the dynamic world of textile printing, Sun Chemical offers digital ink solutions that bring designs to life with vivid colors and intricate details.
Our textile inks are developed to provide excellent wash fastness, color vibrancy, and compatibility with a wide range of fabrics, ensuring your prints look stunning, last longer and are compliant with the latest industry standard.
Sun Chemical has a full range of inks for any fabric under our ElvaJet and Xennia brands including Sublimation, Reactive, Pigment, Acid and DTF inks.
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.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – August 2026 – Sun Chemical, a leading producer of printing inks, coatings, and supplies, has announced its participation in the 27th International Advertising Industry and Digital Printing Technologies Exhibition, SIGN İstanbul.
The company will exhibit at Hall 5, Booth 5C09, where it will present its latest innovations across textile printing, graphics, and packaging solutions to industry professionals from across the region.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – August 2026 – Sun Chemical has announced that its Xennia Sapphire pigment inks for digital textile printing have received three of the industry's most sought-after regulatory certifications: GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), ECO-PASSPORT, and ZDHC (Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals).
The achievement positions Sun Chemical as a frontrunner in sustainable and compliant digital textile printing solutions.
São Paulo, Brazil – July 21st 2026 – Sun Chemical will showcase its latest digital ink solutions at Febratex 2026, taking place from 18-21 August 2026 at Parque Vila Germânica, Santa Catarina, Blumenau, Brazil.
Visitors to booth 570, street 36, Hall 5 will have the opportunity to explore Sun Chemical’s comprehensive range of solutions designed to deliver outstanding performance, industry regulatory compliance and application versatility across the textile industry.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – July 2026 – Sun Chemical, a global leader in printing inks and coatings today showcases its latest range of advanced pigment inks, purpose-built for roll-to-roll digital textile printing.
Developed in response to mounting industry demand for higher quality, faster production, and greater sustainability, the new inks are engineered to meet the precise application management requirements of modern digital pigment printing.
São Paulo, Brasil – July 13th, 2026 – Sun Chemical will demonstrate its innovative range of digital printing solutions on stand E175 at Future Print 2026, taking place from 14-17 July 2026 at the Distrito Anhembi | São Paulo, Brasil.
Sun Chemical will present new initiatives and upgraded portfolios for the graphics, sign & display, textile and industrial markets.
Parsippany NJ – July 2026 – Sun Chemical has announced a significant step forward in supply chain transparency, reinforcing its commitment to responsible and traceable natural mica sourcing.
The company's fully backward integrated supply chain ensures that all natural mica-based effect pigments are sourced, processed, manufactured, and sold directly by Sun Chemical — from mine to market.
At the heart of this initiative is Sun Chemical's Hartwell, Georgia mine, which is regulated and audited by the US Mining Safety Health Association (MSHA).
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – June 2026 -– Sun Chemical has highlighted Spectrasense™ Black L 0082, a perylene black pigment engineered to deliver functional performance alongside aesthetic appeal.
The new pigment opens fresh possibilities in design, combining deep, durable black shades with advanced optical properties suited to modern applications.
Unlike traditional carbon blacks, Spectrasense™ Black L 0082 offers high near-infrared (NIR) transparency.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – May 2026 – Sun Chemical will demonstrate its innovative range of digital, screen and pad printing solutions on Stand 3-1B135, at FESPA 2026, taking place from 19-22 May 2026 at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via, Spain.
Sun Chemical will present new initiatives and upgraded portfolios for the graphics, sign & display, textile and industrial markets.
Parsippany – NJ - April 2026 – Sun Chemical has announced the publication of its Spring 2026 Regulatory Newsletter, providing vital insights into the rapidly evolving landscape of global chemical and pigment regulations.
Released today, the comprehensive update is designed to help organisations maintain robust compliance practices and align with the industry's urgent shift towards sustainable, ethical operations.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – 17 April 2026 – Sun Chemical will showcase its latest polymer innovations for artificial leather, textile coatings, and advanced bonding solutions at Techtextil 2026, taking place from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Exhibiting at Hall 11.0, booth E46, the company will present a comprehensive portfolio designed to drive the industry forward, addressing the urgent demand for highly efficient, ethical, and sustainable textile manufacturing processes.
The exhibition will feature an array of water-based polyurethane dispersions, thermoreversible adhesives, acrylic resins, and performance enhancers.
PARSIPPANY, N.J., USA – April 13th, 2026 – Sun Chemical will present its latest innovations in advanced materials and color solutions for the coatings industry at the ACS – American Coatings Show 2026, taking place May 5–7, 2026, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
At booth #1866, the company will highlight a broad portfolio of functional polymers, effect pigments, and digital tools designed to support high-performance, sustainable, and future ready coatings.os for the graphics, sign & display, textile and industrial markets.
Sun Chemical has announced a critical advancement in its pigment portfolio with Paliotol Yellow 138, a high-purity solution engineered to proactively address evolving global regulations.
As state-of-the-art European Union regulatory frameworks introduce a strict limit of 10 parts per million for hexachlorobenzene, Sun Chemical is providing manufacturers with a pigment that stays significantly below this stringent threshold.
Surat February 21st 2026 – Sun Chemical, a global leader in printing inks and pigments, will showcase its latest portfolio of high-performance digital textile ink solutions at SITEX 2026.
The innovations are specifically designed to meet the demands of India's rapidly expanding textile printing market, which continues to experience significant growth driven by increasing domestic consumption and export opportunities.
February 2026 – Sun Chemical, a global leader in the production of inks, coatings, and supplies, has highlighted the industry-leading capabilities of its Cinquasia® quinacridone pigments.
Setting a new benchmark for high-performance organic colourants, the range is engineered to deliver exceptional durability and aesthetic brilliance across the coatings and plastics sectors.
DANVERS, MA, UNITED STATES, February 5, 2026 – Techkon USA and Sun Chemical North America have today announced the launch of SunQ, a pioneering quality software solution designed to revolutionise manufacturing batch testing.
This co-developed platform integrates seamlessly with SAP, providing a user-friendly interface that combines colour and physical testing into a single, cohesive system.
The launch marks a significant step forward in standardising testing protocols across the industry, ensuring optimal consistency in batch-to-batch quality while reinforcing a commitment to operational excellence.
January 2026 – Sun Chemical has today announced the strategic expansion of its portfolio to include a comprehensive suite of nitrocellulose (NC)-alternative inks, coatings, primers, and adhesives.
This development marks a significant step forward for the packaging and printing sectors, offering converters and brand owners a viable pathway to transition away from traditional NC systems without compromising on operational efficiency or final product quality.
The introduction of these advanced systems addresses an urgent industry need for more resilient and sustainable supply chain solutions.
December 2025 – Sun Chemical has announced the launch of its latest pigment innovation, the "MOVING Colors" collection.
Designed to capture the ethereal beauty of the winter season, this new range leverages advanced optical technologies to deliver shifting colour effects that mirror the transformation found in the natural world.
As the industry moves through the darker winter months, there is a growing demand for aesthetics that evoke frosted blues, icy evergreens, and the shifting hues of magical skies.
Sun Chemical addresses this market trend by introducing a palette that reflects nature's resilience and beauty..
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – 11th December 2025 – Sun Chemical has released its fifteenth annual Sustainability Report, underscoring the company’s continued progress toward advancing circular product innovation and fostering industry collaboration for a more sustainable future.
The report details Sun Chemical’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve net carbon neutrality by 2050; Sun Chemical is 86% of the way to achieving its 2030 target.
Sun Chemical continues to demonstrate measurable progress driven by its “five Rs” framework—Reuse, Reduce, Renew, Recycle and Redesign—which guides sustainable innovation across its global operations, products and partnerships.
November 2025 – Sun Chemical has announced the strategic positioning of its Heliogen® pigment range to address the urgent requirements of an evolving regulatory landscape.
As global safety standards tighten and the demand for compliance becomes non-negotiable, the company is highlighting its high-performance phthalocyanine pigments as the essential solution for sensitive and demanding applications
PARSIPPANY, N.J., U.S.A. – October 22, 2025 – Sun Chemical presents its comprehensive portfolio of solutions for graphics, textiles and industrial print applications under the theme “Experience. Transformation.” this week at PRINTING United Expo 2025, from October 22-24 in Orlando, Fla.
With a focus on digital solutions designed to elevate product innovation and efficiency across the print and graphics markets, Sun Chemical highlights its full digital portfolio that enables customers to achieve new levels of productivity, quality and sustainability.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – 8th October, 2025 – Sun Chemical has released its Autumn 2025 Regulatory Newsletter, which provides customers with updates on the latest regulatory issues impacting the packaging, inks and pigments industries.
The Autumn 2025 Regulatory Newsletter highlights the fast-moving landscape of chemical and packaging policy, with updates regarding European debates on chemical safety, food contact materials and microplastics, as well as legislative developments across North America and Asia.
SOUTH NORMANTON, UK – 2nd October 2025 – Sun Chemical will present its comprehensive portfolio of digital textile inks on Stand C111, Hall 6, ITMA Asia 2025 in Singapore (28 – 31 October), underlining its commitment to supporting growth across the textile industry in Asia.
Asia remains one of the most important regions for textile production, and Sun Chemical is strengthening its presence within this market through both local manufacturing and distribution.
Sun Chemical has announced the expansion of its high-performance Streamline eco-solvent inks into the Scandinavian market.
This strategic move introduces a range of high-quality digital inks for wide-format printing to businesses in the region, offering a seamless and eco-friendly alternative to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) products.
The Streamline series is designed for full compatibility with major inkjet printer brands and printheads, ensuring a smooth transition for new users.
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”.