FASTSEWN
Imagine a production process where 2D sewing and cutting happen in one seamless, automated operation - no manual handling required.
FASTSEWN delivers fully automated sewing and cutting solutions for the textile industry, designed to streamline production from printed rolls directly to finished products.
Traditional workflows involve multiple steps - cutting, moving, and then sewing - but FASTSEWN integrates everything into a single, efficient system.
By transforming the flatbed cutting table into a combined sewing and cutting station, including automated keder sewing for SEG (Silicone Edge Graphics) frames, our solution boosts speed, consistency, and labor efficiency. A single operator can now manage tasks that previously required several, reducing dependency on skilled labor while improving output quality.
FASTSEWN systems are available in four widths - 1.2m, 1.8m, 2.2m, and 3.3m - with options for manual or motorized roll feeders and additional knife cutting tools.
Texprocess Innovation Award 2024 Winner: In the "Economic Quality" category - Mikkelsen Innovation for "FastSewn"
FastSewn will be exhibiting at ATA: Henderson Sewing machines’ booth at Booth E1714. About ATA: The Advanced Textiles Expo (ATA) is a leading trade show and conference for the specialty fabrics and advanced textiles industry,
Arhus – Denmark – July 2026 – Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has announced that its FASTSEWN™ 3.3M has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pinnacle Award in the Technology category by PRINTING United Alliance.
The recognition highlights the machine's role in automating the final manual step in textile graphics production, combining automated sewing and laser cutting with keder application for silicone edge graphics (SEG).
Barcelona, Spain – May 2026 – Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has successfully introduced its revolutionary 3.3 by 3.3 metre FASTSEWN Silicone Edge Graphic (SEG) system to the global market during the FESPA 2026 exhibition in Barcelona.
The highly anticipated launch marked a critical step forward in addressing the pressing need for sustainable, efficient, and ethical manufacturing practices within the large-format printing and textile industries, with the industry response already exceeding all initial expectations.
Aarhus – Denmark – May 2026 – FASTSEWN has announced it will showcase its revolutionary fully automated sewing and cutting system at FESPA 2026 in Barcelona.
Located in Hall 3, Booth A144, the exhibition will demonstrate how manufacturers can seamlessly transition from raw rolls of textile to finished products in a single operation.
The event will also feature the world premiere of the brand-new FASTSEWN 33x33 SEG production system through exclusive remote demonstrations broadcast live from the company's facilities in Aarhus, Denmark.
Mikkelsen Innovation ApS has successfully concluded its showcase of the revolutionary FASTSEWN technology at two of the United States' premier industry events, PRINTING United Expo and the Advanced Textiles Association Expo.
The showcases generated significant interest, with industry professionals recognising its potential to transform textile production.
October 2025 – FASTSEWN, a pioneer in textile automation technology, today announced the U.S. debut of its patented roll-fed flatbed Sewing and Laser Cutting solution at Printing United, in Orlando from October 22nd-24th - Booth 848.
This groundbreaking integrated system addresses critical "last mile" challenges in wide-format textile production by automating sewing directly from rolls and immediately laser-cutting finished pieces under the control of a single operator.
Aarhus, Denmark - 8 September 2025 – FASTSEWN, a leading innovator in automated textile manufacturing solutions, has been recognised with the prestigious "Company to Watch Out For" award at the 2025 Wide Format SUMMIT by Printing United Alliance.
The Danish technology company earned the accolade following its successful debut presentation of its revolutionary sewing and laser cutting solution.
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.”
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 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”.
Are we witnessing the reinvention of Merch driven by adaptive, digital technologies?
The commercial opportunity presented by printed, personalised merchandise is already a lucrative revenue stream; it is the core driver of growth in a multi-billion-pound industry. And the mandate for print businesses is clear: automate, adapt, and offer undeniable added value, or choose to gradually lose market share.
Powderless DTF is an important area of innovation. It deserves research, investment, and thoughtful development.
“But at its current stage, it often feels like the industry is attempting to commercialize the concept ahead of the underlying chemistry and system readiness”.
All Apparel Manufacturers face an Urgent Mandate: “Automate or be Left Behind”.
Industry leaders like Super Nova Sports and Ryozo International were struggling with severe pre-press bottlenecks and unsustainable fabric waste. By integrating AI Sublimation Software into their workflows, these forward-thinking businesses eliminated manual variable data entry, boosted fabric efficiency to over 80%, and reduced delivery times by more than half, establishing a highly profitable, agile, and environmentally responsible production model.
The Future of Manufacturing belongs to those who Embrace Connected Digital Ecosystems
“Whether you produce garments, car interiors, or home furnishings, the transition from creative concept to production-ready product often remains fragmented. Design teams work tirelessly to develop compelling materials, yet technical teams struggle to interpret these visions without losing data along the way.”
The European digital wallcovering marketplace is expanding at an impressive rate.
“For print professionals and interior designers, this transition presents a distinct set of challenges. Achieving flawless colour consistency, managing complex substrates, and meeting stringent environmental standards are no longer optional extras; they are fundamental requirements for commercial success.”
If you're looking to optimize your website for AI search, hang onto your cowboy hat. It's the Wild West out there. Former (and current) SEO companies see the handwriting on the wall as more search moves from traditional SEO to AEO (answer engine optimisation). Opportunists are popping out of the woodwork.
(There are good options out there, but vet them carefully.)
A swimsuit might start life as a sketch. By the time it reaches the shop floor, dozens of hands have touched it - designers, dye houses, printers, trim manufacturers, quality controllers. Each one interprets colour in their own way, under their own conditions, with their own tools. The result is often a product that looks nothing like the original vision.