Agfa’s Alussa Technology Enables ECCO Of The Netherlands To Digitally Print Custom Designs On Leather
Image Courtesy of ECCO
ECCO Leather calls itself the world’s first design-led tannery.
Their recent investment in Agfa’s Alussa leather printing technology will enable them to create fully personalized products in any volume, at any time.
ECCO Leather is a global and innovative tannery that produces luxury leather goods, footwear and soft goods.
When one of their customers was looking for a good solution to decorate leather, ECCO started researching providers of digital leather printing technologies.
After a thorough benchmark, Alussa’s high-quality prints with outstanding durability and rub resistance led them to invest in Agfa’s solution.
“Alussa’s personalization options will enable us to expand our product offering and attract additional customers”, says Ricardo Cid Miranda, Factory Director of the ECCO Leather tannery in Dongen, the Netherlands. Having the printing technology in-house also fits in the company’s sustainability strategy as it means they don’t need to transport the leather to a printing company and back.
The relationship with Agfa feels right, he adds. “We feel that Agfa strives for constant improvement and diversification, in the same way that we do. Our R&D departments have worked together very well to tune the typical tanning chemistry and the inkjet inks to each other.”
Every year, ECCO organizes HOT-SHOP, a four-day event for people from all parts of the industry, including scientists, designers, research teams and leather workers.
They participate in workshops centered around free creativity – without the pressure of commercial results.
The presence of the Alussa printing solution at the latest edition attracted a lot of interest and got all parties involved thinking about additional decoration and customization options.
Agfa Alussa
Push the boundaries of leather decoration!
Opt for Alussa, Agfa’s revolutionary leather printing solution that relies on UV inkjet technology to create unique and stunning prints in any quantity.
With Alussa, Agfa brings its graphical expertise to the leather industry.
Alussa provides designers with the opportunity to add vibrant, colorful and ultrasharp graphics to high-quality genuine leathers.
Tanneries and service providers can rely on our Alussa inkjet technology to decorate quality leather and still obtain high flex performance.
Alussa enables you to offer your customers top-quality, high performing decorated leather with unique and detailed designs in any volume, and whenever they want.
A Synergy Between Leather And Ink
Alussa is a story of chemical synergy between the coatings of the tanner and the inks of the printer.
It is the first inkjet technology that takes all components of producing quality leathers into account.
This explains why Alussa performs so well in terms of flexibility and rub resistance, while keeping all details and colors of the graphical print.
By combining Agfa’s knowhow on imaging and the craftsmanship of a tanner, Alussa can create unique and durable digital prints on footwear, handbags, clothing, furniture and more.
Designers can create logos, initials and pictures with a contemporary, eclectic or experimental style – whatever their creative mind comes up with, Alussa will deliver quality and detail, every time.
This way, they can enjoy the freedom of being able to adapt their designs to the shape of their shoes, bags… and to position graphical elements, pictures or backgrounds any way they want.
The Alussa technology consists of different components, all specially developed with a focus on leather.
It incorporates the Alussa eTU25 industrial inkjet printer, Alussa iUL10 full color & white ink sets, Asanti workflow and color management tools, and the unique Alussa coating formulation, developed in collaboration with TFL.
If your leather products need superior quality, Alussa is the only good solution.
