Print-Spec Upgrade Their Cutting Capabilities With New VelobladeNexus Partnership
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 partnership marks a significant milestone for founder Adam Brentnall, who built Print-Spec from the ground up using his own savings.
The company has since established itself as a trusted supplier of high-performance print solutions for metal panels, control interfaces, safety signage, and graphic overlays, serving businesses across Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Northampton, and throughout the UK.
As part of the agreement, Print-Spec's previous cutting equipment was removed on the same day the new system was installed, ensuring a seamless transition with minimal disruption to ongoing operations.
This upgrade reflects a broader industry trend towards investment in advanced manufacturing technology, as businesses look to improve efficiency and expand their service offerings.
For Print-Spec, the partnership represents more than just an equipment upgrade — it is a testament to the company's ongoing commitment to innovation and quality in an increasingly competitive market.
By working with established industry partners like Spandex UK and Vivid Laminating Technologies, Print-Spec is positioning itself for further growth, while continuing to deliver dependable, high-performance print solutions to its customer base.
The company's expansion comes at a time when demand for industrial signage and custom labelling solutions continues to rise across the UK, driven by increasingly stringent safety and compliance requirements across multiple sectors.
About Vivid Laminating Technologies
Vivid Laminating Technologies Ltd is a premier designer and manufacturer of state-of-the-art laminating systems and digital die-cutting systems. .
Europe's leading Designers & Manufacturers of Laminating Machines and Supplier of the Year 2016: British Association for Print and Communication (BAPC).
For many years, we've been leading the world of lamination with the most innovative designs in the marketplace by listening to our customer's requirements.
As specialists of award-winning systems, we have developed a range of laminating solutions for every market and application;
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.
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.
China Print Supplies has expanded its textile offering with nine Gongzheng Apsaras printers, covering dye sublimation, direct-to-fabric pigment printing and hybrid working.
The full range is available now, and adds textile to a Gongzheng line-up the company already sells across UV and eco-solvent.
You can learn more about these printers by talking to China Print Supplies at The Print Show later this month (stands S220 and S420).
Dorking – UK – September 2026 – FESPA has announced a new instalment of its FESPA Insights webinar series, focusing on one of the garment decoration industry's fastest-growing opportunities: personalised apparel.
The session, titled "Scaling Your Personalised Apparel Business", will take place on 29 September 2026 at 14:00 BST.
Burscough, UK, September 14, 2026: Quality Print Services (QPS) has announced it will showcase six printers from across the ColorJet and Roland DG ranges, alongside Nazdar's alternative digital inks, on its stand (150) at The Sign Show 2026.
Taking place in hall 1 of the NEC in Birmingham from 29 September to 1 October, The Sign Show, co-located with The Print Show, gives visitors access to both events with a single registration.
September 2026 - Epson today announces the SureColor SC-F300, a new A3 dye-sublimation printer designed to help small businesses and growing personalisation providers produce professional-quality output with a compact, user-friendly workflow.
The SC-F300 is positioned to help users broaden their product offering – supporting expansion from A4 into
Mortsel – Belgium – September 2026– Agfa has today announced the launch of the Jeti Tauro H3300 HS, a new hybrid UV LED inkjet press that extends its award-winning Tauro family.
Built on technology and insights gathered across the entire Tauro range, the new press is designed to meet the productivity demands of today's print service providers while offering a clear path for future growth.