TEXINTEL LIVE INTERVIEW - FESPA Barcelona: Driving the Digital Textile Switch with Dr. Simon Daplyn of Sun Chemical

Join Debbie McKeegan in Barcelona as she talks with Dr. Simon from Sun Chemical about the future of textile printing.

They discuss the launch of Zenia Sapphire pigment inks with upgraded wash fastness, the slow but crucial shift from analog to digital textile printing, and how education, skills, and supply-chain partnerships can unlock on-demand, sustainable production.

They also explore upcoming digital product passports, why chemistry and transparency matter, and what the industry must do now to prepare for 2027–2033 compliance.

Watch to learn more >>


KEY TAKEAWAYS

New Zenia Sapphire pigment inks raise the bar on performance

Sun Chemical’s Zenia Sapphire range has been upgraded with “clever chemistry” to significantly improve fastness, especially wash resistance, achieving 5* under severe test conditions—a key requirement for retail-quality textiles.

Digital pigment printing is a major but underused opportunity

Although over 50% of printed textiles use pigment inks in analog (rotary/screen) processes, only 8–10% of textile printing is digital. Moving pigment into digital offers huge potential in flexibility, speed, and waste reduction.

Digital enables agility, reduced inventory, and less waste

Traditional long-run screen printing ties up capital, demands high volumes, and often leads to overproduction and landfill. Digital printing lets producers print what sells, replenish on demand, and improve cash flow and sustainability.

Skills gaps and missing local hubs block re-shoring

There is a major skills gap in finishing, cutting, and sewing in Europe and the US, which keeps production concentrated in Asia. To re-shore and be more agile, the industry needs regional hubs, investment in skills, and partnerships across brands, printers, and manufacturers.

Digital product passports will force full transparency

Textiles will be first to face digital product passport requirements (from around 2027–2033), demanding complete visibility of materials and chemistry. Ink formulators must know every raw material to inform brands, and the industry must replace greenwashing with verified, open-book sustainability data through better communication, collaboration, and education at all levels.



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