TEXINTEL LIVE INTERVIEW - Inside Zimmer’s Colaris 72: Water-Saving Digital Printing and the Future of Technical Textiles with Andreas Rass

In this interview from Techtextil in Frankfurt, Debbie McKeegan, CEO of Texintel, speaks with Andreas Rass CEO of Zimmer Austria, about the latest advances in digital textile printing and the current state of the textile and carpet industries.

They introduce Zimmer’s new Colaris 72 digital textile printer platform, designed for higher accessibility, strong remote service, reduced manpower needs, and a water‑recycling blanket washing system that dramatically cuts water consumption and boosts sustainability.

Together, they discuss the growth of technical and military textiles, the resilience of the carpet sector (notably in Turkey), rising energy and polyester costs, and the increasing importance of near‑shoring, secure supply chains, and trusted ink and technology partnerships to build a more sustainable and professional textile industry.

Watch to learn more >>


KEY TAKEAWAYS

Launch of Colaris 72 printer

Zimmer has introduced the Colaris 72, a more compact digital textile printer focused on accessibility, strong remote service, and suitability for low‑staff production environments.

Major water savings via blanket washing recycling

A new water‑recycling system for the blanket washer reduces usage from hundreds of litres per day to about 200 litres per week, keeping water in circulation for close to a week and significantly improving sustainability.

Technical and military textiles are driving growth

While fashion and home textiles are struggling, technical textiles and camouflage/military applications are currently strong, driven by global security and political instability.

Supply chain resilience and near‑shoring are now strategic

Rising energy and polyester prices (+40%) and geopolitical risks are pushing brands and mills to rethink supply chains, emphasising near‑shoring, on‑shoring, and close partnerships with European machinery makers for reliability and security.

Partnerships and professionalism around ink and procurement

Zimmer is deepening long‑term collaborations with ink partners, who hold large inventories of raw materials and inks to ensure availability.

Growth in public and military procurement is forcing the textile industry to become more professional, contract‑driven, and values‑led, with a renewed “moral compass” and stronger, non‑commoditised partnerships.



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TEXINTEL LIVE INTERVIEW - How LED Viewing and DigiEye Imaging from Verivide Transform Printed Textile Production