EFI has bought its way into the digital inkjet textile space with the strategic acquisition of Reggiani Macchine. Based in Bergamo, Italy, Reggiani's inkjet technologies, which will be rebranded as EFI Reggiani, address the full scope of advanced textile printing, with versatile printers suitable for water based dispersed, acid, pigment and reactive dye printing inks.

International Expo-Consults (IEC) is the organiser Sign and Graphics Imaging (SGI Dubai) in the Middle East and Asia Pacific region. Its chairman, Mr. Abdul Rahman Falaknaz, believes the UAE can capitalise on the fast growing textile printing industry and has a huge potential to become one of the market leaders, particularly as UAE currently stands as the world’s fourth largest trading centre of textiles, generating an approximate $17.5 billion annually.

Roland DG’s dye sublimation transfer technology has achieved certification of OEKO-TEX Standard 100, product class I. The certification has been given for inkjet printing on polyester fabric with the company’s Texart ink, which is used for the Texart RT-640, the company’s latest dye sublimation transfer printer.

Walsall based Colour Graphics is a one-stop-shop digital print service provider offering the full gamut of digitally printed products - including textiles - following the company’s recent investment in an MTEX 5032Pro digital textile printer.

The Indian textile buying season has started and with it a host of interior decor, home textile and furnishing manufacturers are set to present their new collections, made-to-order product ranges and high-end designs at the country’s two top trade fairs for Interior Decor and Home Furnishings – Ambiente India & Heimtextil India 2015.

Following his cosmically inspired t-shirt entry, Dave Parkes from the UK has been announced as the winner of the FESPA Fabric 2015 ‘Design a tee’ competition. Second and third places went to Daniela Asael from Germany and James Simonsen from the Czech Republic respectively.

It’s the opening day of FESPA 2015 and Mimaki has announced the availability of its latest wide format printer - the TS300P-1800, a 1.8m wide roll-to-roll sublimation inkjet printer that Mimaki says will be available from July.

Hot on the heels of Mimaki announcing its latest textile dye sublimation printer is Epson who announced a new SureColor SC-F9200 printer and HDK Black ink to help manufacturers produce high-quality, mass-production textiles quickly and consistently, while keeping costs low.

Trade shows provide an incredible opportunity for you to get your name and work in front of big brands, well-connected people and the press. However, they can demand a huge amount of investment, so getting the know-how and making every opportunity count can be the key to your success.

For the second year in succession, Kornit Digital and the NY Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) are collaborating in a project that involves design and digital print to fabrics.

Epson will continue to work in collaboration with Blooming Bryony Designs for FESPA 2015 in Cologne later this month as it did at Heimtextil 2015 in Frankfurt where Bryony showed how she can print her contemporary designs direct onto cushion covers and tote bags with the Epson SureColor SC-F2000 direct-to-fabric printer.

The growth of soft signage and its potential profitability has inspired specialist display printing company Digital Imaging Services (DIS) to take a step into direct to textile printing with an investment in an MTEX 1800 printer.

Regular readers of this esteemed website will perhaps have seen my recent observations on the current trend towards the use of textile media in sign and graphics printing for retail, PoS and many other applications.

Mutoh Belgium has announced the launch of the €3,990 DrafStation RJ-900XG, a low cost entry level 42” (1080 mm) wide dye sublimation printer for those wanting to further extend their service offering with digital transfer applications.

As a designer, manufacturing your own products is a fantastic way to grow your own label, get more visibility and be in control of the quality of products with your name on. But it can be a high-risk strategy, so it isn't for the faint hearted!

The Sign and Graphics industry is experiencing some really exciting developments at the present time, and none more so than the huge interest currently being shown in the use of textile media, particularly in the run up Sign & Digital UK.

MTEX Technologies has plans to create a ‘UK first’ for direct-to-textile print solutions at Sign & Digital UK 2015, showing the newly launched MTEX Vision with direct disperse inks and the MTEX PAD coating machine together as a ‘snapshot’ of its total turnkey solutions.

Sign & Digital UK and Roland DG have announced an exclusive visitor prize giveaway of a Roland Texart RT-640 64” dye sublimation printer which also includes installation and a set of Texart inks worth more than £13,000. Also included with the prize is a one-year RolandCare Silver warranty.

As one of the many former editors of Printwear & Promotion magazine over the years I confess to being somewhat nerdy when it comes to anything to do with printing onto textiles and apparel. It’s an occupational hazard I suppose, which is why I think the Epson SureColor SC-F2000 direct-to-garment dye-sublimation printer is one of the most intriguing pieces of textile printing kit I have seen in recent years.

Soyang Europe has responded to market demand by increasing its wide and grand format textile offering by adding new lines to its three core product ranges. Suitable for printing on almost any dye sub, UV or latex printer, the company’s fabrics are highly regarded for use in either indoor or outdoor display applications in the retail, exhibition and soft signage sectors.

Spandex continues to evolve its family of ImagePerfect materials with the launch of a new self-adhesive wall textile substrate suitable for printing with eco solvent and solvent inks, as well as UV-cured and latex inks.