Fabric printer Standfast and Barracks, part of the British furnishings group Walter Greenbank, has trademarked a direct-to-fabric Greentex pigment printed collection called Ecofast which will be formally launched at Heimtextil in January 2019.
The company - which has two Durst Alpha 190 systems running One-Step Greentex P ink - hopes the technology will enable it to open up market opportunities in areas such as contract, apparel and roller-blinds.
Standfast and Barracks produces more than 150,000 yards of printed fabric per month - until five years ago all done by conventional printing. Digital production now accounts for more than half the business revenues at the company and it expects it to reach 60% by the start of next year. Export is a focus and is in line to account for 20% of sales - half of which is to the USA - by the end of 2018.
Less than three years since a flood closed the factory for more than four months, MD Stephen Thomas, said: “Our order books are definitely growing and we are actively encouraging our customers to do more digital printing, pointing out the many benefits. Our investment in Durst’s digital technology continues to trigger new waves of innovation. Digital gives unlimited opportunities and colour variations with the ability to develop new application and products and continue to develop our business. Digital is by far our biggest growth area. It’s the future.”
