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[The Note] When to use rotary screen printing and when to choose for digital textile printing?

Both rotary screen printing and digital textile printing are still widely used in the textile printing industry. Several printing companies, solution providers and trendwatchers expected (or wished?) that digital would one day replace rotary screen printing entirely. The truth is that both types of printing have their own advantages and disadvantages, which makes it logical for them to coexist (as explained in this previous blog). That gives printing companies a difficult choice to make. Which type suits their printing process and products best? Is it more profitable to print conventionally, or does digital printing provide more advantages in the long run? Many printing companies today have both digital and rotary screen printing in house. But when to use which technology?

In this blog I will list 7 different factors that show the differences between rotary screen printing and its digital counterpart. With the help of this list you can make a targeted choice. Not only does this have a positive effect on efficiency, but also on quality and customer satisfaction. That being said, let's take a look at these decisive factors.

[The Note] Combining digital and rotary: does a hybrid printing machine make sense?

Many printing companies nowadays use both digital and rotary screen printers within their production process. Wouldn’t combining the two printing methods in a hybrid printing machine make more sense?

A logical question, especially when you consider that there are manufacturers that offer single-pass digital machines with one or more rotary stations implemented. It does not look like a difficult mechanical/electrical job and a printer that can print digitally as well as rotary sounds like a useful asset for many companies. However, in the view of SPGPrints hybrid printing machines are rarely a sound investment. In this blog I will explain why. 

Note: we assume in this blog that a customer’s desire for a hybrid printer is based on the wish to combine both technologies in the same print job. You could also assume that the printer prints either only rotary or only digital in a job, in which case all the arguments in this blog would not be valid. But we deem that type of application not the basis for the request for a hybrid printer.

[The Link] The Future of Rotary Screen Fabric Printing: is digital textile printing taking over?

Back in the late eighties, when digital textile printing and reactive inks were being developed, estimating the consequences of these innovations was not yet possible. However, it was soon thought that digital textile printing would push rotary screen printing into the background and eventually even replace it. 

Now, almost thirty years later, we can say that rotary screen printing is still very much alive and kicking, despite digital printing continuing to develop rapidly. Can rotary screen printing keep up with this development? And what are the expectations now? How long will rotary screen printing last? In this blog, I will evaluate the past and forecast the future of rotary screen printing.

[The Note] Ink Pricing: 7 factors that determine the price of digital textile printing inks

When you are selecting a digital textile printing ink for your production process, from a financial perspective it might be tempting to go for the cheapest ink. After all, the differences in pricing can be significant and by selecting a cheaper ink you save a lot of money in the purchasing phase. But how much does this cost your company in the long run? What does it mean for the quality of your end product and the satisfaction of your customer?

To clarify that choosing for the low-priced option ultimately results in more expenses in the long run, I will discuss 7 aspects that determine the real price of ink. In this blog, I explain what information is actually hidden behind the price tag, so you can make a future-oriented decision when it comes to ink.

[The Note] Re-starting after COVID-19: what did the virus do to digital textile printing inks and our machines?

The outbreak of COVID-19 was a drastic event that changed the world harshly. In this previous blog, I already explained what the first consequences were and what I expected to be the long term impact for textile printing. Now that the world is slowly getting back to a more normal situation, we can start analyzing: what consequences has COVID-19 actually had so far on our industry? How do you deal with machines that have not operated for a long time? Can I still use the inks that I have in stock? And what can we expect in the upcoming months? 

In this blog, I will explain more about starting up again after COVID-19 by responding to some frequently asked questions about inks, machines and getting back to printing.

[The Note] Reactive dyes for digital textile printing: the difference between MCT and VS dyes

When it comes to reactive dyes in textile printing, the two dyes of choice are Monochlorotriazine (MCT) and Vinyl Sulfone (VS). But what differentiates these dyes from one another and how does that work out in digital printing? What makes one solution better suited to certain companies and printing processes than the other? 

To resolve common misconceptions about these dyes for once and for all, I will compare both dyes in this blog in terms of composition, deepness of black, sensitivity to processes and costs. In my explanation, I will refer to them as MCT and VS. To start with our comparison, let’s look at what MCT and VS are and what the main difference between both reactive dyes is.

[The Note] The influence of COVID-19 on the international textile market: Is the corona virus leading the textile industry to digital maturity?

In recent months, COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, is holding the world in its grip. The effects are felt everywhere, in all countries, industries and businesses. The virus also has some serious consequences for the textile industry. Logically, a lot of people within the industry wonder what impact this pandemic has on the textile market, both in the short as well as in the long run. What does this mean for the market? And for the production of printers and textiles? One certainty is that a lot of things have changed since the rise of COVID-19 in China.

In this blog I will give SPGPrints’ view on some of the consequences of COVID-19 on the textile market worldwide, and why we think this might lead to an increase of digital maturity within the industry. Let's start at the beginning.

[The Note] The value and non-value of comparing colors in digital textile printing ink

An important factor in achieving the best digital textile printing results is the quality of the ink that you use. Choosing the right ink is not a trivial activity, as there are a lot of suppliers and a lot of options on the market. In this blog, I will explain which aspects you have to take into account when selecting an ink supplier. There is a lot more to consider besides simply comparing the base colors and the price per kg.