IVO Textiles Adopts Kornit Digital Printer To Boost Production Flexibility
UK-based family-owned textile manufacturer IVO Textiles has invested in Kornit Digital’s Presto MAX S roll-to-roll digital textile printing system as it seeks to increase production speed, expand fabric compatibility and enhance colour capabilities for premium interior textile applications.
Founded in the early 1960s, IVO Textiles built its reputation producing printed fabrics for fashion designers including Celia Birtwell, Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes, as well as the Biba fashion retailer. The company later expanded into furnishing fabrics, wallpapers and interior décor while retaining its focus on printed textile quality.
The company evaluated several digital printing platforms before selecting the Kornit system. IVO Textiles said it tested identical fabrics and production files on different machines to assess print quality, colour reproduction, durability and fastness.
According to the company, the Presto MAX S produced the closest results to traditional screen printing while also offering greater colour capability and production flexibility. Further testing and demonstrations at Kornit’s Customer Experience Center in Düsseldorf supported the decision.
Michael Haas, CEO, IVO Textiles, said the company was looking for a digital printing platform that could replicate the quality of traditional screen printing while providing greater flexibility.
“When we evaluated the market, we weren’t simply looking for another digital printer. We were looking for a platform capable of matching the quality of traditional screen printing while giving us the flexibility to meet today’s customer expectations,” Haas said.
The company said the new system has delivered significant improvements in production turnaround. A typical 200-metre order, which previously took around one-and-a-half days to print, followed by baking in a separate finishing department, can now be completed in less than two hours, including printing and curing.
The Presto MAX S also provides IVO Textiles with an expanded colour gamut and the ability to print on a wider range of fabrics. The availability of white ink and XDi capabilities is expected to provide additional options for premium interior textile applications.
“The colour gamut and the range of fabrics we can now print on are tremendous advantages for our business. But the biggest benefit is the speed. We’re now able to respond to our customers much faster while maintaining the quality they’ve always expected from IVO Textiles,” Haas said.
IVO Textiles also cited Kornit’s engineering and service support during the installation and commissioning of the system as an important part of the partnership.
Guy Yaniv, President, Kornit Digital Europe, said the investment demonstrated how textile manufacturers with a strong heritage could combine traditional printing expertise with digital production technology.
With the Presto MAX S now in production, IVO Textiles plans to use the increased production speed, fabric flexibility and colour capabilities to support its premium interior textile business and develop new applications.
