The digital textile and fabric printing market has some very special needs which especially measuring devices is concerned. Due to the characteristics of the surface and the textile itself ‘standard’ color measuring devices are not able to deliver accurate readings.

Barbieri electronic now offers a dedicated spectrophotometer for this market – the Spectro LFP Tex.

The feature that makes the Spectro LFP Tex unique is his large measuring aperture of 8mm which is fundamental to measure textiles. Thanks to this large aperture textured surfaces of textiles and fabrics will be optically averaged and therefore the right color impression determined.

For easy mounting of the textile for measuring, a special sample holder will be delivered together with the measuring device. This holder prevents distortions and slipping during the whole automatic measuring process. As a result measurements of textiles will be done fully automatically and most accurate.

An upgrade to the worldwide unique automatic transmissive measurement feature for the Spectro LFP Tex is also available.

Challenger revolutionized screen printing in the 1980s, and Challengers have dominated the industry ever since. Now, M&R’s all-new Challenger III expands on that tradition by combining innovative patented and patent-pending features—like M&R’s Ink-Dip Ink Retrieval System and Optical No-Shirt Detector.

Printheads
Challenger III’s Formula-based servo-driven belt-drive-indexer enables double indexing in one uninterrupted motion, increasing production speed for oversize work by eliminating the pause between indexes.

Like Alpha 8, Challenger III’s printheads also feature calibrated tool-free click-stop four-corner off-contact settings for fast and accurate screen leveling. Built from the ground up to optimize performance, flexibility, print quality, and durability, Challenger III is ready to dominate the next decade of carousel textile printing.

Versions
All three versions of Challenger III feature Alpha 8-style electric printheads. Models 55, 70, and 110 offer respective maximum image lengths of 55 cm (22”), 70 cm (28”), and 110 cm (43”). Printheads are driven by fast, reliable electric-drive motors, and include no-tools front and rear print-stroke adjustment for versatility and exceptionally high production rates. Pneumatic screen clamps facilitate rapid screen loading and deliver excellent stability on a wide variety of screens. Other standard features include squeegee pressure regulators; independent squeegee & floodbar speed adjustments; independently-set angle and calibrated squeegee and floodbar pressure adjustments; and adjustable rear screen holders.

Challenger III’s large new touch-screen control panel with icon-based labeling can display information and commands in numerous languages, simplifying press operation and training anywhere in the world.

Sportsman DPE
Also new is the Sportsman DPE, which has the same simplicity of operation and performance-proven dependability as the Sportsman E, but with room to place flash units between print stations.

Sportsman DPE’s eight printheads and 18 stations enable users to flash between each printhead and still print up to eight colors. Sportsman DPE has a maximum print stroke length of 78 cm (31”) and a standard image area of 41 x 46 cm (16” x 18″). Sportsman DPE’s maximum image area (without flash cure units in place) is an impressive 79 x 79 cm (31” x 31”). All models feature servo-driven indexers, electric printheads, and multiple print-stroke capability.

Features
The press is compatible with most registration systems, including M&R’s Tri-Loc and Newman Pin-Lock. Pneumatic clamps hold frames tight and allow rapid screen loading. Standard features like independent squeegee & floodbar speed adjustments, adjustable rear screen holders, independently-set angle and calibrated pressure adjustments, and independent print, reset, and print/flood speed controls on each printhead further simplify setup.

Other standard features include a 14 cm (5.7”) color touch-screen display, onboard self-diagnostics, real-time production data, and an independent print-start/print-finish setting that automatically activates and stops printheads at the beginning and end of production runs.

By 2009 Schiffli embroidery machines practically disappeared from developed countries: they all moved to low-labour-cost countries such as China, India and Turkey. The multi-head embroidery machine market has become fragmented, with brands from Korea and China entering the world market.
Single-head embroidery and lightweight single-head machines have become commonplace for new companies that enter the market. In 2009 order numbers for embroidery down to a single item were common in developed countries. Design-software systems have become very advanced, they have many automated features and are much easier to learn and require less knowledge of the intricacies of embroidery and machine/fabric interaction. 

Developments at Wilcom
During the 16 years’ existence of our magazine, the challenges in business have changed. In 1993 Wilcom’s activities were primarily focused on offering embroidery digitising/design software for Schiffli and multi-head embroidery machines. They were then a predominantly technology-driven company, specialising in the embroidery-digitising department.

In 2009 Wilcom were looking more for ways to help their customers’ business processes, a more well-rounded outlook to the way they contribute to the decoration business beyond embroidery and print etc. In a world where there are often new business start-ups they are even more conscious of the importance of providing quality training and support for their customers.

Offered products
In 2009 the company were providing a wide range of solutions. They offer embroidery-design software for loyal customers in over 100 countries. Their software ranges from Schiffli, multi-head, to domestic hobby/craft embroidery machines.

Wilcom has formed a unique and strategic partnership with Corel Corporation to bring together seamless integration between the print design and embroidery design by integrating the Wilcom embroidery software with the CorelDRAW print platform, enabling new creativity in multi-decorations and more streamlined workflow. They also offer custom-rug design-and-production technology.

Wilcom offers web-business solutions. DecoNetwork provides businesses with their own online store, enabling their customers to design T-shirts and other items online. It also allows businesses to grow a network of Affiliate stores, selling their products.

The Internet enables the delivery of rich interactive experiences for their customers, such as their live online exhibition, online training and videos. Online retailing is becoming more of an everyday way for consumers to shop. This is why DecoNetwork, Wilcom’s online-store solution, gives an opportunity for printers and embroiderers to take advantage of this. 

Customers
In 1993 Wilcom’s customers were Schiffli and multi-head contract embroiderers and digitising houses/specialists in approximately 30 countries. They then had several thousand licence-paying customers.

By 2009 the company had grown to over 300,000 licence-paying customers. These customers are now located in over 100 countries, varying from large-volume Schiffli contract embroiderers to small businesses with just one or two single-heads operating from retail fronts or homes, to people with hobby/craft interests such as embroidery, quilting, scrapbooking etc.

Stitch & Print International
Wilcom think that Stitch & Print International is ‘a great magazine, committed to informing, inspiring and connecting the industry’. Nowadays there is so much information available, but a trade magazine is dedicated to the quality of the content, and providing a focused place to find that information. With the growing use of the Internet there is always a need for a physical copy of a trade magazine. In addition, online newsletters that link to the online version of the magazine are very helpful, too.

The future
In the future Wilcom is expecting growth in print technologies, growth in custom work and growth in variety of multi-decorations. Therefore, a web-based custom-orders and fulfilment system such as DecoNetwork becomes very important.

In 2010 Wilcom celebrates its 30th birthday! They are grateful to all their fantastic customers, distributors and fellow companies in this great industry. They are particularly grateful for industry trade publications such as Stitch & Print for their commitment to informing, inspiring and connecting the industry.

The ink is 100% degassed and packed in 220 ml vacuum sealed cartridges, enabling easy installation and smooth, continuous operation of the Azon TexPro textile printer.

Azon TexPro is industrial standard direct to garment inkjet printer. It prints directly with speed up to 70 light shirts or 15 dark shirts per hour. It can print also on: light and dark colored textiles like: T-shirts, towels, jeans, aprons, bags or else, with superb adhesion of ink.

From any Windows application beautiful full-color prints on any fabric can be printed faster and cheaper than on any other printer, or with other technologies like: thermo transfer or screen printing, says Azon Printer. It is very easy to use and has a high profit return.

History of the carnival. After the mid-20th century, a mix from different influences – for example the Dutch colonists and the Asiatic immigrants with their characteristic way of celebrating carnival, the people from the Eastern Caribbean Islands with their street parties and parades and the Creole middle class with their private balls – started to merge together and melt down into one huge national cultural expression on the island that features people from almost fifty different nationalities. With the inclusion of Tumba (the island’s typical music form), Carnival without a doubt became the biggest and most important cultural manifestation on this beautiful island.

Curaçao Carnival
Curaçao Carnival is a celebration in a class of its own. It more or less takes full possession of the whole community through competitions (Tumba music and Calypso festivals), beauty pageants, private and public parties and street parades during the first weeks of the year, climaxing on the weekend and Tuesday preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent). In 2010 Curaçao celebrates the 40th anniversary of its carnival.

After the official opening of the carnival season, the carnival groups get together and dance through the streets. They dance and jump behind music bands and wear T-shirts with the name of their group. In the following weeks they organise ‘jump-ups’ (open air parties) and ‘jump-ins’ (indoor parties). They try to sell those T-shirts for their participation in the ‘Gran Marcha’ (the big parade).

Also, a lot of companies use this event to promote their company name. They organise parties with a lot of food and drinks where your T-shirt is the proof of purchase of your entrance. All this is good for our business of course. But you will not recognise the T-shirts anymore at the party, because the people are so creative over here. With one T-shirt they make a whole outfit. For example: a tank-top with a skirt, a wristband and even a hair ribbon. And they put all kinds of extra decorations on the shirts such as buttons and glitters. It really looks amazing, but actually you have to see it with your own eyes.

Printing for Carnival
So normally, from the middle of December to the beginning of February, we generally print T-shirts intended for the carnival, but, because of the 40th anniversary, this time we have our first assignment for a fun walk in October. It is always a very hectic period because there are so many events and everybody needs it at the same time and they deliver the artwork just on time.

Because of the small budget of most carnival groups, they opt for printing on white basic T-shirts or bandanas. We have to be really sharp with our proposals to get the orders, because there is a lot of competition and if you get one order, usually a lot will follow, because it is a very small Island. So mouth-to-mouth advertising spreads really quickly. Most T-shirts that we use in this time are from the brands’ Best Ts or Superior Ts, or whatever they have in stock locally at the moment for a good price. They don’t really care about the quality of the T-shirt, which I can understand because most people are going to cut and decorate it anyway once they have bought it. The print on the textile varies from group names to logos or sponsor names and it’s commonly very colourful.

We also do printing on textile with heat transfers, but we only use that method if it’s a really small amount. So in the carnival period this method won’t be used very often. Sometimes, you have a small group who want to stand in the audience at the parade with their own designed T-shirt with a catch-phrase or something else and then it’s a good alternative for screenprinting.

Embroidery for Carnival
The bigger companies who use the carnival to promote their company by organising parties opt for embroidery on caps or polo shirts or prints on better quality T-shirts (Hanes or Fruit of the Loom, for example). We only have to order those brands from America, which causes a longer delivery time (approximately 14 days).

Artwork
We get the artwork by e-mail in eps or pdf format and it’s often delivered by professional graphic-design agencies (there are a lot of them on the Island) so it is easy for us to make the films or to digitise it for the embroidery machine. Once in a while you get a really bad or low-resolution picture, but our graphic designer here at the company knows how to deal with it.

We actually have almost everything under one roof, which makes us truly unique in Curaçao and interesting for customers if they need to combine embroidery and printing on the same product.

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About the author:
Pierre Wouters is the owner of the embroidery company Stitch One Ltd. He is also Manager of Grafitex Ltd., a screenprinting company, and DP+D, a digital print and design company. Pierre has previously attended the Grafische School in Utrecht, Holland and has more than 25 years’ experience in the screenprinting and embroidery industries. Pierre is an all-round manager, as he is involved in the design, production, administration, finance, marketing and logistics areas of all these companies. You can contact him at info@stitchone.com

Now the new model Tx400-1800B which stabilizes flexible materials that tend to stretch and contract during printing is announced as an additional version in the series following on from the Tx400-1800D that was launched last October.

Until now there was some reservation about productivity and running costs in digital textile printing, but the Tx400-1800B equipped with a newly developed Adhesive Belt Carrier System, changes this perception.
In contrast to the earlier model this device stabilizes flexible materials that tend to stretch and contract during printing enabling higher printing speeds as well as ink cost reduction. Needless to say the Tx400-1800B will be one of the most environmentally friendly large format printers for digital textile printing, according to Mimaki.

Ink
Tx400-1800B automatically switches ink supply from an empty cartridge to a full one of the same color thanks to Mimaki’s UISS (Uninterrupted Ink Supply System) thus enabling long unattended print runs – even overnight.
Significant cost-savings can be achieved by adopting Mimaki’s 2-liter bulk ink containers that come at a very competitive price and enable highly profitable digital textile prints.

Speed
Tx400-1800B enables print speeds of 25 sqm/h (600 x 600 dpi / 8 color mode). A newly designed powerful heater system allows for fast drying at high speeds. Automatic tension over the whole width of the print on light as well as heavy substrates is ensured through to the take-up device. Reactive dye ink, acid dye ink and dye sublimation ink can be accommodated thus enlarging application possibilities.

Broadly optimistic
The second Economy Survey was conducted by Fespa in the fourth quarter of 2009, in partnership with global research experts InfoTrends. It shows that the community’s outlook entering 2010 is broadly optimistic. More than a fifth of the respondents questioned at the end of 2009 thought the market was already recovering, and more than half expect recovery to previous levels by the end of 2010.

Conversely, the Survey clearly summarizes the impact of the downturn in the wide format market. 93.1% of the 217 respondents agree that there has been an economic downturn in the industry, with 56.4% viewing 2009 as the worst year they have ever seen.

Price pressure
The mean level of business decline reported is 15%; however, the community is polarised, with 21.1% experiencing no loss in business activity and another 20.7% showing a decline of 25% or more. Manufacturers and resellers report the same average decline as print service providers (PSPs), underscoring the industry’s tightly connected supply chain.

The competitive landscape is in a state of flux, with 65.6% of those surveyed reporting that competitors had consolidated or gone out of business, 43.1% indicating that competitors are moving into other markets or offering new services, 33% experiencing new competition from other segments of the printing industry, and 22% seeing customers take some wide format work in house.
Price pressure is also unrelenting, with 60.6% being price compared more frequently by new and existing customers. This may be reflected in the fact that 33% have themselves been aggressive with financing and payment terms, and 23% have more aggressively used rebates and price promotions. Strain on the supply chain is not restricted to price, with three quarters of respondents citing intensified pressure on production speeds or turnaround times.

Fespa’s Marcus Timson comments: “The Fespa Economy Survey, first undertaken in Spring 2009, sets out to measure the impact of the economic downturn on the wide format community, and to understand how PSPs are responding to the challenging trading conditions. These latest findings stress the need for printers to offer services that stand apart from commoditized print offerings.”

Human capital
Along with service and market expansion and new sales strategies, the survey points to a gradual refocus on developing and retaining ‘human capital’. 22.9% of respondents have expanded their sales force, and talent retention would seem to be a priority in anticipation of an eventual upturn, with respondents preferring to cut staff hours or reduce pay rather than resorting to losing valued individuals.

While survival mode has diluted the industry’s environmental focus, with 59.6% stating that environmentally sustainable production was less important as a result of the economic downturn, a remarkable 40.4% of respondents reported that the economic backdrop has not made ‘planet-friendly’ printing any less important. A fifth of respondents use sustainability as a point of competitive differentiation, suggesting that there are opportunities to innovate in this area, which more PSPs may seize as the economic outlook continues to improve.

For more information or a copy of the Fespa Economy Survey, please contact Marcus Timson at marcus.timson@fespa.com or visit www.fespa2010.com.

You should organise your different working areas following the logical sequence of the working processes. Ideally, you need an area for incoming goods, where the quantities of the delivered goods can be checked and transferred to the storage area or directly to the jobs. It can also be an advantage to store the embroidery threads somewhere easily accessible and sorted by colour codes in this area. You could pick all necessary materials, such as threads and appliqué fabrics, for a job in a single step. The complete textiles and all the accessories are then entered in the queue of the embroidery orders.

Frames hang to hand on the wall near the framing device (left) – in front: an adhesive spray, fixed to the wall with a clamp; the cap-drive is attached below the ceiling directly over the machine (right)

 The next station is the job preparation. Here, the textiles are prepared for embroidery. Elements such as ruler, tools for marking, embroidery backings, framing devices and frames are stored here, ready to be used.

The next station is the machines. After the machines, you need a working place for finishing tasks, such as removing the backing and folding the textiles. This place should be near the job-preparation area. Frames can easily be returned to this area, where they are needed. At the end, you need a place to package the jobs for delivery or pick-up. Avoid unnecessary paths.

System for commissioning the textiles for the different jobs
You should create a system for commissioning the textiles for the different jobs. Foldable and stackable trays/baskets are quite practical. On one hand, they need only little space, also, when a larger volume of textile is needed, and when not used, they can be stored in a space-saving manner. However, boxes/baskets with wheels also have benefits – there is no need to carry heavy trays. The use of trays in different colours can help assigning the jobs to different departments, machines or employees.

Quality of consumables
Do not economise on the quality of the consumables! Take care to use embroidery threads of good quality. Beginners are often confused by the huge offer of threads and end up buying the cheapest offers. However, this behaviour can be much more costly at a later stage. One reason is that with cheaper threads it often happens that the same colour code in different batches has visible colour differences. Of course, it is sometimes possible that there are some slight colour shifts with quality thread, especially with nature fibres such as cotton or viscose. However, we have not seen any such case in the past several years. 

Another argument is the availability of the threads: how quickly can you get the thread when you need it urgently? Recognised companies often deliver within two days. With good planning of your jobs, you still may start your production on time.

Wall lined with shelf units made with brackets and rails for storing embroidery threads in the original boxes with viewing window and coding.

The same applies for the bobbin thread: not the price, but a smooth process on the embroidery machine should be the decisive factor. Pre-wound bobbins are well suited. There are big differences between the variety of offered bobbin threads – in price and in how regularly the thread unwinds from the beginning to the end of the bobbin. At first sight, self-wound bobbins appear cheaper, however smooth running and regular tension from the beginning to the end of the bobbin are not achieved. This will be evident in the quality of the embroidery. Furthermore, you should not underestimate the time used to produce the bobbins. On multi-head machines, you have to replace bobbins that are not completely used, if you do not want to interrupt the working process already at the beginning of the production.

The quality of the embroidery depends on many small details – one of these is the embroidery backing. There is no magic formula – you will need different types of backings, depending on the job. The tear-away backing is very popular, due to the quick way of removing the residues. On some embroidery fabrics, you achieve a better quality with cut-away backings, especially with elastic and softer materials. Using the correct cutting technique, this task can be done quickly and cleanly enough to be cost-effective.

Production process on the machines
Before you begin the production, check if all the materials are available in the necessary quantities. This includes upper and under threads, embroidery backings and, of course, the textiles. Do not forget the appropriate needles.

Are there appliqués in the embroidery design? At this moment, they should already be pre-cut and ready to be used.

If there is only one link in the chain missing, you may have to interrupt the production or you may detect after preparing the machine that you still cannot start to embroider. The time for preparing the machine, at least, is lost for this job and you will have to recover it later.

Prepare your machine thoroughly. Make sure the right needles are in the correct position and that the upper- and under-threads have the correct tensions. This can be done by good judgment or you can use special devices to determine the tensions of the upper- and under-threads.

Are there thread-breaks occurring at the same needle at different points of the design but everything else works smoothly? Replace this needle and the problem should be resolved.

The better you prepare the production, the better you avoid bad surprises during the production process.

Implement your own standards within the company
If you do not work alone in your shop, many misunderstandings and wrongly produced goods are avoidable – when every employee follows the same working routines. These routines can be: Embroidery designs are always rotated already in the software, e.g. for caps 180º, or all designs are saved in the normal position and rotated on the machine.

Thread cones are removed and stored in the correct boxes after finishing the production of an order or at the beginning during the machine set-up.
Such internal company rules maintain a smooth workflow.

Heights of working tables
Are the heights of the working tables correct in the different areas? For every machine type, the working height is different. It is easy to prevent back pains for you or your employees caused by stooping, which could even lead to loss of working hours. Create possibilities to change the heights of the machines. 

With just a few centimetres of support below the machine feet, this machine was lifted to a user-friendly working height. You may also buy a height-adjustable seat that can easily be lowered or raised. With this, you can sit in an upright position, e.g. for threading the needles.

The same applies also to the other workplaces. A framing device for T-shirts usually has another working height than a device for framing sleeves or cap backs and the optimum height for a cap-framing device can once again be different. Of course, these heights also depend of the heights of your employees. Therefore, height-adjustable and stable working tables are ideal.

From time to time, you need a larger table surface for an order, than usually. Retractable tables that only occupy space when they are needed are a good option. They can be folded out at the place where you actually need more space.

At this working height, the arms remain in a relaxed position – the angle between upper-  and lower-arm should be greather than 90º.

Maintain your working tools
Maintain your machines! Starting with the daily tasks such as cleaning the hooks and subsequently lubricating, continuing with the weekly maintenance following the user manual up to the tasks that are necessary every now and then. Shouldn’t you do some of these tasks by yourself? Call the customer service with anticipation of what could happen. The possibility of a sudden failure with a very well maintained machine is far smaller than with a machine that is not maintained carefully.

Reading embroidery designs
Do you still read your embroidery designs with floppy disks? Floppy disks as memory media are still quite common. On many machines that have no USB connection or something similar it may be possible to connect directly to the PC. Transferring embroidery data ‘online’ is by far quicker than writing and reading floppy disks. With several machines, it can even be possible to send the designs from a single PC. Ask your machine provider for solutions. So you can finally eliminate the ‘sneakers network’.

PC
Is your PC still up-to-date with the requirements of your shop? It is not always necessary to have the latest systems; however, you should observe the developments of this sector. It can easily happen that you cannot get any more software for your PCs after some years. By updating, for example, your embroidery software every couple of years, you can maintain an efficient working environment and will not lose your competitiveness.

Is your PC set up correctly for the applications you use? This question can be answered by your software provider. Working with a slow-working system can be very time-consuming.

Do you often have problems with the wrists, due to continuous work with the mouse? Try to use a tablet and a pen. The pen takes the function of a mouse and your hand position is the same, as if you were writing with a pen or a pencil.

Embroidery software
Take advantage of the possibilities of modern embroidery software. Create different designs for different fabric types directly with the software. Then you do not have to adjust the length and width of the stitches and other parameters every time.

Use the automatic functions you consider useful. However, do not expect to create a complete embroidery design without adjustments with automatic tools. You may lose much more time for editing, afterwards.

Import the names for letterings for teams or company shirts from a digital file from your customer. Therefore, you do not have to type all the names by yourself and the responsibility for the correct spelling is your customer’s. Usually such embroidery data can be sent directly to a machine, even when a design will have to be embroidered with many different names. The file is retrieved only once and has all the information. The single embroidery design data for the individual name is automatically created, similar to the process of mail-merge letters.                                                   

Input form of an embroidery software. It is also possible to import a name list, copying and pasting it from another program.

Storage of embroidery data
Where are these or the other embroidery data currently? Did you ever ask yourself this question? It is quite easy to lose the overview much quicker than ever anticipated! 

Saving the embroidery designs on electronic storage media is certainly a quick and space-saving option. No space is used for storing punched tapes or shelf space for folders with floppy disk envelopes or disk boxes. However, it is necessary to use a system to find the designs again. Of course, you can set up folders in Windows by category, customer, year or other criteria. Even so, after not too many years, you will have your problems finding your patterns.

A design database is very helpful. Every single design is registered with specific keywords, such as category, search words, customer name etc. Later, the design can be found by using these keywords. The little extra work of a few minutes during order processing is well worthwhile. Recreating a design you have not found or for which data were destroyed after being stored for a long time on a floppy disk is far more time-consuming.

This database search shows all the designs saved with the key word ‘horse’.Administration
Organise your administrative tasks, in order to do much more with much less effort. Set up the customer database in bookkeeping software. Once set up, you can quickly create offers, delivery notes, invoices and reminders within the software. Furthermore, you have access to historical data. If your customer places his order at the phone with the comment, “the same way as last time”, you can quickly check and maybe clarify other questions. In many cases, you can save a second call to the customer.

Always write your invoices after finishing the order. Never deliver goods without the invoice – you will need the payment to come up with your responsibilities.
Manage your business account online, so you don’t lose time outside the company. Paying bills and following up incoming payments can easily be done on a daily basis. Offer your customers the possibility to pay without cash. You avoid going to the bank and nobody likes to have large sums of cash in the company.
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About the author:
Henry Stümer is Manager of the company TexDesign. Besides the main business of consulting and distribution in the embroidery field, TexDesign also does local business in garment decoration. TexDesign was founded in 2002 bij Henry’s wife, Barbara, who is responsible for the creative side as well as training. You can contact Henry or Barbara Stümer at info@texdesign.de.

The aim of the name-change is to establish the international character of ‘TV’, starting with its name. For the sixth time now, the show offers a forum for the exchange of information and communication for the sectors of embroidery, textile printing, flocking, textile production as well as advertising and promotion.

The trade fair topics are textile silk-screen printing (pre-press stages, printing machines, drying machines, printing inks), digital textile printing (inkjet printers, printing inks, software), transfer printing (systems, accessories, transfer films), embroidery (embroidery machines, yarns, punch software, accessories), flocking (flocking systems, flock fibres, measuring systems, peripherals), textiles and clothing (promotionalwear, workwear, home textiles, accessories).
You can order your show tickets at the online shop of Messe Stuttgart. If you order your ticket by 29 January 2010 you will receive a catalogue free of charge (official price: €9.00).

Activities
The show will include many activities such as the third Golden Shirt Award, ‘TV’ technical forums, shows on the catwalk and a special show about direct flocking on garments. 

TVP magazine organises the third ‘Golden Shirt Award 2010’. This year, participants can send in decorated red-coloured items. All the competition entries will be on show during the exhibition. The entry that is judged as best will receive the Golden Shirt Award. The award ceremony will take place on 5 February 2010 at the TV trade fair in Stuttgart during an evening event.

Several times a day the TV technical forum offers visitors to the trade fair practical seminars on the themes of textile printing, flocking and embroidery. Visitors who want to obtain information on trends in promotionalwear and corporate fashion will be able to do so during the fashion shows in Hall 1 – they will be held daily at 11.00 am, 2.00 pm and 4.00 pm.

A highlight of the TV trade fair will be the special show on workflow in direct flocking. During this show, direct flocking on garments and textiles in all its facets will be shown. The topics of this show will be creative artwork production; pre-print and materials: stencil making, adhesives, flock etc; process of electrostatic flocking and drying; and testing and quality control.

Exhibited products
This year’s show will include many exhibitors again. Already a few exhibitors have revealed the products that they will display during the show.

In Hall 1, Stand B41, the Amann Group will display their complete range of current products. This range includes the extended Isacord colour card, now containing 358 colours, Isa Texlight, N-Tech CS, Serafil 120/2 and 200/2, the new Lifecycle Art 35 and the pre-wound bobbins Isabob. During the show they will also present a completely new product line.

In Hall 1, Stand 1C61, Brother will show the new GT-782 dual-platen white ink direct-to-garment printer. The GT-782 has already been running successfully in production at customer sites in the USA and Canada since summer 2009 and will be launched in Europe during the winter 2010.
Equipped with dual, independently controlled platen and print-head modules, the GT-782 printer provides high productivity by concurrently printing both white and coloured inks. Furthermore, the unique Brother print driver eliminates the need for RIP software. The GT-782 can receive continuous job files while printing, allowing for maximum-efficiency production. It is a cost-effective solution for both high-volume shops and small production runs.

In Hall 1, Stand C71, Gunold GmbH will be presenting their whole range of embroidery threads, embroidery backings and effect fabrics, as well as auxiliary materials and they will be offering many practical tips for processing. Product highlights at the newly designed stand will be the embroidery thread ‘Silk’, made from 100% silk, ‘Poly Fire’ for flame-retardant clothing and the new tear-away backing 1485, made from 100% viscose.
All interested parties are invited by Gunold, one of the world’s leading providers of everything related to embroidery materials, to be introduced to the secrets of embroidery or to learn about the latest news on embroidery materials. For this, they will set up four demonstration islands on their stand.

In Hall 1, Stand 1D21, Walter Schulze will show innovations concerning their own transfer presses. In the field of digital printing, Schulze will be showing the new ValueJet series from Mutoh and the latest digital printing films from Kemica. They will also display a new textile-printing machine. Furthermore, Schulze will present a broad overview of their entire ranges

In Hall 1, Stand G36, Stickmaschine.de will be demonstrating the single-head embroidery machines Fortron F9112 and Fortron F8112 with 12 needles and maximum speed of 1,800 stitches/min. These PC-controlled machines work most efficiently, can be connected by a network and are robust, compact and maintenance-friendly – as all Fortron machines are. In addition, a two-head machine and most of the 120 hoops will be displayed at the show.

For further information about the show, you can visit: www.tecstyle-visions.com

The Brother GT-782 inkjet garment printer is very suitable for medium- to high-volume shops. Because of its ability to print multiple prints simultaneously, production increases as a result of reduced cycle times and fast flexible downloading of new images. With the GT-782, decorators can create one-of-a-kind shirts or mass production runs, regardless of the number of colours, without having to create film positives, stretching screens and using chemicals to reclaim these screens. The colours remain crisp and vibrant even after repeated washings. 

The GT-782’s ink-retrieval system can significantly reduce the ink waste during the weekly (or daily, depending on usage) maintenance. This feature is implemented in the user control menu of the printer and can be easily executed by navigating the control panel screen menu options. In addition, the newly developed tube-cleaning cartridge system allows you to clean the ink supply tubes extremely efficiently with a very small amount of cleaning fluid. This feature, as are all others, is implemented into the printer control panel menu for fast and easy operation.

With the GT-782, you can expect to print approximately 60 prints/hour* for light garments and for dark garments about 50 prints/hour* using the one-pass white mode and 30 prints/hour* using the two-pass mode. These speeds include loading and unloading times. (*The productivity will vary depending on conditions.)

The next opportunities to see the GT-782 running are at TecStyle Visions, Stuttgart, Germany, 4–6 February 2010 (Hall 1, Stand 1c61), and at FESPA Munich, Germany, 22–26 June 2010 (Hall A3, Stand 400) and at more exhibitions in several countries.

For more information, please visit: www.brother-ism.com