Sustainable fashion no longer screams crunchy granola and apparel companies are quickly catching on to the countless benefits associated with digital textile printing: 95 percent less water is used in the production process and 75 percent less energy, not to mention a lot less fabric goes to waste since you only print what you need.
As demand for digital printing ramps up, Aurora Specialty Textiles Group on Thursday announced it’s opening a new manufacturing facility in Yorkville, Illinois, that will include a state-of-the-art ultra-width coating and finishing line which can produce print-media textiles at widths of up to 130 inches.
This will allow for optimal operating efficiency while increasing economies of scale, and grows the 132-year-old company’s printing capabilities to include latex, solvent, eco-solvent, UV, dye sublimation transfer and direct dye sublimation.
“Our expanded operations also make it possible for us to customize products that best meet our customers’ performance and optimal roll-size requirements,” said Mark Shaneyfelt, Aurora’s director of sales and marketing of print media.
The multi-million dollar investment offers fabric preparation, coating and dyeing, to name a few, as well as such topical finishes as water-repellents, non-wicking agents, antimicrobials, prepare-for-print and crease resistance.
It’s not the first time the company has tapped into computer-generated prints. It recently partnered with HP to launch Premium Poplin LX with ColorPro, a high-end polyester fabric optimized for use with HP latex printers to produce vibrant, scratch-resistant retail soft signage, banners and trade show applications.
Shaneyfelt noted, “We offer that ultimate flexibility that customers really need.”