Digital fabric printing booming in Europe

Mainland European nations developed screen printing for outdoor flags and banners more industriously than other markets and have embraced digital fabric printing technology because of its ability to turn a profit on lower volume print runs, according to Brook International, a supplier of fabrics to flag makers and digital printers. New digital printing machines caught on first with small operations (one-to-three person staff operating one or two machines) and made inroads with high-volume screen printers who wanted a slice of the modest-volume markets. Research and development among digital printer and ink manufacturers keep increasing the color quality and resolution of digital printing, making it even more appealing. A wider (and more environmentally friendly) range of substrates can be digitally printed, also cutting into the market for PVC substrates, the screen printing standard.