Industry News
First XV purchases UK’s first Epson SureColor SC-F2100
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ugby retailer First XV has bought the UKʼs first SureColor SC-F2100 DTG printer from Epson reseller Xpres to help grow its own brand business.
Customers can now buy a wide range of colourful, slogan T shirts from its website and Facebook page.
Adam Clark, partner of First XV, said: “Earlier in the year we came up with a few T shirt designs and at that point we wanted to speed up the process. We wanted to control all the steps rather than relying on others to do it for us. We had known Xpres for several years; their delivery is quick and they provide good training and support, so we listened to their advice. Furthermore, everyone we asked seemed to point us in the direction of Epson.”
Edinburgh-based First XV estimates it will produce about 100 T shirts a week initially, but this figure will increase over time. Launched earlier this year, the Epson SureColor SC-F2100 builds on the success of the SC-F2000 and includes new features including improved speed,
unique. We plan to expand our in-house production because we believe we can generate extra profit margins from this type of work.”
A T shirt being printed on First XV’s Epson SureColor SC-F2100
lower total cost of ownership and the ability to create and print designs using Epsonʼs Garment Creator software. It has five colours, the four process colours (CMYK) plus white, and it uses Epsonʼs own PrecisionCore TFP print head. Mr Clark added: “Now we can offer our own merchandise as well as branded products which gives us something quite
FESPA announces dates for 2019 and 2020 global exhibition
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ESPA has announced that its Global Print Expo 2019 will take place over four days from May 14 to 17 at the Messe München, Germany. The event will occupy six halls at the exhibition centre, covering screen, digital and textile printing, and will be co-located with European Sign Expo 2019. Roz Guarnori, divisional director, FESPA, said: “Weʼre excited to be returning to Munich for FESPA Global Print Expo 2019. Based on feedback from exhibitors and visitors, Munich is a favourite FESPA host city, so we decided it was time to return to this destination in 2019.” FESPA exhibitions have previously taken place in Munich in 2005, 2010 and 2014. Munich is a major international business hub, with good air, rail and road transport links and a wide range of accommodation and hospitality options.
It has also been announced that the FESPA Global Print Expo will return to Spain in 2020, this time to Madrid, from March 24 to 27.
Ms Guarnori added: “After three successive years in Germany, we are looking forward to moving back to a
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Southern European host city in 2020. Madrid was a clear favourite among exhibitors and visitors when we canvased their opinions on preferred cities for a FESPA event. This enthusiasm for the host city, combined with the success of the FESPA Digital event in Barcelona in 2012, makes us confident of delivering a compelling event in Spain in 2020.
“Spain features strongly among the leader board of visitors to FESPA Global Print Expo events and we have strong support from our national associations in Spain, Portugal, France and Italy. These associations collaborate annually to deliver a Southern European Congress, the next edition of which takes place in Lisbon, Portugal in June 2018. This popular educational and networking event will provide FESPA with a superb platform to gather regional insights that will help us to inform the development of the 2020 content programme to meet the specific needs of the regionʼs print service providers.”
● Turn to page 54 to read our review of FESPA 2018
Damon Piall, sales director of Xpres, said: “We are obviously delighted with the release of the second generation DTG machine from Epson. The original SC-F2000 machine was very popular with our customer base so we are glad to see the new and improved SC-F2100 retains the ease of use that gives it appeal to a wide audience. DTG has been a very strong market for Xpres which continues to grow year on year. Making the first SC-F2100 sale in the UK is a brilliant result for us and our continuing relationship with Epson.” Phil McMullin, sales manager of Epson UK, concluded: “DTG is the ideal technology for one off or short run production of cotton-based garments and bags. We live in an environment where everyone wants to stand out from the crowd so we anticipate growth and many more SC-F2100 orders to follow. Congratulations to First XV for being the first UK user.”
Absolute Apparel features in two business studies
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olverhampton-based Absolute Apparel has been included in two studies for UK businesses. The first, published by the London Stock Exchange Group, is titled 1000 Companies to Inspire – Britain 2018. This report is an annual celebration of some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic small and medium-sized businesses in the UK, of which Absolute Apparel features.
The second is more regional and is called The Black Country Growth Barometer. It focuses on tracking the growth of the leading performers in the region. Absolute Apparel is ranked at number 22 in the region on the basis of its turnover growth for the last three years.
The report states that Absolute Apparelʼs turnover is £17m, with an average growth of 27.26%. Commercial director, Sanjay Jheinga, said: “It is wonderful to receive this recognition for the rapid growth we have experienced in recent years. We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support.”
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