Industry News
DTO demand soars amid skilled labour shortage
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abour shortages are causing more companies to invest in DTO printing solutions as they look to close the gap through automation.
Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS) reported this after surpassing the milestone of 100 single-pass DTO systems installed, reflecting a wider shift towards automated decoration technology across industries including plastics, packaging, medical, industrial and promotional products.
Rather than focusing solely on print quality, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on systems that can be integrated into wider production workflows.
Automated DTO solutions help reduce manual handling, improve consistency between shifts and create more scalable
manufacturing processes by combining printing with robotics, pretreatment, vision inspection and material handling. The trend mirrors wider manufacturing investment in automation. According to Plastics Machinery & Manufacturing’s annual survey, almost half of respondents said labour shortages negatively affected their businesses in 2025, while 57% planned to invest in robots or other automation equipment during 2026.
Kenneth Stack, executive chairman of EPS, said: “Manufacturers are not just looking for a better way to print. They are looking for a better way to produce. “We are seeing a progression from operator-assisted automation to semi- autonomous operation and ultimately lights-out decoration, where parts move through printing, curing, inspection,
French Connection joins Springfields Designer Outlet
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pringfields Designer Outlet has announced the opening of a new 1,660ft.sq French Connection store, as the destination continues to expand its premium retail offering.
The new store will offer French Connection’s womenswear, menswear and accessories, joining more than 60 brands at the Lincolnshire outlet, including Rituals, Molton Brown, Levi’s, Skechers, Dune, White Stuff and M&S Outlet.
The signing follows the recent opening of Pizza Express, which is reportedly trading significantly ahead of targets, while Rituals Cosmetics is also set to open at the destination. Springfields has recorded its 21st consecutive year of growth, with turnover up 11% and footfall increasing 23% compared with 2025. The outlet says fashion and athleisure are among its strongest-performing sectors, while food and beverage sales have increased by as much as 34%. Simon Donoghue, managing director at French Connection, said the new
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
DTO demand is on the rise
and tracking with minimal human intervention.
“As decoration becomes more integrated into manufacturing workflows, quality becomes more consistent, traceability improves, and changeovers become more recipe-driven and predictable. That is what is driving automation growth in DTO and interest in our printing systems.”
Fruit of the Loom expands Kids Iconic 195 T colour range
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French Connection joins Springfields Designer Outlet
store represented “another exciting milestone” as the brand expands its retail footprint.
Ian Sanderson, CEO of SLR Outlets, added that French Connection was a strong fit for Springfields’ designer portfolio and retail-led day-out experience.
ruit of the Loom has expanded its Kids Iconic 195 ring spun Premium T with three new colours: Azure Blue,
Sage and Fuchsia.
The additions give garment decorators, print service providers and trade retailers greater choice, taking the T shirt’s colour range to 12 shades.
The unisex Kids Iconic 195 T is made
from 100% combed ring spun cotton, with a 190/195gsm fabric weight designed to retain its shape through repeated washing. Available in sizes 104 to 164, the classic-fit style features a crew neck, shoulder-to-shoulder neck tape and tear-away label for easy rebranding. Fruit of the Loom says the smooth, even surface of the ring spun cotton makes the T shirt suitable for screen printing, digital printing and transfer decoration. The shirt is also Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, supplied in plastic-free packaging and manufactured using a zero-waste process.
It can be washed at temperatures of up to 60°C, making it suitable for everyday wear.
September 2026 | 15 |
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