FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Digital Textile Market to Surpass 44 Million Square Meters by 2005, According to Web Consulting Study
Boston, MA (July 23, 2003) — According to Web Consulting’s recent study, “The Potential for Digital Printing of Textiles,” the
worldwide volume of digitally-printed textiles will exceed 44 million square meters by 2005, if present trends continue. This represents an almost 50% increase over the volume of digitally-printed textiles produced in the year 2000.
“The current rate of growth in digital textile printing is attributed to growth in the installed base of digital textile printing systems,” said Michael Flippin, managing consultant of the Boston office of Web Consulting, the UK-headquartered digital printing and imaging consultancy. “With the planned launch of new much higher-speed textile solutions at this year’s ITMA Show, our present forecasts could turn out to be very conservative. However, the digital textile sector has seen some false dawns before, and Web Consulting is not planning to readjust its forecasts upwards until such new machines become proven performers in the marketplace.”
Web Consulting’s textile report provides a strategic overview of the textile printing industry and markets, and assesses the opportunities for digital printing, taking account of the competition, roadblocks, potential machine sales, revenue stream, and market/application needs. Authored principally by Chris Byrne, the Managing Consultant of Textile Research at Web Consulting, this report is a result of many years of collective experience in the textile industry.
The report overviews the following nine applications and provides commentary on the potential adoption of digital printing technology. These applications include:
- made-up garments and apparel
- apparel fabrics
- home furnishings and household textiles
- carpets and floor coverings
- industrial fabrics and nonwovens
- flags and banners
- textile labeling and marking
- proofing and sampling
The report states that the number of dedicated digital textile printers will increase from 833 units sold worldwide in 2000 to almost 1,400 units sold worldwide in 2005. Despite an early role for thermal drop-on-demand printers, the digital textile printing market is fast becoming dominated by piezo drop-on-demand systems (over 80% of units sold in 2005), with a newly developing role for very high productivity piezo and continuous inkjet systems. These unit sales do not include retrofitted machines nor do they include the conversion of historical hardware installations to textile printing systems.
Web Consulting also notes a shift in the global geographic distribution of the textile printing industry. The Far East now represents over 50% of all printed textiles (not just apparel) produced, with no other region of the world claiming more than 10% of production volume. “ITMA 2003 (22-29 October at the NEC, Birmingham, UK) is the world’s largest exhibition for textile machinery, and is likely to attract over 200,000 visitors,” reports Chris Byrne. “As a result, for time-challenged executives Web Consulting have decided to provide some guided tours and introductory seminars on Digital Textile Printing in Birmingham during the ITMA Show.”
The report “The Potential for Digital Printing of Textiles,” is available now.
Please contact Michael Flippin in the Boston office (113 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116; Tel: +1 617 536 5925; Fax: +1 617 536 5926; Email: michael.flippin@webconsulting.co.uk) or Julie Hyde in the UK office for more details about the report, or to register for Web Consulting’s Digital Textile events alongside ITMA 2003.
Web Consulting
Founded in 1993, Web Consulting (www.webconsulting.co.uk) is a leading consultancy to the digital and analog printing and imaging industries. The company provides primary market research, technology information, strategic analysis and supporting services such as implementation, training and project management. Web Consulting is not an organizer of ITMA 2003.
The company specializes in textile, graphics, packaging and industrial applications for digital and analog printing and decoration. Global and regional manufacturers of machinery and consumables for the digital printing, screen-printing, sign making and photo industries rely on Web Consulting for strategic advice and analyses. In addition to its European office, Web Consulting has offices in Boston, MA and Shanghai, China supported by a global network of consultants.
For further information, contact:
North America:
Martha Popoloski, MoreInk Public Relations
Tel: +1 781 837 1555
Email: mpopoloski@adelphia.net
Web Consulting Ltd
5 Bradfield Court, Milton Road, Drayton,
Abingdon, , Oxon OX14 4EF
Phone: +44 1235 821771
Fax: +44 1235 821775
E-Mail: julie.hyde@webconsulting.co.uk
Website URL: www.webconsulting.co.uk
