The world of surface printing is rapidly changing, with end-users demanding a greater variety of colours and designs. Customers now want to be able to express their individuality and tailor their designs to suit their individual project requirements.
Digital printing allows for not only the customisation of existing designs but also the creation of completely bespoke designs. With very few limits to the type of pattern, number of colours and level of detail, you are not tied down to traditional fixed repeat sizes or machine constraints. In addition, the design process is a much quicker process from concept to print allowing for just in time delivery and one-off specials.
So how does the Flotex FR printing process work and what makes it so good?
Flotex FR is a unique textile flocked floor covering, made using Nylon 6.6. It combines the cleaning properties and durability of resilient flooring with the comfort, slip resistance and acoustic properties usually associated with textiles. The Flotex FR digital print process uses exactly the same acid dyes that are used in the conventional printing of Nylon only in a 4-colour process format, much like a desktop inkjet printer. However, in order to ensure dye optimisation, the process starts with a pre-treatment, before actual printing. After this the print is steam fixed, locking the colour permanently into the fibres of the Flotex. The print will not fade or wear off when cleaned due to this chemically bonding printing process.
Jason Holmes, head of design textiles, loves the freedom digital printing has to offer, ‘’As a designer, digital printing gives me the flexibility to visualise any design or customer concepts on a unique substrate with unrivalled performance.’’