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Digital Pigment Gains Ground on Analog Production

In the printed textiles market, pigment inks are a hot topic due to their ability to print brilliant colors on a wide variety of fabrics, often without pre-treatment. WhatTheyThink contributor and textiles expert Debbie McKeegan explains why.

Thursday, January 09, 2020

Digital textile printing using pigment inks offers companies large and small the commercial freedom that they need to succeed. (Image credit: Kornit Digital)

Pigment inks are the preferred ink choice of the textile printing industry. Reactive, acid, disperse, and vat ink systems all have their place, but the simple fact remains that pigment printing is number one.

In 2017, out of 32 billion square meters of textiles printed by whatever means, more than 25 billion square meters were printed using pigment ink technology. Of this figure, approximately 1.8 billion square meters were produced using digital printing, but with a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) in excess of 15%, the volume of digital textile printing is now expected to grow to more than 2.5 billion square meters by 2021.


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About Debbie McKeegan

Debbie McKeegan is the CEO of TexIntel. As a multi-disciplinary creative and renowned digital print pioneer, she holds over 25 years’ experience within the Textile manufacturing industry. An award winning Textile designer, and lifetime manufacturer of printed products for Fashion and Interiors, she has a unique insight that combines creativity with a deep knowledge of traditional manufacturing process and the essential application of disruptive digital technologies.

TexIntel is an Expert Resource that provides independent, authoritative, realtime advice to some of the most innovative creatives and emerging companies in the Home Decor, Fashion, Manufacturing, Digital Print, and Textile Technology Industries. https://www.texintel.com

Recent Articles from Debbie McKeegan

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How does a fashion brand founded in 1951 leverage its legacy  as a springboard for growth, innovation, and responsible production, without ever diluting what makes it? This great story, compliments of textiles expert and WhatTheyThink contributor Debbie McKeegan, is worth a read! Read More

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