Exploring Digital Production Across Key Material Categories

Under the theme “Growth at the speed of demand,” Kornit Digital printing solutions will be on display across three key application areas — textile, leather, and footwear. The showcase is designed to highlight how digital production can bring together design freedom, material durability, and flexible manufacturing at scale.

Applications on display will include high-definition digital printing featuring intricate designs, gradient effects, and vibrant color outputs, as well as custom pattern mapping tailored to individual shoe silhouettes — giving brands and producers a firsthand look at the creative and functional possibilities available through on-demand production.

Collaboration with Colortex on Leather and Footwear

Alongside Colortex, Kornit Digital will present a curated range of printed leather and footwear items at the booth. This collaborative display is intended to give visitors a direct experience of the quality achievable through digital printing in performance-oriented material categories.

Visitors will also be able to explore Kornit DuraTech and its potential applications for durable digital printing, particularly relevant for performance-grade products where both aesthetics and long-lasting wear matter.

What to Expect at Booth E08

Guy Yaniv, President of Kornit Digital Europe, spoke about the company’s presence at the event: “Performance Days is an opportunity to show what digital production can make possible for performance applications. We’re looking forward to meeting with brands, designers and producers in Munich and demonstrating how on-demand production can bring together creativity, durability and flexibility.”

The event brings together industry stakeholders from across the performance and functional textiles space, making it a fitting platform for Kornit Digital printing innovations to reach brands, designers, and manufacturers actively seeking scalable, flexible production solutions.

Performance Days 2026 opens on October 13 and runs through October 14 at Messe München, with Kornit Digital located in Hall 6 at Booth E08.

The single-step dyeing technology represents a shift in continuous dyeing for woven cellulosic textiles, including home goods, denim, and fashion wear. By combining coloration, fixation, and softening into a single pad-dry application, the method streamlines traditional manufacturing workflows. This integration allows for a variety of aesthetic finishes, such as vintage-inspired looks and indigo denim effects, without the complexity of traditional multi-stage processing.

Advancing Sustainable Textile Dyeing Through Process Integration

The Archroma InOneGO process is designed to be compatible with specific chemical ranges, including the DIRESUL RDT pre-reduced low-sulfur liquid dyes. It also supports biomass-based sulfur dyes like EarthColors and FiberColors. According to Jorge Leitão, Innovation and Development Manager at Lameirinho, the implementation allows the manufacturer to achieve deep shades and contemporary aesthetics while simultaneously decreasing resource consumption.

Historically, achieving a distressed or washed-down appearance required multiple wash cycles, each demanding significant amounts of water and energy. Julio Perales, Technical & Product Segment Manager at Archroma Textile Effects, noted that this single-step dyeing technology provides the same visual character in a single application step. This is achieved without compromising the fastness of the colors, even after subsequent laundering.

Environmental Performance in Eco-Friendly Fabric Production

The shift toward eco-friendly fabric production is supported by data from Archroma’s ONE WAY Impact Calculator. Assessments of the new process when used with DIRESUL RDT for woven fabrics show measurable environmental improvements compared to conventional cold pad-batch reactive dyeing and pigment top-dye finishes.

The reported environmental benefits include:

• A 97% reduction in water consumption.
• An 81% decrease in total process time.
• A 65% reduction in energy requirements.
• A 75% decline in carbon dioxide emissions.

The machinery requirements for the process remain standard, as it runs on existing Stenter and Thermosol lines. This allows Lameirinho home textiles to maintain high quality standards while adopting more efficient methods. Performance finishes can still be applied in a secondary step if required by the specific product line.

By prioritizing sustainable textile dyeing, the partnership demonstrates a focus on resource efficiency within the textile sector. The global availability of the new bedlinen collection confirms that the Archroma InOneGO process is ready for large-scale commercial application. As Lameirinho home textiles continues to explore eco-friendly fabric production, the use of single-step dyeing technology serves as a core component of their current manufacturing strategy.

Advancing Sustainable Textile Coloration Through Innovative Dyeing Techniques

Conventional fabric production often relies on applying color at the final stages of manufacturing to ensure strict uniformity. This demand for perfect replication often leads to high consumption of water, energy, and chemical agents. Furthermore, the rigid requirement for uniformity can hinder circularity, as it discourages the use of recycled materials which naturally possess variations in shade. MELANGE intends to disrupt this cycle by prioritizing sustainable textile coloration through the advancement of fiber-stage coloration technologies.

By utilizing techniques such as spin, dope, and solution dyeing, the project aims to integrate color earlier in the production cycle. This shift is expected to reduce water and chemical consumption by as much as 50% compared to traditional finishing-stage methods. The project draws inspiration from heritage practices in Prato, Tuscany, where pre-colored recycled fibers are blended by shade to create new textiles without the need for intensive re-dyeing.

Implementing Circular Textile Solutions Across the Value Chain

The MELANGE project utilizes a “design locks” framework to tackle four primary obstacles to industry change: aesthetics, production practices, business models, and policy. This multi-disciplinary approach encompasses the entire journey from fiber to finished fabric. Research activities will include the analysis of current coloration standards, the development of prototypes using fiber-stage coloration, and the testing of new industrial workflows.

A significant portion of the textile sustainability project involves exploring how B2B marketing and business models can evolve to accept and promote aesthetic variation. By treating shade differences as a valued characteristic, the consortium aims to make interior textile design a primary driver of European competitiveness.

Collaborative Efforts and Integration into the European Innovation Ecosystem

Textile ETP is tasked with leading the dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities for the project. The organization will manage communication through various digital channels and integrate MELANGE findings into the broader ECOSYSTEX initiative. This collaboration focuses on fostering synergy among European Union projects dedicated to circularity and establishing a robust Community of Practice for sustainable innovation.

Lutz Walter, Secretary General of Textile ETP, noted that while the industry frequently focuses on fashion and clothing recycling, MELANGE addresses the often-overlooked sectors of interior textiles and color management. Walter stated that the project will provide professionals in interior textile design with the necessary tools and best practices to utilize color as a lever for sustainability. He added that the project aims to demonstrate how these new design practices can be effectively integrated and scaled within the global business environment.

Through these circular textile solutions, the consortium plans to identify and recommend new industry standards and policies. By documenting and testing sustainable heritage techniques alongside modern fiber-stage coloration, MELANGE seeks to provide a verifiable pathway for the industry to reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining high aesthetic standards.

According to the company, this proprietary textile production technology significantly minimizes the consumption of water, energy, and chemicals when compared to traditional dyeing methods. These operational efficiencies further contribute to a reduction in overall production costs. The opening of this Digital Spray Dyeing Hub transitions the technology from a conceptual vision into a practical, industrial reality.

Advanced Capabilities for Commercial Textile Production

The Kinnahult showroom is equipped with the latest generation of hardware, featuring both the Imogo Dye-Max and Mini-Max spray dyeing systems. These platforms are designed to handle a versatile range of requirements, from intricate laboratory trials to large-scale commercial runs. The machinery supports fabric widths of up to 2.4 meters, ensuring compatibility with standard industry requirements.

The Imogo Dye-Max line is specifically engineered for high-volume environments, boasting a production capacity of 1.5 metric tons per day. The process is highly optimized for the application of reactive dyes on natural fibers, covering both woven and knitted constructions. Through these sustainable dyeing solutions, the facility provides a proven pathway for the industry to meet environmental targets without sacrificing quality or production volume.

Industry Expansion and Collaborative Innovation

The establishment of this Digital Spray Dyeing Hub is noted as the third major expansion by a member of the Swedish textile machinery association within the last year. This trend underscores a broader shift toward integrating textile production technology that prioritizes digital precision and sustainability. The facility follows other recent domestic advancements in automated services and spinning mill operations within the Swedish sector.

Industry stakeholders are now invited to the Kinnahult facility to observe the equipment in operation and conduct trials using their own materials. These sessions allow manufacturers to evaluate how these sustainable dyeing solutions and digital spray dyeing efficiencies can be integrated into existing global supply chains.

Addressing Environmental Challenges in Textile Dyeing

While Reactive Black 5 is highly effective for industrial textile dyeing, its presence in wastewater poses significant ecological risks. Once discharged, the dye can reduce light penetration in water bodies and potentially harm aquatic organisms. Traditional wastewater treatment methods, such as membrane technologies, ozone, and various sorbents, often face limitations including high energy consumption, complex maintenance requirements, and the accumulation of contaminated waste.

The Role of Holmium Electrode Technology

The solution proposed by South Ural State University involves an electrochemical process where contaminated water passes through a reactor. The system utilizes a multilayer electrode, with one layer modified using holmium, a rare-earth element. This modification enhances the cleaning efficiency and ensures the holmium electrode remains active over multiple cycles. During the process, active particles form on the electrode surface to break down the dye molecules.

Laboratory Results and System Efficiency

In laboratory trials, the dye wastewater treatment system achieved complete decolorization of a Reactive Black 5 solution within 90 minutes. Furthermore, the efficiency of the holmium electrode remained stable after 15 repeated cleaning cycles. This stability suggests the potential for developing compact units capable of removing persistent organic pollutants from industrial streams.

Following these results, the research team at South Ural State University plans to transition to testing the reactor on real wastewater samples and further optimizing the design for industrial applications.

Engineered as a true hybrid solution, the GTX300 allows apparel decorators to switch seamlessly between DTG and DTF workflows to meet a wide range of customer demands without adding equipment or complexity. DTG print capabilities deliver prints with a soft hand that are ideal for cotton and natural garments, while DTF expands customization to polyester, blends, performance fabrics, oversized graphics and non-traditional print locations.

“The GTX300 is designed to help decorators say ‘yes’ to more jobs without overhauling their production setup,” said Lawrence Davenport, vice president of the Industrial Products Division at Brother International Corporation. “By combining DTG and DTF into one professional platform, we’re giving print businesses a practical way to expand what they offer, improve operational efficiency and grow with confidence.”

Built for real-world production environments, the GTX300 delivers high-resolution output with sharp detail, vibrant color and durable results across both printing methods.

Advanced ink flow technology enables smooth gradients and precise detail, and Brother Innobella™ textile inks are certified by OEKO-TEX® ECO PASSPORT, GOTS 7.0 and are CPSIA compliant.

Designed to simplify operation and maintenance, the GTX300 features a 7-inch touchscreen control panel, automated maintenance with continuous white ink circulation and GTX Graphics Lab software for streamlined DTG and DTF workflows. Its compact footprint allows it to fit comfortably in shops, classrooms and small production spaces without sacrificing performance.

The GTX300 is supported by the Brother At Your Side commitment, including guided installation and onboarding tools, access to training resources and a one-year limited warranty that includes print heads.

Advanced Features for Industrial DTG Printing

The development of the F20030 centers on high-volume requirements, utilizing sophisticated textile printing technology to achieve rapid turnaround times. One of the most notable advancements is the inclusion of a high-capacity bulk ink system. This system is engineered to support long-running print jobs without frequent ink replacements, which is a critical factor for maintaining momentum in a busy garment production environment. By integrating this bulk ink system, the printer ensures that the industrial DTG printing process is both sustainable and cost-effective.

Enhanced Precision and Reliability

Beyond speed, the high-speed textile printer emphasizes precision. It employs advanced printheads that work in tandem with the latest textile printing technology to produce sharp, vibrant designs on a variety of cotton and polyester blends. The Epson SureColor F20030 also features automated maintenance protocols to minimize downtime. These innovations ensure that the industrial DTG printing workflow remains consistent, providing reliable results for every batch produced.

The materials sector is currently experiencing a wave of advancements that are redefining how products are designed and manufactured. From the integration of renewable feedstocks in performance apparel to the development of versatile printing systems, these developments highlight a significant shift toward modernizing production. This article  explores the latest updates in sustainable textile innovation, focusing on engineered fibers and next-generation manufacturing processes.

Arena Introduces Bio-Based Swimwear Collection

Swimwear brand Arena has announced the launch of its first collection utilizing Lycra EcoMade fiber. This specific material is composed of 70 percent renewable, plant-based feedstocks, primarily industrial corn. By utilizing this alternative, the brand aims to reduce its reliance on traditional fossil fuel-based inputs. The new bio-based swimwear line, titled Vitalife, is designed to maintain the high-performance standards required for aquatic sports.

According to technical specifications, the Lycra EcoMade fiber performs identically to conventional elastane. It offers necessary resistance to chlorine, UV exposure, and sunscreen, ensuring durability in various environments. The Vitalife collection features a diverse color palette, ranging from soft pastels to deep rust red. Peter Graschi, CEO of Arena, noted that while many of their existing products already incorporate recycled fiber technology, this collaboration represents a further advancement in their material strategy. By introducing bio-derived elastane, the company maintains product quality while transitioning away from virgin resources. The collection is scheduled for an initial e-commerce launch on December 4, with a broader rollout to sports retailers expected in 2027.

Advancements in Printing and Webbing Production

Technological innovation is also reaching the hardware used in garment embellishment. xTool is preparing to release the O1 Omni Printer, a desktop device capable of printing on both apparel and rigid surfaces. This system integrates direct-to-garment (DTG) and direct-to-film (DTF) technologies, alongside UV printing capabilities. For designers, this means a single workflow can now handle synthetic fabrics, which are better suited for DTF, as well as natural materials like cotton that utilize DTG. The device is Oeko-Tex certified and is designed to produce designs that withstand up to 50 washes. The official launch is set for July 15.

In the outdoor gear sector, Xiamen Jude Webbing is addressing the technical requirements of high-tension materials. To combat the effects of UV radiation on color durability, the manufacturer is employing solution dyeing. This process embeds pigment directly into the polyester melt rather than applying it to the surface. Testing under the ISO 105 standard showed a UV fastness grade of 4.5 after 1,000 hours of exposure. Additionally, the use of specialized looms ensures even density, which minimizes material lengthening under tension. These sustainable manufacturing choices are complemented by heat-setting processes that reduce shrinkage to 3 percent at high temperatures, ensuring compatibility with hardware like buckles.

Recognition of Excellence: Textile Recycling Awards

The inaugural Textile Recycling Awards recently took place in Brussels, honoring six organizations for their contributions to the circular economy. The event, organized by AMI, highlighted various approaches to waste management and material recovery. Beyond Retro and Bank & Vogue received the Retailer of the Year award for their work in the vintage clothing market. Elis was recognized with the Product of the Year award for its Workwear to Workwear line, which utilizes 100 percent recycled material by overcoming the challenges of removing fasteners and elastics during the recycling process.

Specialized Category Winners

The awards also focused on specific technical achievements within the industry:

• Green Worms Waste Management received the Textile Collection & Sorting Award for its work in post-consumer waste recovery.
• Circ was honored for its recycled fiber technology that converts polyester-cotton waste into new lyocell and polyester.
• Renasens won the Innovation in Recycling Technology Award for a waterless process that separates fibers in blended garments without damaging them.
• Jacob Nathan, founder of Epoch Biodesign, received the Rising Star award for using enzymes to recover nylon from complex waste textiles.

This gathering in Brussels brought together over 5,600 participants, underscoring the growing importance of sustainable textile innovation. Each recipient demonstrated a commitment to evolving the supply chain, from collection and sorting to advanced chemical recycling. As the industry moves forward, these textile recycling awards serve as a benchmark for progress in material science and environmental responsibility. The bio-based swimwear launch and the new printing technologies further illustrate a comprehensive effort to modernize the textile landscape through sustainable practices and constant innovation.

The fully digital, single-step system, based on the proven Presto MAX solution, requires minimal setup, eliminates Minimum Order Quantities, supports the industry’s widest array of fabrics, and offers water-free printing with no pre- or post-washing, reducing waste, energy consumption, and environmental impact. At its core, Kornit MAX technology ensures retail print quality and superior hand feel.

Industry-First Innovation
Presto MAX PLUS introduces DuraTech™, a durability enhancer delivering consistent resistance to wear, flex, and abrasion, enabling digital production for demanding applications such as footwear uppers, technical apparel, automotive interiors, and performance textiles. Its patent-pending Precise Overprint technology intelligently adapts to material variability, ensuring accurate image placement on complex, pre-knitted, and dimensionally unstable substrates.

These capabilities are already field proven with footwear manufacturers. Using breakthrough process and technology, Presto MAX PLUS enables digital application of proprietary functional inks to deliver customizable performance characteristics such as abrasion resistance, compression and protection, and technical applications.

“Digital production is entering a new phase of industrial adoption, expanding into high-performance categories that require durability, precision and consistency at scale,” said Ronen Samuel, CEO of Kornit Digital. “Presto MAX PLUS extends the boundaries of what digital manufacturing can achieve, enabling brands and manufacturers to unlock new applications, operate with greater agility, and accelerate the shift toward a more sustainable production model.”

The system also features white ink printing on dyed fabrics, extended color gamuts with Red/Green or Neon inks, and Kornit’s XDi Technology for unique 3-D effects. Quality automation via QualiSet ensures hands-off calibration and consistent, repeatable results across batches, systems, and distributed production sites.

Customers currently operating Presto MAX systems will be able to upgrade to Presto MAX PLUS capabilities, enabling access to new applications while protecting and extending the value of their existing investment.

The Kornit Presto MAX PLUS will be officially unveiled at Texprocess 2026 on April 21. Visit Kornit at Hall 8, Stand A20.

SwitchDye’s approach is aimed at one of the industry’s most resource-intensive steps: dyeing synthetic fibres. Polyester accounts for more than half of global fibre production, and conventional dyeing is typically associated with heavy chemical use, long machine cycles, multiple rinses and substantial energy demand. The company says its polyester dyeing technology uses “fizzy water” in a way that allows mills to lower chemical intensity, cut water consumption and reduce energy use—without requiring factories to replace their existing equipment.

Under the partnership, John Hogg is expected to bring practical dyehouse know-how, manufacturing and stewardship expertise, and access to customer networks that can accelerate adoption. The goal is to help SwitchDye progress quickly from controlled trials to repeatable mill performance and commercial scale.

Professor Nick Plant at the University of Leeds said the development highlights the potential of university research to deliver tangible industrial change. “SwitchDye’s pioneering approach to polyester dyeing will help to drive a more circular and sustainable textile industry,” said professor Nick Plant, University of Leeds. He added: “SwitchDye’s pioneering approach to polyester dyeing will help to drive a more circular and sustainable textile industry. This is another example of the outstanding talent that exists within our research community and our strength in nurturing and supporting innovation in new technologies,” explained Plant.

The university points to the scale of dyeing impacts to underline the opportunity. It estimates textile dyeing globally consumes around 600 billion litres of water each year, with textile production responsible for about 20% of global clean-water pollution. It also cites figures suggesting polyester dyeing alone releases roughly 280,000 tonnes of waste dye and related chemicals annually.

SwitchDye emerged from collaboration between Leeds’ Schools of Design and Chemistry. The founding and research team includes Dr Nathaniel Crompton, Dr Harrison Oates, professor Richard Blackburn and professor Chris Rayner. The dyes were synthesised in the Wolfson CO2 laboratory before being transferred to testing facilities at the School of Design and the Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC).

According to the university, testing demonstrated the system can remove additives that typically represent a large share of dye chemistry—potentially up to 90%—while maintaining performance standards expected by manufacturers and brands. Because the process is engineered as a “drop-in,” the company says mills can integrate it into common dyehouse set-ups without major capital reinvestment.

Beyond reducing chemical load, SwitchDye claims operational advantages: fewer rinse stages, shorter machine time, about 40% less water use, and energy savings tied to streamlined cycles. It also says the dyes can be removed more easily at end of life, which could help improve recyclability and support fibre-to-fibre pathways—an increasingly important requirement as brands pursue circular targets.

Leeds’ commercialisation team supported the spinout by helping with investor introductions and providing funding to reach commercial validation milestones.

SwitchDye CTO Dr Harrison Oates said the John Hogg partnership is intended to accelerate real-world deployment. “Partnering with John Hogg gives us the technical expertise and industry reach to move from lab success into consistent, real-world application. Over the coming months, we’ll be working closely with dyehouses and brands to demonstrate how the technology integrates into existing equipment and delivers measurable savings,” Dr Harrison Oates, chief technology officer at SwitchDye, said.

Sam Walton, chief technical officer at John Hogg, said the investment aligns with the company’s customer-led approach and interest in scalable sustainability. “The partnership with SwitchDye marks the start of an inspiring journey with the potential to improve the future of textile manufacturing for many years to come. At John Hogg, we have always taken pride in understanding our customers’ needs and the evolving demands of the market. Being part of an innovation that delivers a true step forward in sustainable dyeing technology is something we are genuinely excited about. We also see clear alignment between our businesses, with John Hogg’s wider capabilities helping to accelerate SwitchDye’s path to commercialisation,” Sam Walton, chief technical officer at John Hogg, said.

With mill validation now the priority, SwitchDye’s next phase will test whether its polyester dyeing technology can deliver consistent quality and cost-effective savings at scale—two conditions that often determine whether greener chemistry can move from promising science to mainstream production.