The merger, which is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, will bring together two entities focused on the textile print market.

Robustelli develops and manufactures textile printers, while For.Tex primarily engages in textile ink sales and support.

Epson has identified textile printing as one of the most promising growth areas for its printing solutions business, saying growth here will be fuelled by a shift from traditional plate-based analogue printing to digital printing solutions.

As such, the manufacturer says it sees substantial opportunity to leverage its inkjet technology to expand its business, and that the merger of the two Italian entities will support its growth plans.

Guy Martin, sales development specialist, commercial and industrial at Epson UK, explains: “The Robustelli and For.Tex merger represents the beginning of what we believe will be a sea change over time in terms of print-on-demand in the textile sector.

“The ability to digitally print, on-demand, in-house or locally, across multiple regions with total consistency and efficiency, means those textile manufacturers and brands who integrate Epson’s digital printing technology into their businesses, place themselves in a commanding position to take advantage of this shift and explore exciting new commercial opportunities in the process.”

Martin adds that he expects to demand for Epson kit to increase as the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) situation eases, citing a need for brands to become more efficient in the way they produce printed items.

“Post-pandemic, fashion brands are going to need more efficient, lower volume and rapid turnaround textile printing solutions to meet both shareholder and customer demands for fashion that is less wasteful and harmful to the environment, of the highest quality and with an immediacy that off-shore production simply can’t meet,” Martin says.

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