FESPA has announced the conference programme for its first-ever Digital Textile Conference (31st March to 1st April 2008).
Entitled Digital Printing for Commercial Success, the conference will focus on both commercial and technical topics, examining market opportunities in the sector. Visitors will have the opportunity to hear a number of digital textile printing authorities, including Gerrit Koele, Mike Willis, Patti Williams and Stewart Partridge, examine a variety of issues, providing valuable insight into the sector.
Delivered in partnership with industry publication Digital Textile e-Broadcast, the two-day conference brings together for the first time a significant number of speakers who are practising textile printers. Digital pioneers from each of the main textile market areas, the speakers will discuss their businesses, assess the current stage of the industry’s development including commercial opportunities in this expanding market, as well as discussing future prospects.
FESPA managing director Frazer Chesterman comments: “FESPA has recently witnessed tremendous interest in wide-format digital printing technology for textile applications among members. So, we feel it’s the right time to support our members in this market with a dedicated conference. We’re pleased to offer renowned experts from each of the key textile industry areas who can share their knowledge and expertise with delegates who may be looking at investing in digital textile printing.”
On the opening day, Gerrit Koele, of the Dutch technical-fabric producer Royal Ten Cate, will give the keynote address, discussing the importance of digital printing to the European textile industry. Gerrit Koele will also discuss the aims of the €12.7 million Digitex project, examining the development of hardware and software for the surface treatment of textile finishing at the nanoscale.
Other subject areas to be explored during the conference include consumer customisation in garment printing, inks for garment printing, technical developments in digital textile machinery and production and sampling for fashion and interiors.
Conference moderator and digital textile expert John Scrimshaw adds: “With the rapid changes and technical advances that we are seeing in the industry, it’s a great advantage that we now have an event dedicated entirely to digital textile printing. It provides printers interested in this sector a real opportunity to learn about the market and identify which technologies would work best for them. ”
FESPA Digital Textile Conference speakers include:
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Gerrit Koele, Royal Ten Cate: The importance of digital printing to the European textile industry
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Jos Bastiaans, Print Unlimited: Production printing
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Rob Morskate, Osiris Digital Prints: The new superfast Isis machine
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Stewart Partridge, Nazdar Group: Inks for digital outdoor applications
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Patti Williams, IT Strategies: Market projections for digitally printed abrics and garments
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Carole Porzycki, Affaire Personnelle: Consumer customisation in garment printing
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Vicky Begg, CAT Digital (Glasgow School of Art): Customised design, classic fabrics from archive designs and fine art
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Mickael Mheidle, Sawgrass Europe: Inks for garment printing
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Peter C. Stehr, Kleen-Tex Industries GmbH: Carpet and pile fabric printing
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Martin Thurmer, Shipmate: Flag printing
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John Scrimshaw, Digital Textile: Welcome address
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Mike Willis, Pivotal Resources: Technical developments in digital textile machinery
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Ron Smart, R A Smart Digital Textile Printing Services: Production and sampling for fashion & interiors
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Michael Lazzara, Du Pont Digital Printing: Inks for fashion and interiors
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Ian Ingle, Eyes Wide Digital: From fine art to deckchairs
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Markus Dorer, DyStar Textilfarben GmbH & Co. Deutschland KG: Pre-treatment and finishing
Visitors to the Digital Textile Conference (31st March to 1st April), taking place at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, will be able to easily combine this valuable event with a visit to the FESPA DIGITAL PRINTING EUROPE 2008 exhibition (1st to 3rd April) held at the Palexpo exhibition centre, immediately adjacent to the hotel.
The conference delegate rate of €795 for non-members (€695 for members) includes lunch and dinner and one night’s hotel accommodation at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Further programme and booking details are available on the FESPA Digital web site at http://www.fespadigital.com/, where delegates can book now.
FESPA
www.fespa.com
