Global Imaging Innovation expert Seiko Epson Corporation (SEC) — through subsidiary company Epson Italia S.p.A. — will take on a 50% share in textile printing leader For.Tex S.R.L. of Como,Italy. The acquisition strengthens Epson’s efforts to establish itself in the digital textile printing market.
Located in the heart of the Italian textile industry, For.Tex specializes in sales of textile printing inks, manufacturing and sales of treatment agents used in the textile printing processes, and digital textile printing chemical consulting. The Italian company has worked closely with Epson since 2003, when Epson entered the market by jointly developing the Mona Lisa digital textile printer with Robustelli of Italy.
By working closely together and leveraging their strengths, the two companies plan to help customers improve the quality of their products and the efficiency of their work processes.
Textile printing is shifting rapidly from analog to digital, with the latter forecasted to grow by 400% between 2010 and 2015. Epson will take on a 50% share of For.Tex with the aim of further cementing its presence in the textile printing market. The investment will bring together Epson’s core inkjet printing technology and global sales and service network with For.Tex’s expertise in textile printing marketing, consulting, and printing processes. With the ultimate aim of expanding the market for digital textile printing, the companies’ goal is to work together to create superior products with new textiles, colors and patterns, and provide proposals and services that will illustrate to customers the advantages of digital textile printing.
“We are delighted to announce this agreement with For.Tex,” said Minoru Usui, President of Seiko Epson Corporation. “It is another example of how Epson is seeking to leverage its core Micro Piezo technology to provide enhanced value to new customers in fields as diverse as proofing, signage, commercial photography, production and industry. Both Epson and For.Tex are leaders in their respective fields, and this tie-up provides a superb opportunity to expand the market for digital textile printing.”