Epson Group expands with Italian digital textile printing operations merger

Seiko Epson has merged Italian textile printing operation subsidiaries Fratelli Robustelli and For.Tex, based in Como, the heart of the Italian and European high-quality printing textile industry. Epson sees textile printing as one of the most promising growth areas for its printing solutions business, recognising substantial opportunity to leverage its inkjet technology to expand its business.

Both companies are core Epson subsidiaries in the direct-to-fabric (DTF) textile printing sector – Robustelli, acquired in 2016,  develops and manufactures textile printers while For.Tex, acquired in 2015, engages primarily in textile ink sales and support.

The merger of Robustelli and For.Tex will integrate management and position them to provide even better need-based solutions for inkjet digital printers, consumables, and services. The merger is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.

“The global textile printing industry is being challenged to accommodate consumer preferences for unique designs with short production runs, provide quick product delivery, and maintain traditional value while reducing its environmental impact. Epson's inkjet solutions can increase user productivity while shrinking their environmental footprint. These solutions enable short-run production, shorten lead-times, reduce environmental impacts and help to solve other issues faced by the textile printing industry,” said the company in a statement.

Last year Epson opened TSC Asia, a new $4m 1000sqm textile solutions center, at its Fujimi plant, designed to accelerate the global expansion of the digital textile printing business.