From the Sector

Kornit Digital Ltd., a pioneer in sustainable, on-demand digital fashion and textile production, announced that USColorworks, a North Carolina-based apparel decoration and fulfillment company specializing in custom and on-demand printing for retail and promotional markets, has expanded its Kornit digital production platform with the addition of Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS systems to deliver high-quality, on-demand apparel across cotton, blended fabrics and polyester. 

Among the first companies to adopt Kornit's new Atlas MATRIX direct-to-garment (DTG) solution, USColorworks is leveraging its ability to deliver the highest quality output across all fabric types, including polyester, projecting a 30% increase in apparel and textile production for all on-demand orders. By reducing operational complexity and opening new revenue streams, Atlas MATRIX enables true on-demand manufacturing without compromising quality, durability, or efficiency. The scalable platform also allows USColorworks to bypass large inventory stocking in favor of fast, direct-to-customer shipping, producing high-definition, high-quality prints on demand across a boundless range of fabrics and colors. 

USColorworks is replacing its legacy production systems with Atlas MATRIX, unifying custom order production—whether for 1 piece or 1,000—to accelerate turnaround times, reduce labor costs, eliminate pre-treatment, and deliver a superior hand feel.  At the same time, USColorworks is reducing its reliance on the more labor-intensive direct-to-film (DTF) workflow, previously its method for short-run polyester print-on demand jobs, by transitioning those volumes to Kornit infrastructure. 

“Digital production has dramatically increased our competitiveness and revenue," said Rodney McDonald, President of USColorworks. "I don't believe you can win a national program now without having the ability to handle both bulk items and on-demand orders. Digital is the only way to do it all right—managing both large and small orders in the same process. As speed, accuracy, and consistency are critical, the Atlas MATRIX system is the right solution at the right time, and it has led to an immediate and significant increase in volume from retail customers. We see this new platform leading the way for print-on-demand across our entire business." 

“When we officially unveiled the Atlas MATRIX system at Kornit Konnections this past April, our intent was clear – enable brands and producers to embrace digital production for what has now become the on-demand era. Kornit is delivering on that promise with the new Atlas MATRIX system, which is already producing tangible results at some of our leading customers,” said Chris Carson, Vice President of Sales at Kornit North America. “We’re proud USColorworks has chosen to expand their digital production capabilities with Atlas MATRIX, thus removing production limitations and firmly embracing digital as the new standard for apparel production.” 

Leading Japanese computerized knitting solutions provider SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD., along with its Italian subsidiary SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA S.p.A., will exhibit at the 99th edition of the Pitti Immagine Filati exhibition in Florence, Italy. It will once again exhibit as part of the CustomEasy section, which explores various aspects of customization in the presence of textile machinery and design software, realized at the SHIMA SEIKI booth through its lineup of WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine, design and knit software, as well as various web services. 

MACH2®XS173 
SHIMA SEIKI will be exhibiting its WHOLEGARMENT® knitting technology whereby an item can be produced in one entire piece on the machine without linking or sewing. The MACH2®XS173 WHOLEGARMENT® knitting machine in 8L, featuring 4 needle beds and SHIMA SEIKI’s original SlideNeedle™, is capable of producing high-quality WHOLEGARMENT® knitwear in all needles. While fine gauges have remained popular, there has been renewed interest in coarser gauges, which is why the machine will be featured in 8L knitting a Norwegian sweater. 

APEXFiz® 
APEXFiz® subscription-based design software supports the creative side of fashion from planning and design to colorway evaluation, realistic fabric simulation and 3D virtual sampling. Virtual sampling is a digitized version of sample making, accurate enough to be used effectively as prototypes. By replacing physical samples, virtual samples reduce time, cost and material that otherwise go to waste. APEXFiz® thereby helps to realize sustainability and digitally transform the fashion supply chain. 

SDS® KnitPaint-Online 
KnitPaint is proven software used by knitting companies across the globe to create knitting data for programming SHIMA SEIKI computerized flat knitting machines. Previously available only as part of SHIMA SEIKI's SDS®-ONE APEX series all-in-one design system, with SDS® KnitPaint-Online, KnitPaint becomes available as standalone software that carries over the same familiar KnitPaint functions, but enhanced with basic planning and design functionality as well. 

SHIMA SEIKI Online Services 
The product planning capability of APEXFiz® is enhanced by several web services featured as part of the SHIMA SEIKI Online Services (SHIMA online) web platform. These include yarnbank® digital yarn sourcing web service that offers digitized yarn data by yarn companies from around the world available for free download and use in virtual sampling, SHIMA Datamall™ digital content web service that allows users to search, browse and purchase a variety of useful data for streamlining the planning and production of fashion items, as well as SHIMANAVI® e-learning system. 

The booth also features several companies exhibiting in collaboration with SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA, including specialty yarn and fabric manufacturers. In addition, SHIMA SEIKI will be exhibiting under the concept "The New Generation" to emphasize the need for nurturing future designers and creatives through the synergy of corporations and educational institutions. Samples produced by students from schools with which SHIMA SEIKI ITALIA is collaborating will be exhibited on site.