From an imposing urban panorama to an enchanting animal world: digital printing transforms bare walls and monotone floors into a lively home. Previously only used in the apparel sector, digitally printed home and household textiles have been growing in significance continuously for years.

Trade visitors to Heimtextil, that will take place from 8-11 January 2014, can obtain a topical overview of the latest technologies, market opportunities, areas of application for mass printing and sustainable production methods during the European Digital Textile Conference: ‘Digital Printing for Homes and Interiors’ by WTiN.

Home and household

On the second and third days of the trade fair, World Textile Information Network (WTiN), a global textile news and information provider for the sector, and Messe Frankfurt are organising an English-only conference with lectures by international experts.

The ‘Digital Textile Conference’ has been held in different places for many years, the last time in Hamburg in 2011. Up to now, the focus of the conference has been on textile printing for the apparel sector with areas of application in the field of home and household textiles only being touched on.

“We estimate the market for this branch of industry to have a volume of around 12 billion square metres a year. This represents a share of 40% of all printed textiles. Therefore, it is important to hold a conference focusing solely on this segment. And the best place to do so is at the leading trade fair for the sector,” commented John Scrimshaw, textile expert and Editor-in-Chief of ‘Digital Textile’ magazine and the Effects channel at WTiN.

Growing segment

Three half-day sessions of the conference will provide a detailed insight into the growing segment: ‘Commercial and creative opportunities’, ‘Digital fabric printing technology’ and ‘Carpets and pile fabrics’.

Until only a few years ago, the market for digital printing in the field of home and household textiles consisted solely of small designer collections. “The industry only discovered this growth market recently”, explained Scrimshaw.

Several Heimtextil exhibitors, such as Athenea from Spain, Dicitex D’Decor from India and Menderes Tekstil from Turkey, are currently investing in new systems that can print over 100 square meters an hour.

www.digitaltextileconference.com

www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com