Annual Report 2012 - Investor Relations

Digital Imaging25Digital printing brings benefits for customers andretailersA member of staff at the sports shop, who overheardthe family’s conversation, comes over. “It’s to do withthe printing,” he explains. “These products are printedusing what’s known in the industry as a digital sublimationprocess; this helps to create a large range of diverseproducts in small quantities. For us as a retailer, thismeans we don’t need to keep as much stock and canorder more very quickly if there is high demand. And asyou can see, customers benefit from an extraordinarilywide range.” “When I think of ’printing’, I think of paper,not textiles,” says Gloria sceptically. The sales assistantreplies, “You’re not far off. Actually, so-called sublimationpaper is used in the process – the pattern is printedonto this paper and then transferred to the material usingheat.” “Clearly, digital printing is now conquering the textileindustry,” Florian Wegmüller concludes, and thanksthe knowledgeable assistant.Digital sublimation printingWith digital sublimation printing, a design ismirror-inverted and printed on sublimation paperusing special inks and an inkjet process. Theprinted paper, together with the material to beprinted on (polyester fabric or polyester-coatedhard substrates), is subsequently inserted into atransfer press. At a temperature of between 160and 210°C, the printing process turns the ink intogas. The dyestuffs are released from the paperand fuse with the polyester fibres. The result is apermanent, colourfast, razor-sharp printed image,without a colour application that is noticeable tothe touch.In the meantime, Tim and Anna have picked out a scarfeach. “Come on Florian, let’s get one too,” says Gloria,choosing two designs for herself and her husband. A fewminutes later, the Wegmüller family leaves the sportsshop – complete with new warm coats and a cool scarfeach around their necks.“We can offer our customers maximum diversity, while keepingstock levels low, thanks to efficient digital printing processes.”