Images_Digital_Edition_January_2020

www.images-magazine.com 32 images JANUARY 2020 The Supacolour revolution is here With the opening of its new factory in Northamptonshire, Supacolour is preparing to take the UK garment decoration market by storm with its hi-tech, fast-turnaround transfer printing operation Any textile that can be heat applied, we will make transfers for that A fter five years of expansion in New Zealand, Australia and the US, Supacolour transfers have officially arrived in Britain. The dawning of the new decade will herald the opening of Supacolour UK’s impressive 6,500sqft production facility in Corby in Northamptonshire. Built in a former foundry that once made parts for Ferrari racing cars, and headed by director Paul Edwards, a textiles industry veteran, it will employ 13 staff by the end of March, producing hi-tech heat transfers and serving the UK market. For those that are unfamiliar with Supacolour, it combines a traditional technique with new technology to create heat-applied transfers with “a high-quality finish that can compete with digital print”. The business was launched in Whangarei in New Zealand five years ago by two entrepreneurs – Mike Modgill of Embroidery Works and Bill Armitt of Hot Printz – and four years later, following sustained growth, the Supacolour Group opened a factory in Los Angeles. This factory has been supplying the UK market ahead of the opening of the new facility in Corby. Now, with exclusive distribution partner PenCarrie on board, Supacolour is ready to step up its UK operations, supplying textile decorators nationwide. Orders can be placed directly with Supacolour or via PenCarrie, which will direct online customers to Supacolour’s website and promote its transfer printing services. Filling a gap in the market Supacolour is entering a competitive marketplace, but has identified a gap for smaller volumes of high-quality transfers for apparel, headwear and other textiles such as bags and umbrellas, especially for the promotional market which it is perfectly placed to fill. “Any textile that can be heat applied, we will make transfers for that,” Paul says. The business will fulfil customers’ orders from just 20 transfers up to 5000, making it suitable for printing logos and other images where previously direct digital printing would have been the obvious, but less profitable, solution. “Supacolour transfers offer unlimited colours, high vibrancy and high resolution; they’re supplied ready to press with no weeding needed and no set-up fees,” Paul explains. “The water- based transfers do not contain PVC and are compliant to the Oeko-Tex Class 1 certification on textile quality and safety, are highly stretchable and tests have shown that prints can withstand at least 50 domestic washes without peeling, cracking or fading.” There are four Supacolour transfer ranges: Supacolour wearables and Supacolour sub-block transfers are suitable for all fabric types, except those with waterproof coatings. The optional sub-blocking capability means transfers can be applied to previously sublimated fabrics, making them ideal for those decorators supplying the growing sports and athleisure sectors. Supacolour headwear transfers have the capability to bridge the seam of a six-panel cap without cracking on a wide range of fabrics – with only one press needed in most cases, advises Paul Supacolour’s heat-applied transfers boast a high-quality finish that can compete with digital print