SPGPrints offers complete printing systems as well as individual components for printing lines. The Boxmeer location produces the top-ofthe- line Pegasus Evolution printing machines, while a branch in India provides STOVEC, an entry-level model for the Indian and Far-Eastern markets.
Screens are produced in Boxmeer, the Netherlands, India and in Brazil, and digital inks are produced in Boxmeer. It all began for SPGPrints in 1963 with the development of the first seamless round screen for textile printing, which was presented at the ITMA in Hannover.
“Today we offer three categories of screens,” says Mr. Klaassen. “The first generation was the standard screen, which is still interesting because of the printing speed and output.”
Penta screens made their debut at the ITMA in Milan in 1975. “They were a huge revolution,” Mr. Klaassen continues. “The resulting quality was similar to gravure/rouleau printing.”
The late 1980s saw the introduction of NOVA screens with a very fine mesh for high-quality printing. “We offer printing machines, but screens are our core business,” Mr. Klaassen says. “We have more than 50% market share in screens worldwide. The competition cannot keep up with our quality, particularly of our NOVA screens. Our high level of automation in our production eliminates human error.”
In the last 20 years, digital printing has become more common, and DOD – drop on demand – is the current standard in digital printing. In fact, this field has also become a core business for SPGPrints. In digital inks the company is among the top three players.
In August of last year, SPGPrints was acquired by INVEST CORP, which has a great interest in digital developments and owns shares in a Spanish company that produces inks for ceramic floor tiles.
Industrial printing is a second area of expertise for SPGPrints. The company is the market leader in wallpaper printing, offering entire printing lines and specializing in screens here, as well. Special- Screen allows wallpaper to be decorated with metallic inks, glitter and other visual enhancements.
Coating machines upgrade textile substrates and non-wovens, for example a shower curtain is coated with acrylate.
Graphic printing forms the third pillar with RSI units for existing printing lines in label printing. “We make Rotamesh rotaryscreens and Rotaplate flat screen material,” Mr. Klaassen explains. “Four years ago, we also started developing the DSI digital printing machine for labels. There are no screens, but UV inks, which we produce, as well.”
SPGPrints also produces the necessary laser engraving equipment to engrave the screens used for printing. At this year’s ITMA in Milan, SPGPrints will be presenting its latest development: a continuous digital printing machine, the so-called PIKE.
“In December 2014 we gave a sneak preview of PIKE to some of our key customers,” Mr. Klaassen reveals. “It was received very enthusiastically. PIKE introduces a revolutionary development in textile printing.”
This machine features a special, more industrial printing head for digital printing on textile that uses dynamic samba technology. Until now, textile printing has been a low-speed, discontinuous process, but PIKE allows producers to work at a high speed of up to 90 m per minute.
“Continuous digital production yields more printed textile per year – about four million meters – which also means greater ink use,” Mr. Klaassen says.