At VGL we’ve always kept a keen eye on evolving technologies. New machines, processes and materials add a great deal of excitement to what we can do and, more importantly, what we can offer. Printing on fabric has been around for a while now, but let’s not get sidetracked by history… We are far more interested in the future.

Recent developments in digital textile printing have opened up a whole new range of possibilities. Fabric always looked like a product with bags of potential so, in 2005, we installed our first textile printer the DuPont® Artistri®. Since then we have learned a lot about the potential of fabric. The range of materials available, what works well, and what doesn’t. We’ve also learned how stunning large format fabric prints can be, and how easy they are to fix, hang and change.

We’ve always invested in the best machines, and that’s really important when it comes to fabric. Standard roll-to-roll machines simply do not work, the inks diminish the look and feel of the fabric. Our new, revolutionary machines use water-based inks, which effectively become part of the fabric. They’re odour-free, don’t harm the skin and are free of VOCs – that’s Volatile Organic Compounds to you and me. We’ve recently acquired the Rhotex 320. It prints on fabrics up to 3200mm wide, so the potential for truly eye-catching internal and external displays is staggering.

Versatile and vibrant, fabric printing offers great solutions. Blacks are black. Reds are red. Graphic displays achieve genuine impact, and we love the fact that they are environmentally sound, and not just because the inks are safe. Fabrics are 100% recyclable. They’re also lightweight and easy to handle, so distributing them is easier and more energy efficient, reducing your carbon footprint. The largest banners can be folded into small jiffy bags and sent anywhere. We can even supply frames, making it easier for retailers to change their own graphics in-store.

Soft Signage – it has a ring to it… We think it will take off in a big way. That’s why we’ve sourced the best materials and installed the best equipment, including some fantastic new sewing machines and our new Rhotex 320. It opens up a whole new range of possibilities because it’s fast, green and produces graphic displays that pack a genuine punch. The future is fabric.

In 1976, VGL started life as a family-run screen print company. Despite embracing the many technological breakthroughs of the last 35 years, it’s a process that remains close to our hearts – so much so that we still have an entire site dedicated to it.

We’re fortunate. The people we work with understand the importance of the skills required to produce great screen print. The size of the mesh, the squeegee angle, screen exposure and temperature – there are numerous variables to control. A common mistake in digital printing is to disregard the variables, in the hope that the technology will step in. It doesn’t work like that. There’s more to it than simply pushing a button.

We’ve always invested in technology at VGL and we have many different machines. Not because we collect them, but because each machine has a particular strength. If we’re producing duratrans we use the best available photo processor. Likewise, our textile prints are only ever produced on genuine fabric printers. In short, we cover the entire range of digital variables so our clients can depend on the real deal.

We look carefully at an image, consider what it is being printed on and what it’s being used for, and then we print it with the best available process. After all, digital is still a craft. It’s all about knowing how to prepare an image, how to select the right materials, and how to use the most appropriate machinery.

It’s a luxury we continue to invest in, and one that continues to benefit our clients.