Leggett offers digital textile printing
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 2, 2004
JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Leggett & Platt Digital Technologies is targeting home furnishings textile makers with a new patented one-step process for direct digital printing on polyester-blend fabrics at production speeds.
Sam Featherston, sales manager, said the Virtu superwide digital printer uses UV-based inks, eliminating the need for transfer paper and reducing much of the environmental impact associated with transfer printing, including paper costs, emissions controls, inventory and disposal costs.
Because the system allows on-demand production, Featherston said, the need to do long runs of several thousand yards is eliminated.
The process includes an integrated oven to cure the color and an integrated wind-up system so the end products are rolled with uniform tension, colorfast and ready to ship.
Another division of Leggett & Platt, which supplies sofa-sleeper units for upholstery manufacturers, has used the system to digitally print mattress ticking that will be seen at the Tupelo Furniture Market in February.
The digital printing system also is available for paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, metal, wood, slate and tile.
