Direct Textiles & Bags (DTB) has bought digitally printed textiles supplier ARC Textiles, in an effort to bolster its digital product offering and customer base.
Completing the acquisition on 1 November, the garment and bag supplier-decorator also brought on board ARC Textiles’ managing director and founder Alan Chidgey, alongside five staff.
Clive Allcott (commercial director of DTB) stated that ARC, a company that specialises in dye-sublimation printed towels/blankets, was a long-standing strategic supplier to the firm.
The existing synergies between the two companies’ products and staff would only enhance their ability to serve their customers, he said, adding: “Our two companies have shared a close relationship for many years and will combine their products to bring the best of these to the industry.”
DTB’s sales director, Mark Somerfield, added: “I think it’s a natural progression for us.
“We’ve been involved in the digital dye-sublimation market for a number of years, without properly putting our toe in the water. So it’s a natural progression for the business.”
DTB’s prior digital capabilities included direct-to-garment (DTG), direct-to-film (DTF) and a large-volume digital transfer system, called TST Transfer Technology, which prints onto paper rather than film before being transferred.
Chidgey, installed as digital sales manager on 7 November, will head up DTB’s digital expansion.
He said Printweek: “The sale was something that we have been working on together for quite some time […] We’re working on a range of transfer products, dye-sublimation products, thinks like towels, blankets, t-shirts – products you can digitally print at full colour, edge to edge.
“It’s just great. It has a huge amount of potential going forward, and I am very excited.”