David Sweetnam of Keypoint Intelligence, reports on The Knit Show held in Tirupur, India, where the focus was on how digital technology is being embraced across this vast and rapidly evolving market
Drawing on first-hand reporting from The Knit Show in Tirupur, India, David Sweetnam explores how digital-printing technologies are rapidly gaining momentum. These methods are reshaping production workflows and signalling a significant shift in India’s textile and apparel decoration landscape.
DTF VERSUS DTG
Approaching the show, it was immediately apparent that digital technology is making a strong push in India. Almost every other advertising banner promoted a digital device or workflow solution. This signals a clear intent from suppliers to capture market share.
However, once inside the exhibition halls and speaking with vendors, resellers and buyers, Sweetnam saw a different narrative begin to emerge. Unlike many major trade shows in Europe, the US and China over recent years, The Knit Show was not dominated by direct-to-film (DTF) technology. Instead, direct-to-garment (DTG) appears to be positioning itself as the preferred digital solution in India.
The reasoning is straightforward. India’s predominantly hot and humid climate makes breathable garments essential. According to testing at Keypoint Intelligence, this presents a challenge for DTF, where the adhesive powder that enables pigment inks to bond to almost any surface – and delivers excellent wash durability – also creates an invisible barrier beneath the ink. This layer restricts airflow and moisture transfer, which is far from ideal in such a climate.
DTF REMAINS RELEVANT
That said, DTF was by no means absent from the show floor. Numerous stands featured DTF printers – most of them manufactured in China – to meet the cost-sensitive nature of the Indian printing market. The output samples and demonstrations suggested that DTF’s role is more focused on smaller branding applications, such as sleeve logos and breast-pocket prints. Several booths also showcased inline XY cutters, highlighting how this workflow can be streamlined for efficiency.
Among those exhibiting was Vizzac Laser, whose Managing Director, Panneer Selvam, explained that the company has partnered with Chinese DTF manufacturer Sublistar. Vizzac Laser has added its Star IV 13-colour DTF system to its portfolio. The goal is to maximise colour gamut and enable customers to meet more demanding brand colour-matching requirements.
Fortune Agency also displayed a DTF solution – the HJD-S01 from its Chinese partner HJD. The printer is driven by five Epson i3200-A1 printheads and supports nine colours, including red, green, blue and orange, to further expand the achievable gamut. Other DTF suppliers at the show included Indian manufacturer DCC, Indian resellers representing Chinese brands Oric and Yillijet, and Epson, which showcased its new SC-G6030 printer on its own stand.
“Digital is emerging as a complementary partner”
LEADING THE PACK
DTG, however, clearly ruled the digital roost. Devices using this technology were shown in both pure digital formats and hybrid configurations, combining digital with traditional screen printing. Multiple exhibitors demonstrated two-platen DTG printers. One particularly eye-catching device offered extended garment printing of up to nine metres, targeting lower-volume DTG applications for dresses, saris and similar clothing.
The ModernJet booth attracted consistent traffic throughout the event. Based in Tamil Nadu, the company showcased machines more reminiscent of wide-format flatbed printers, featuring six or eight platens mounted two-up on a large static base. The DTG print carriage, driven by Ricoh Gen5 and Gen6 printheads, moves along the base rather than the platens themselves.
HYBRID HYPE
Despite the strong DTG presence, the real buzz at The Knit Show centred not on pure digital devices, but on large-scale, hybrid-printing systems. These ‘hybrids’ are typically configured in an oval layout, with platens moving between screen-printing stations and a digital-printing unit. The configuration can be customised to suit customer requirements and – in some cases – upgraded to include robotic loading and unloading.
In addition to laying down a white underbase, screen stations enable a wide range of creative effects, including HD, foil, glitter, puff, discharge, PVC, non-PVC and water-based pigments. Screen units can be positioned before or after the digital-print station, depending on whether the digital image is applied before or after the analogue effect layer.
Macrofast presented an entry-level hybrid system on its stand – a compact 16-platen unit – featuring a CMYK digital station powered by Epson printheads alongside four screen stations. CEO Jabaresh Babu explained that the system offers print service providers (PSPs) an accessible entry point into digital production. The company’s offering has a price point of approximately 37 lakhs (€35,500) and a throughput of up to 200 T-shirts/hr.
Chinese manufacturer HJD, represented in India by Fortune, also displayed a hybrid system. This configuration featured 28 platens, six screen stations and a CMYK digital-print unit driven by Ricoh Gen5/6 heads. With a quoted output of up to 600 T-shirts/hr, the system carries a higher starting price of around 73 lakhs (€70,000). HJD also offers an eight-colour hybrid option within its portfolio.
Several other suppliers discussed hybrid solutions that were not physically on display. Lotus Technologies distributes dosing systems, which support four- and six-colour digital printing using Ricoh Gen6 heads and achieve outputs of 350–400 T-shirts/hr. SS Creations is the largest Indian distributor for screen printing giant MHM with more than 2,000 installations nationwide. The company also offers digital hybrids through FiveStar, featuring six-colour digital stations powered by Ricoh Gen5/6 technology.
One of the busiest stands at the show belonged to RDX Digital, an Indian manufacturer specialising in hybrid digital systems. RDX offers three hybrid platforms, all powered by Ricoh printheads and available in four- and six-colour configurations. The company’s proposition extended well beyond T-shirt production. Its stand showcased a complete e-commerce ecosystem, incorporating AI-driven generative design tools, advanced Pantone colour-matching technology to simplify prepress for brand-critical work and robotic solutions designed to maximise operational efficiency.
According to CEO and founder Deepak Siddharth, this end-to-end approach is central to RDX’s strategy. He says, “We have seen 200% growth in digital sales, going from five sales in 2024 to 15 devices already in 2025.” Siddharth continues, “We expect to see continued major growth for the foreseeable future as volumes and demand continue to rise.”
CONCLUSION
Looking ahead, digital technology appears set to become a major driving force in the Indian textile printing market. According to Keypoint Intelligence research, the rise of e-commerce is fuelling demand for profitable, efficient solutions capable of handling smaller order quantities with faster turnaround times. However, this does not signal the demise of screen printing or other analogue processes. On the contrary, digital is emerging as a complementary partner, enabling apparel decorators to capitalise on custom garment trends and efficiently manage smaller, repeat orders that may previously have been unviable.
With momentum clearly building, future visits to India will offer further opportunities to observe how the digital revolution continues to gather pace and establish a deeper foothold within this vast and vibrant textile printing market.
