INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: A STRONG PARTNERSHIP FOR GROWTH

For over half a century, ARA NV has evolved with the times. It has transformed itself through technology, craftsmanship and strong partnerships. One of its most pivotal allies on its path has been SPS TechnoScreen. SPS TechnoScreen is a company whose precision screen-printing machines and responsive service have supported ARA NV’s growth. ARA NV has grown from a humble backyard business to a forward-looking production facility.

The story of ARA NV begins on a summer night in the late 1960s. Els van Houtven’s parents – walking home from a jazz concert – hitched a ride with a passing van. The driver happened to know of a job opening at a small screen-printing shop. That chance encounter changed their lives.

Els’ mother took the job first. Six months later, her father joined and fell in love with the craft. A year later, they founded ARA NV in the backyard of their home, building their first screen-printing frame on the kitchen table.

“The story of ARA NV begins on a summer night in the late 1960s”

Els, just eight at the time, remembers attending her first FESPA trade show in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and the excitement of receiving their first professional machine – a manually operated Argon. The crate it came in became a summer playground for her and her friends.

By the late 1970s, ARA NV had expanded to a nearby former carpenter’s workshop to keep up with production demands. A motocross client introduced the company to textile printing, plastisol transfers and, eventually, sublimation. This introduction opened the door to new markets.

Van Houtven officially joined the business, aged 20, drawn away from sculpture studies by the urgency and opportunity at home. Working alongside her parents, she cleaned screens, ran prints and managed operations.

The company soon capitalised on the rise of sublimation printing in cycling wear, leading to steady growth through the 1980s. By the end of that decade, ARA NV operated three Sakurai cylinder presses and a large Serifast flatbed line.

“SPS had become not just a supplier, but a true partner”

In 1993, ARA NV made a strategic leap by installing its first large-format SPS TechnoScreen STOP-cylinder line (155×104cm). Known for reliability and precision, this line set new standards in the industry – especially for large-format graphics and posters.

Even as the market shifted away from poster printing, SPS’s legacy of engineering excellence endured. As a result, the company’s focus turned towards heat transfers and other high-demand, high-performance applications. This was an area where ARA NV was also gaining ground.

Tragically, van Houtven’s father passed away in 1997 aged 57. Some felt this may have been due to many years of exposure to solvent-based inks. However, ARA NV had already started shifting towards water-based inks – a more sustainable approach – back in 1987.

Together with her mother, van Houtven pressed on. In 2001, they expanded the production hall to house a third SPS line. Following this, came two more large-format machines (180×130cm). By then, SPS had become not just a supplier, but a true partner.

“SPS’s latest generation of fully automatic lines combines speed, precision and intelligent design”

As digital sublimation began disrupting traditional business models in 2008, ARA NV was already innovating again. Inspired by an employee’s idea, the business began developing water-based heat transfers. This resulted in the launching of production on a small, semi-automatic Atma press.

Beginning again was not easy. The new direction brought years of testing, refining and learning. But thanks to its long-standing reputation in sportswear sublimation, ARA NV earned early trust for its new product line.

By 2017, the company was ready to reinvest in automation. This time with a compact, yet powerful SPS stop-cylinder line (50×70cm). The renewed partnership with SPS was crucial, providing advanced technology alongside dependable support and service.

SPS TechnoScreen stands out not just for its engineering, but also for its practical, hands-on partnership approach. Fast service, an extensive parts inventory and a responsive international network make SPS a valuable ally – especially in time-critical production environments.

SPS’s latest generation of fully automatic lines – including the SPS ASTRON – combines speed, precision and intelligent design. The ASTRON perfectly aligns with the needs of modern print producers, such as ARA NV.

In a symbolic shift, ARA NV dismantled its last large-format sublimation line just a month before installing the SPS ASTRON. With this investment, the company has now fully transitioned to heat-transfer production. It operates five automatic lines (four from SPS) and two ¾-automatic presses to serve clients across Europe.

“ARA NV has now fully transitioned to heat-transfer production”

This strategic move cements ARA NV’s position as a leader in high-performance, water-based, heat transfers. Additionally, it showcases the enduring value of its partnership with SPS.

As ARA NV celebrates over five decades of business, van Houtven remains focused on the future. She says, “With trusted partners like SPS TechnoScreen by our side, we are ready to meet the growing demands of the European market with innovation, quality and a long-term vision.”

In a world of constant change, the importance of values, the strength of good partnerships and the power of innovation to build a lasting legacy are essential.