President of Kornit Asia Pacific, Tomer Artzi discusses how the company is revolutionising fashion retail.
We have heard that your Atlas MAX POLY system has been recently unveiled in Printing United in Las Vegas as well as in China International Import Expo in Shanghai in 2022 Q4. Both were highly important global events that industry participants looked forward to. Can you tell us more about the Max technology, and in particular, how is the latest Atlas MAX POLY system different from others?
While we are thrilled with every new product we launch, we are proud of Atlas MAX POLY as it brings a real technological breakthrough, is designed for the polyester segment, and enables our customers to unleash their creativity and provide unique and cost-effective value to their customers.
The polyester segment is growing very quickly, and it is undoubtedly vital for producers to cater to such a significant segment. Atlas MAX POLY is the first all-in-one solution for industrial players targeting sportswear and recreation segments. It enables high-quality dark and light designs while preventing dye migration and other common quality defects.
The neon colours widen the gamut and bring a real differentiation to the market. It is also equipped with our unique XDi that enables 3D effects. This product will position our customers in a different league.
ITMA which is the world’s largest international textile and garment technology exhibition will take place in June 2023 in Milan. It is certainly very important as the event takes place only once in four years. What will Kornit showcase in the event this year?
Kornit is committed to its ambitious mission of being the operating system for on-demand sustainable fashion. There is no better stage than ITMA Milan to showcase it.
We will present our latest and greatest enhancements on the MAX family (Atlas MAX and Atlas MAX POLY) with unique and innovative applications and effects.
We will present a unique curing solution that enables predictable production, quality control, and power efficiencies powered by our recent Tesoma acquisition.
The Presto MAX, launched last year, is getting very high traction with multiple installations across the globe. The unique white and neon capabilities were found to be extremely valuable to our customers, and we see more and more repeat buys. We will demonstrate new capabilities that will reinforce our strong commitment to the fashion industry.
Our KornitX Global Fulfillment Network gives brands and creators worldwide fast, cost-effective, high-quality, localised fulfillment of their concepts while generating more business for Kornit users and eliminating wasted time and logistics associated with overseas production.
Above all, we plan to unveil Kornit's game-changer: Kornit Apollo, the first proper digital solution for mass production. Capable of printing 400 pieces per hour, this system is the first digital direct-to-garment production system to incorporate inline smart curing and adaptable pallets for the most energy-efficient on-demand production at the lowest total cost of ownership. Short runs and high volumes are easily handled, offering consumers unlimited graphic and colour capabilities. It is the most automated and advanced DTG production system the world has seen, and a tipping point for screen printers prepared to make that leap to digital.
Sustainability has become a big concept and everyone is becoming more conscious about environmental protection and sustainability, especially when costs for raw materials are rocketing sky-high recently. How does Kornit embolden the concept of sustainability?
Kornit was always a pioneer on this front. Sustainability was always a crucial element in our products’ roadmap and portfolio. It is part of our core values as a company, and we heavily invest in it, seeing it as a strategic approach.
We all understand that “sustainability” is no longer a hollow statement today. Consumers care about it more, and it drives brands’ actions. We predict it will have a domino effect in the coming years and dramatically impact the supply chain.
Economically, it also makes a lot of sense. The ability to produce only what and when you sell, lowering energy consumption, and associating it with actual production while reducing water consumption became critical elements in every ROI calculator of every manufacturer.
We see evolving environmental regulations and certifications. GOTS-approved, OEKO-Tex Eco passport-certified, and BLUESIGN-certified become standard for the leading fashion brands. For Kornit, we will continue to invest and bring new innovative and disruptive solutions that continuously reduce the environmental impact and enable our customers to better position themselves where sustainability is an economic and ecological driver.
Kornit is the market leader in digital printing. What is your opinion on digital printing? In terms of digital printing, are you more focused on printing on fabrics or on garments?
Kornit has a clear and ambitious vision to change the fashion industry by driving a sustainable digital transformation. We are not limiting ourselves to a specific segment in this vast arena.
We invest heavily in the fulfillment layer and the production floor with the best-in-class products for direct-to-garment and direct-to-fabric production. Our customers’ feedback is that the MAX quality meets the retail standard and enables them to offer new applications.
We work closely with brands and content creators, and help connect to the right fulfillers through our Kornit X platform.
Our Presto MAX platform has gained substantial traction since it was launched last year, and we see accelerated penetration into the fashion and home textile segments.
So, to your question, Kornit plans to take a much broader role and position in the market, which differentiates us from our players.
Find out more at Kornit.