Global fashion retailer H&M has joined forces with sustainable embroidery company Coloreel to offer apparel personalization at its H&M Alexa store in Berlin.

Coloreel instant thread-color technology is being used in an in-store personalization pilot program offered in a Berlin H&M Alexa store.

The in-store pilot program developed by H&Mbeyond allows customers to select from a diverse library of designs that will be updated on a weekly basis. The designs will be stitched onto garments using Coloreel’s instant thread-color technology – which reduces wastewater by 97%, compared to traditional dyeing methods. Coloreel also uses recycled thread in its process.

“Our partnership with Coloreel reflects our commitment to enhance the shopping experience through innovative solutions,” said Oliver Lange, head of H&Mbeyond. “By embracing this advanced technology, we can offer our customers a unique and engaging store visit.”

H&M and Coloreel said the collaboration is meant to explore how to make brick-and-mortar shopping experiences more exciting and engaging.

“We are proud to team up with H&M to bring forth a new era of personalized fashion,” said Mattias Nordin, senior vice president of product management at Coloreel. “Together, we are redefining the boundaries of traditional embroidery, empowering customers to express their individuality.”

The embroidery service will be offered in Berlin during the fourth quarter of 2023.

Vastex Upgrades Equipment

AirFlash and RedFlash infrared flash-cure models from Vastex International now have a receptacle allowing users to plug in a power cord for an optional AutoFlash head rotation unit.

Vastex International announced that its AirFlash and RedFlash infrared flash-cure models are now equipped with a receptacle that allows the user to plug a 3-foot-long power cord for an optional AutoFlash head rotation unit into the rear of the flash head, eliminating the need for separate wiring to a wall outlet.

“The average screen-print shop has many power cords underfoot, so having one less cord running across the floor is a benefit,” said Mark Vasilantone, president of Vastex.

The screen-printing equipment company also announced that its commercial-grade V-1000 manual screen-printing presses are now equipped as standard with a printhead that allows easier and more accurate screen pitch adjustment.

“The new adjustment system better isolates front-to-rear movement of the print head with no effect on other adjustments, and moves the adjustment point from the central color hub to the print head itself for operator convenience,” Vasilantone said.

Name Badges International Offers Wooden Badges

Wooden name tags from Name Badges International have a rustic, inviting appearance.

Name Badges International, a division of Top 40 supplier World Emblem (asi/98264), recently added wooden name badges to its collection. The company notes that the badges are recyclable and lightweight. Plus, since they’re made of real wood, each tag has a unique texture and grain, giving it a distinctive character. The badges come in three sizes and feature contrasting dark brown “burned” edges to add to their rustic appearance.

All badges can be printed in full color with logos and text in a range of font options, and there are no setup or design fees. Choose from a pin or a magnetic fitting.

Name Badges International, which has a full line of identification products, notes that its diverse client base includes hospitality, retail, public bodies, airlines and the financial sector.

Roland DGA Lauded for Its Wide-Format Inkjets

Roland DGA’s wide-format inkjets received high marks in evaluation tests by Keypoint Intelligence.

Roland DGA, a provider of wide-format inkjet printers, vinyl cutters and other digital imaging technology, has received the coveted BLI (Buyers Lab) 2024 Pick Awards on two of its TrueVIS series wide-format inkjets – the AP-640 resin printer and the LG-640 UV printer/cutter. The awards come after the printers received high marks in evaluation tests conducted by Keypoint Intelligence.

Keypoint Intelligence is a leading independent provider of testing and analysis for the document imaging industry and has been evaluating equipment for business users for more than 60 years. Test reports released are highly regarded as an unbiased resource used by many companies and public organizations when selecting hardware devices.

Amado Lara, president of Roland DGA, said his company is thrilled with the honors: “These innovative inkjets offer significant advantages over the competition, allowing print professionals to optimize output quality, increase productivity and maximize profitability.”