Seiko Epson Corporation has decided to merge the Group companies Fratelli Robustelli S.r.l. (Robustelli) and For.Tex S.r.l. (For.Tex).
Robustelli and For.Tex, located in the Como region of Italy, one of the world’s great textile printing centers, are core Epson subsidiaries in the direct-to-fabric (DTF) textile printing sector. Robustelli develops and manufactures textile printers while For.Tex engages primarily in textile ink sales and support.
Epson sees textile printing as one of the most promising growth areas for its printing solutions business. Growth will be fuelled by a shift from traditional plate-based analogue printing to digital printing solutions. Epson sees substantial opportunity to leverage its inkjet technology to expand its business and is thus strengthening its textile printing product line-up and operations. The merger of Robustelli and For.Tex will integrate management and position them to provide even better need-based solutions for inkjet digital printers, consumables, and services. The merger is scheduled for completion by the end of 2020.
The global textile printing industry is being challenged to accommodate consumer preferences for unique designs with short production runs, provide quick product delivery, and maintain traditional value while reducing its environmental impact. Epson’s inkjet solutions can increase user productivity while shrinking their environmental footprint. These solutions enable short-run production, shorten lead-times, reduce environmental impacts and help to solve other issues faced by the textile printing industry.
Cooperation started for innovation in textile printing moved into merger
Established in 1953 in Como, Italy, Fratelli Robustelli S.r.l develops, produces and sells textile printing systems. The company, which has been a subsidiary of Epson since 2016, has 40 employees as of April 2020.
Established in Como, Italy in 1986, For.Tex S.r.l. Company sells textile printing consumables and creates solution offers. As of April 2020, the company has 25 employees. For.Tex has been a subsidiary of Epson since 2015.
Developing and offering the Monna Lisa series to the market with the participation of Robustelli and For.Tex; which have become their partners first and then their subsidiaries; Epson has reached an ambitious point in offering a “complete solution” to the textile printing industry. Monna Lisa Evo Tre models of Monna Lisa, whose first series were put on the market in 2003, are offered to textile manufacturers today.