At the 2025 edition of ITCPE in Guangzhou, INKBANK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD, a global leader in digital ink solutions, showcased its latest innovations in textile printing. In this exclusive interview, Mr. Carson Cai, Overseas Department Manager, discusses INKBANK’s newest product launches, including powder-free DTF inks and advanced pre-treatment solutions for roll-to-roll printing. He also shares insights into key market trends across the Middle East, Africa, China, and Southeast Asia, and emphasizes the importance of collaboration between ink and machine manufacturers in driving the future of digital textile printing.
Kohan Textile Journal: Mr. Carson, thank you for joining us today. First, could you tell us what brings INKBANK to this year’s ITCPE exhibition?
Mr. Carson Cai: Thank you for the opportunity. We’re here to introduce some of our latest innovations in inkjet and digital printing solutions. ITCPE has consistently proven to be a high-performance event, attracting both new and long-standing customers. It offers us a great platform to showcase our new technologies and engage with the market directly.
Kohan Textile Journal: As a global leader with nearly two decades of experience in inkjet inks, could you share details about the new products you’re presenting at ITCPE this year?
Mr. Carson Cai: Certainly. We are proud to launch several exciting products. One of the highlights is our powder-free DTF ink solution, which addresses key challenges like powder residue, poor breathability, and low fastness seen in traditional DTF processes.
Additionally, we’ve developed a new pre-treatment solution for roll-to-roll textile printing. This enhances color vibrancy, softness of hand feel, and wash durability — essential for fashion and home textiles.
Kohan Textile Journal: Let’s talk about the booming Middle East and African textile markets. Countries like Turkey, Egypt, and Iran are becoming increasingly important. What is your view on this region?
Mr. Carson Cai: You’re absolutely right — the region is growing rapidly. Last year, due to currency issues in Turkey, many printing facilities shifted operations to Egypt. Egypt’s textile sector, especially in sublimation, pigment, and DTF inks, has seen growth of over 100%.Pigment printing is particularly gaining traction as it reduces wastewater — a major concern with traditional reactive printing. We see pigment technology as the future in these markets.
Kohan Textile Journal: How do you assess the current state and future of digital printing in China?
Mr. Carson Cai: The first quarter of the year has been tough for China’s textile printing sector, partly due to increased tariffs from the U.S. — up to 145% at one point. That had a major impact. However, with recent reductions to 30–40%, there’s a chance for recovery.
In the short term, we believe Southeast and South Asia will be the growth drivers. These regions are ramping up production to meet export demands from the U.S. and Europe.
Kohan Textile Journal: How important is collaboration between ink manufacturers and machine producers in advancing the industry?
Mr. Carson Cai: It’s absolutely essential. Printers can’t work in isolation. Machinery is only one part of the equation. For successful applications, especially at scale, ink quality and cost-effectiveness are just as critical.
Lower raw material costs help end-users stay competitive, and new applications demand that machinery and ink manufacturers collaborate closely to optimize performance — color density, fastness, and efficiency. We see our role not just as an ink supplier, but as a full solution partner.
Kohan Textile Journal: Thank you, Mr. Carson, for this valuable insight into INKBANK’s latest innovations and your views on market trends.
Mr. Carson Cai: My pleasure. Thank you for the opportunity to share our vision.
