As a global leader in military fabric printing, dyeing and finishing, we have reinforced our position in camouflage fabric manufacturing with a £1.5 million investment in cutting-edge rotary printing technology. During a high-profile visit from UK government officials, we also announced that we have brought rotary laser engraving technology in-house, further strengthening our domestic capabilities in camouflage fabric production.
The event was attended by prominent figures including Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Chorley, Maria Eagle MP, Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry, and our CEO John Vareldzis, alongside Managing Director Mike Collins. In a symbolic moment marking our military printing expansion, the officials cut the ribbon in front of a small group of directors and industry guests, underscoring the significance of UK-based expertise in military textiles. Discussions focused on the importance of reshoring camouflage fabric production, reinforcing national supply chains and the wider benefits for local employment.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “This is a major investment creating high quality jobs, but most of all, producing the best camouflage in the world being printed here. We look forward to the United Kingdom wearing printed uniforms from Adlington.”
Maria Eagle MP added: “The impact of having the capability in the UK to make uniforms to these standards is quite clear. It means that you can keep the intellectual property of how you’re designing your uniforms local, instead of them being sent around the world. To have the capability to do that here is a very powerful sovereign strength.”
John Vareldzis commented: “The scale of today’s visit and the calibre of attendees demonstrate the strategic importance of this investment to us, the local area and the UK. With many decades of military printing experience, we now have one of the best rotary printing technologies available. This positions us to meet our customers’ evolving needs, explore new markets and offer greater versatility, including lighter fabrics.”
Mike Collins highlighted: “This investment presents a huge opportunity for growth. By adding this additional equipment, we have increased our annual capacity to over eight million metres, ensuring we are well-positioned to meet growing customer demand.”
Our new investment includes a Rotascreen TG by Austrian manufacturer Zimmer, with 12 printheads and a magnet system to ensure greater precision, faster reorders and uniform coverage. To further enhance production, we have also brought screen-making in-house with the SPGPrints bestLEN direct rotary engraving system. This allows for greater flexibility, creativity and speed when producing new designs for customers, from concept to printed fabric.
