Cambridge UK - World Textile Information Network (WTiN) is to take its Digital Textile Conference to Japan in December, as part of IMI Europe’s Digital Print Japan 2016. 

The market-leading conference will take place on 13 December 2016 at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Tokyo and is the first joint initiative by WTiN and IMI Europe, following the partnership agreement signed in May. The digital print event continues into a second day with the IT Strategies Executive Conference, exploring commercial and industrial applications of inkjet technology. 

Japan is the epicentre of inkjet technology and previous editions of Digital Print Japan attracted a high-level audience from the OEM, components and inks community. WTiN’s participation in the forthcoming event recognises the massive growth in digital textile applications and the central role of Japanese engineering and electronics in the sector’s continuing expansion.

WTiN is the publisher of Digital Textile magazine and its in-depth WTiN Intelligence: Digital Textiles service is the world’s most accurate source for detailed digital textile market data and trends.

The WTiN Digital Textile Conference in Tokyo, aimed at C-level and senior management responsible for business development and technology who wish to understand emerging opportunities in the digital textile printing industry, will explore both the latest market developments and advances in inkjet technology as applied to textiles. 

WTiN Intelligence has reported that the global digital textile market grew by 28% in 2015, with production of 1.2 billion sqm of printed fabric. Average compound growth of 17% a year is expected up to 2019, making this market a key commercial target for inkjet technology suppliers and the focus of intensive R&D.

WTiN managing director Mark Jarvis said: “Japanese technology is at the core of most digital textile applications and WTiN has strong relationships with the companies that have pioneered this exciting market. Partnership with IMI Europe in the expansion of an already successful event gives us a welcome opportunity to meet these companies on their home ground and explore the next stage of this industry’s impressive expansion.”

Dr Tim Phillips, managing director of IMI Europe, said: “We are delighted that our new partnership with WTiN has presented us with an early opportunity to broaden our Digital Print Japan event and provide a focus on this increasingly important application area.”