We are delighted to announce that our project has received a Silver Award in the Roll-to-roll Printed Textiles category at the FESPA Global Print Expo held in Munich. The FESPA awards received 210 entries from across the world. Our project was among the 115 entries that were shortlisted by the panel of expert judges.

The unique 2,000 m2 facade artwork ‘The Conversation’ has ascended in the trendy neighborhood of Assembly Row in Somerville, near Boston, USA. Commissioned by Design Communications Ltd, Printable Technical Textiles printed the facade textile with their SolidskinTec printing process on Serge Ferrari’s Frontside View 381 mesh fabric.

What’s phenomenal about this textile facade – and at the same time a public art project – is that three silhouette-shaped LED screens in the facade display digital art by local artists. Puma North Americas HQ is the proud occupant of the property.

This contract was awarded to Printable Technical Textiles by Design Communications Ltd following a successful collaboration for the Project ‘Partners Healthcare Parking Garage‘ in Assembly Row. Everyone is delighted with how the printed substrate for the facade has retained its color and appearance under extreme weather conditions. The endless creative possibilities of a printed sustainable facade cladding are expressed symbiotically in ‘The Conversation.’

Architects’ choice. Printed with SolidskinTec

Architects are applying printed textile facades architecture because it is an innovative solution and offers exciting possibilities. Architects can emphasize their signature and unique design, easily connect with the surroundings or create surprising effects to make an impact and generate stopping power. Textile facades offer low costs and quick implementation. SolidskinTec proves to be the only solution for printed technical textiles that must remain durable in public areas. Your technical textile printed with SolidskinTec is guaranteed to stay beautiful during its extended lifetime.

Project Description
Year 2021
Project Assembly Row – HQ Puma North America
Location USA-02145 Somerville MA
Substrate Serge Ferrari Frontside View 381
Quantity 2000 m2
Contractor Design Communications Ltd

Why are facade textiles printed with SolidskinTec unique?

  • 10 years guarantee on color retention
  • 10 years guarantee on dirt repellence
  • 10 years guarantee on adhesion of ink and varnish
  • 10 years guarantee on crack initiation of inks

With rail transportation rapidly gaining popularity as a sustainable alternative to road transportation, the demand for (technically) durable rail vehicles is also growing.

So too, are the light-weight wagons for steel coil transport.

Why choose the SolidskinTec printing process?

By applying our SolidskinTec printing process to the technical textile used for these wagons, not only unique eye-catchers on the track can been created, but the material (and the print!) can also withstand the heavy mechanical stresses typical for this application.

After all, the coated prints are flexible, colorfast for years, and dirt-repellent. Another major plus of our SolidskinTec printing process, is the fact that graffiti can be easily removed…something that is, unfortunately, a common concern with rail transportation.

Railrelease light-weight Shimmns

We recently had the honour to print a new fleet of over 150 Inveho coil transport wagons, type Shimmns, for the renowned wagon leasing company Railrelease. The guaranteed appearance and endurance of our SolidskinTec printing process were a perfect match with their demands, and resulted in a beautiful new fleet in their impressive portfolio.

With over 3700 branches in 31 countries, Deichmann is Europe’s largest shoe retailer. The company is family-owned and founded in 1913 in Essen, Germany. The HQ is in Essen, but you can also find their Flagship Store in the city center. In 2020 the store was upgraded with a beautiful new fabric facade by our valued partner Koch Membranen. This new facade needed to blend in with the corporate identity of Deichmann.

In 2018, Koch Membranen was challenged by the Deichmann Group to create a new fabric facade consisting of as many as five shades of green from the shoe chain’s corporate identity.

It was a logical wish from the architect but a difficult task for the installer. After all, the specified technical textile from Serge Ferrari (Frontside View 381 mesh) was not standardly available in these shades of green. The required quantity of each color did not come close to the required minimum for custom production.

Project Description
Project Deichmann Flagship Store
Location DE-45127 Essen
Substrate Serge Ferrari Frontside View 381
Quantity 1600m2 double sided print
Year 2020
Contractor Koch Membranen

Our SolidskinTec printing process allows us to print any solid color (single and double-sided) without a minimum volume. That, plus the fact that it enables us to give a 10-year warranty on color retention was the beginning of an intensive collaboration between Koch Membranen, Serge Ferrari, and Printable Technical Textiles.

Serge Ferrari supplied a specially prepared version of the Frontside View 381 mesh on which we can print double-sided perfectly. We performed several color tests, and after the architect approved the colors, we produced the five different shades of green in precisely the desired square meters per color. Koch Membranes fabricated and installed the fabric.

The result is impressive. The store is an unmistakable eye-catcher for the Deichmann group. It is entirely in line with the corporate identity and was produced against minimum costs because we could print the desired colors in the required quantities.

Textile facades
Textile facades
Rooftop bar canopy Novotel Miami

In the heart of Brickell, one of Downtown Miami’s most popular neighborhoods, you will find the Novotel Miami Brickell. In early 2021 this hotel was completely renovated, and the rooftop deck with swimming pool, lounge, and pool bar got a stunning new look. Printable Technical Textiles was asked to print the fabric for the sunshade roofing of the rooftop bar with its renowned SolidskinTec printing process.

Read more
Main Grandstand F1 Circuit Zandvoort

Dutch Circuit Zandvoort underwent a large-scale upgrade in preparation for the return of Formula 1 to the Netherlands. The entire circuit was redesigned to be ready for the future. An important eye-catcher was the renovation of the main grandstand, including a brand new fabric roof.

Read more
Tensile roof open air theater

Visitors of the Brunssum Open Air Theater, in the south of the Netherlands, enjoy the brand new Tensile roof of the theater, which was installed by APR Projects on behalf of Poly-Ned. Local architect Ivo Rosbeek designed the structure, where integration with the environment was essential.

Read more
Sunsails private Villa Jeddah

For Base Structures UK we have produced these unique sunshades for a private residence in the Middle East. In this production the print design is on the inside of the textile to create a unique experience and carry the interior design from the villa out onto the terraces on the outside. The outside of the textile is left white to reflect the sun and keep the terrace cool.

Read more
Fabric roof Busterminal Zwolle

The new bus terminal at Zwolle train station is adorned with a beautifully printed fabric roof. The print is created using the latest photo and print techniques and protected with a unique coating. The canvas, with a total weight of 900 kg, is printed and attached to the steel construction of the hood of 70 x 13 meters. The project was created in close cooperation with Buitink Technology.

Read more

Located in Cap d’Agde (France), you will find the “Centre International de Tennis” (CIT). It is one of the finest tennis facilities in Europe and hosts the world’s largest annual amateur tournament, the National Tennis Cup. Our French partner ACS Production equipped the new hall with fabric facades, which we printed with our unique SolidskinTec printing process. In late 2021 a new 6000m2 hall was completed with 7 tennis courts and 4 padel courts.

Printable Technical Textiles was asked by its French partner ACS Production to apply a durable print to the fabric for the front and side walls of the hall, which gives it a unique look with a print that is guaranteed to last at least 10 years! The front facade was printed on Frontside View 381 mesh by Serge Ferrari. The long side facade was printed on Flexlight Perform 702 s2 Opaque membrane, also from Serge Ferrari.

The CIT in Cap d’Agde was founded by the famous French tennis player Pierre Barthès, who was in the world’s top 10 rankings in the 70s. The expansion of the hall will enable the town to host the various tennis and padel clubs that use the site throughout the year.

Project Description
Project Centre International de Tennis
Location FR-34300 Cap d’Agde
Substrate Serge Ferrari Frontside View 381
Substrate Flexlight Perform 702 s2 opaque
Quantity 820 m2
Year 2021
Contractor ACS Production

Facade architecture

In the heart of Brickell, one of Downtown Miami’s most popular neighborhoods, you will find the Novotel Miami Brickell. In early 2021 this hotel was completely renovated, and the rooftop deck with swimming pool, lounge, and pool bar got a stunning new look. Printable Technical Textiles was asked to print the fabric for the sunshade roofing of the rooftop bar with its renowned SolidskinTec printing process.

We were approached by our partner ShadeFLA because of the challenges involved in this project. First of all, the color retention of the printed sunshade roofing was an important issue. Given the sunny climate in South Florida, the risk of quick fading of colors is very high. Because of the enhanced resistance to UV radiation through our SolidskinTec printing process, we were able to offer an unlimited 10-year warranty.

Another challenge was the chosen design. During the complete renovation of the hotel, a uniform color scheme was chosen that is repeated in all elements. Therefore, the sunshade roofing design had to 100% blend in with the colors of the walls, furniture, etc. This was no problem for us, and the first print samples were instantly approved.

ShadeFLA is a specialist in shade structure design and luxury outdoor living. From their Miami office, they offer design and installation services throughout the United States, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Manhattan-based design studio BHDM is the creator of the new style for the Novotel Miami Brickell hotel. The design is inspired by the natural elements of the Miami coast.

 

Project Description
Project Novotel Miami Rooftop Bar
Location USA-33129 Miami
Substrate Serge Ferrari Flexlight Perform 502S2
Quantity 75 m2
Year 2021
Contractor ShadeFLA

Sunshade roofing
Sunshade roof
Sunshade roofing

Brasserie Goudale (Arques, France) distributes its beer brands with TSA Transports in Calais. Over the past years, both brewer and transporter agreed that they would change their side-curtains to the high-quality standard that our SolidskinTec printing process provides, improving their marketing appearance and durability on the road.

The quality of the SolidskinTec printing process and the varnishing effect of the polyurethane varnish deliver deep and rich images that fit the brand. For the marketing team, the importance of these ‘driving billboards’ is high, and the proven fact that the curtains stay beautiful after years on the road under harsh conditions is key in choosing for side curtains printed with SolidskinTec.

For the TSA Transports management, a long-lasting appearance is essential. The extended lifetime and the substantial reduction of the cleaning frequency through its unique coating were also of significant importance when the choice for SolidskinTec side curtains was made.

The trailers with curtain sets were delivered by Bretagnes Industrie (BHD Group), who advised them in selecting the SolidskinTec quality. Over 200 sets of Brasserie Goudale side curtains are already driving through Europe. In the future, all trailers still equipped with other curtains will be replaced by SolidskinTec side curtains.

Old curtains (without SolidskinTec)

SolidskinTec printed side curtains

Curtain siders
Curtain siders
Truck curtain sider
Curtain siders

Technical textiles are a perfect solution when renovating or facelifting stadium and grandstand canopies. By adding print, the textile can be produced in any desired look and feel or even used as promotional space to further reduce renovation costs. A textbook example is the renovation of the main grandstand of Circuit Zandvoort in the Netherlands, to which Printable Technical Textiles contributed by printing the textile with SolidskinTec.

Renovation main grandstand in 2020

Dutch Circuit Zandvoort underwent a large-scale upgrade in preparation for the return of Formula 1 to the Netherlands. The entire circuit was redesigned to be ready for the future. An important eye-catcher was the renovation of the main grandstand, including a brand new fabric roof.

Project Description
Project Circuit Zandvoort renovation
Location NL-2041KP Zandvoort
Substrate Sattler 648 Polyplan
Quantity 1930 m2
Contractor Poly-Ned

The upgrade was needed urgently. The once so prestigious circuit did no longer meet the current standards to host F1 races and be able to shelter the 315,000 visitors that come with it. In the case of the main grandstand, the canopy was outdated and, due to the weather and wind along the Dutch coast, no longer waterproof and rusty. All in all, certainly not a showpiece for the circuit. The roof needed a cost-effective facelift, for which Poly-Ned was contracted.

The solution was found in tensioning lightweight fabric panels against the old beams. By printing these panels, 1900 m2 of promotional space was created at the most visible spot of the track.

Fabric roofs

Poly-Ned approached Printable Technical Textiles for our SolidskinTec printing process that enhances textiles with protective and dirt-repellent properties. Our expertise was of great value in providing a print with exact matching of the desired color of the sponsor statement. And because we enhance the prints with our unique polyurethane varnish, we were able to offer a 10-year unlimited warranty on the preservation of appearance and weather resistance, which was no luxury considering the location on the coast.

For the installation of the fabric roofs, Poly-Ned used the services of APR-Projects. They took care of the entire on-site renovation, resulting in a great eye-catcher that is now seen by more than 100 million viewers to the Formula 1 race that, after 36 years of absence, is now back in the Netherlands.

Rooftop bar canopy Novotel Miami

In the heart of Brickell, one of Downtown Miami’s most popular neighborhoods, you will find the Novotel Miami Brickell. In early 2021 this hotel was completely renovated, and the rooftop deck with swimming pool, lounge, and pool bar got a stunning new look. Printable Technical Textiles was asked to print the fabric for the sunshade roofing of the rooftop bar with its renowned SolidskinTec printing process.

Read more
Tensile roof open air theater

Visitors of the Brunssum Open Air Theater, in the south of the Netherlands, enjoy the brand new Tensile roof of the theater, which was installed by APR Projects on behalf of Poly-Ned. Local architect Ivo Rosbeek designed the structure, where integration with the environment was essential.

Read more
Sunsails private Villa Jeddah

For Base Structures UK we have produced these unique sunshades for a private residence in the Middle East. In this production the print design is on the inside of the textile to create a unique experience and carry the interior design from the villa out onto the terraces on the outside. The outside of the textile is left white to reflect the sun and keep the terrace cool.

Read more
Fabric roof Busterminal Zwolle

The new bus terminal at Zwolle train station is adorned with a beautifully printed fabric roof. The print is created using the latest photo and print techniques and protected with a unique coating. The canvas, with a total weight of 900 kg, is printed and attached to the steel construction of the hood of 70 x 13 meters. The project was created in close cooperation with Buitink Technology.

Read more

With a fleet of over 1000 electric vehicles, the successful online supermarket Picnic won the hearts and minds of the Dutch consumer. Picnic is the fastest-growing company in the Netherlands with a competitive and sustainable proposition, and they recently started to expand to France and Germany. The eye-catching electric vans with printed sidecurtains with SolidskinTec address a fundamental flaw in online grocery shopping and delivery; its impact on carbon emissions.

Dutch sailmaker Albers Zeilmakerij BV produces the printed sidecurtains for all Picnic’s electric vans, and we’re happy and proud they chose our printed side curtains with SolidskinTec. As a consumer brand, Picnic needs to balance brand image and sustainability. Our printed side curtains add to this aim. They stay in pristine condition for years, maintaining the brand’s reputation and adding to its sustainability. The long durability significantly reduces the need for the short-term replacement of the curtains.

Benefits of printed sidecurtains with SolidskinTec

Another significant advantage is achieved by the a-polar characteristics of our SolidskinTec fusion process. This creates a self-cleaning effect since dirt can not attach to the printed side curtains and will be easily rinsed off with water through rainfall or cleaned in the shop with only water. This reduces the cleaning frequency; moreover, no aggressive cleaning agents are needed. The SolidskinTec process with polyurethane varnish enhances its resistance to UV radiation. UV radiation can break down the ink pigment molecules, causing discoloration. Our polyurethane varnish ensures that the pigments cannot be affected, and the print will therefore look the same even after many years. SolidskinTec adds a 5-year warranty to your printed side curtains, which applies to the retention of color intensity, flex-resistance, and the dirt-repellent effect.
printed side curtains
printed side curtains
printed side curtains

In 2020 the University of Maastricht opened the doors of their new location: the Tapijnkazerne. The building houses the school of Business and Economics, UMIO and the library of the university. This historic site, that was build in 1916, had previously being used as a military base barracks and retired in 2010.

The building was redesigned to make it a green environment, while keeping some of the buildings’ characteristics. The main entrance under the park of the historic buildings was transformed to become an underground building that connects the old barracks. The glass facade offers a great opportunity to make a unique appearance, but it also requires protection against the direct sunlight, both for practical and energy savings reasons. Therefore, a series of printed zipscreens was installed by Schellekens & Schellenkens, using a grey Helioscreen textile.

Maastricht University commissioned the renowned and award winning photographer Robin de Puy to create an artwork for these screens. The images used for the sunscreens show humanity in different settings. Each printed zipscreen has its own photo and obviously, these beautiful photos deserved a print quality to the highest standards. The artwork is called “Screening Diversity”.

The challenge: inks ‘falling off’ the screen

Printable Technical Textiles was approached to create a technical solution for the printed zipscreens after previous printing tests had failed. The experience of Printable Technical Textiles was necessary to make the selected Helioscreen screening fabric receptive to our unique SolidskinTec printing process. To apply our formula on this screen, which is key to achieving high-quality standards, we needed to change the structure of the textile so that our PU-coating would do what it should do.

SolidskinTec is a unique printing process that fuses the inks and pu-varnish with the technical textile. This process adds new properties to the technical textile in terms of color intensity, color retention, flexibility, and dirt resistance. These added properties enable us to provide unique guarantees to technical textiles they did not have before our processing with our technology. The result: Beautiful printed outdoor blinds with an unlimited guarantee on appearance for 5 years.

 

Project Description
Project Tapijnkazerne
Location NL-6211ME Maastricht
Substrate Helioscreen Sergé 3% 117117
Quantity 125 m2
Year 2020
Contractor Schellekens & Schellekens

Reinventing the process

About the project:

In 2020 the University of Maastricht openend the doors of their new location: the Tapijnkazerne. The building houses the school of Business and Economics, UMIO and the library of the university. This historic site, that was build in 1916, had previously being used as a military base barracks and retired in 2010.

The building was redesigned to make it a green environment, while keeping some of the buildings’ characteristics. The main entrance under the park of the historic buildings was transformed to become an underground building that connects the old barracks. The glass facade offers a great opportunity to make a unique appearance, but it also requires protection against the direct sunlight, both for practical and energy savings reasons. Therefore, a series of zipscreens was installed by Schellekens & Schellenkens, using a grey Helioscreen textile.

Maastricht University commissioned the renowned and award winning photographer Robin de Puy to create an artwork for these printed outdoor blinds. The images used for the sunscreens show humanity in different settings. Each printed outdoor blinds has its own photo and obviously, these beautiful photos deserved a print quality to the highest standards. The artwork is called “Screening Diversity”.

We work with carefully selected fabrics from renowned technical textile manufacturers.

All textiles have been thoroughly tested, based on the actual real-life conditions and compared to equivalents. This is how we safeguard the long-term suitability of our products for each application and offer unique guarantees.

Printed outdoor blinds
Sunscreens
Printed sunscreens
Printed outdoor blinds

Since the introduction of the new corporate identities of Zandbergen and Ambrosius in 2015, about two hundred trucks have been equipped with SolidskinTec printed side curtains. A conscious choice: besides curtainsiders printed with SolidskinTec, other printed curtainsiders printed with SolidskinTec have been on the road to test their quality and sustainability.

According to Erik Zandbergen, director and fleet manager, the curtainsiders printed with SolidskinTec offers an unrivaled quality. “We have tested various suppliers of printed curtainsiders in the field. We noticed a considerable difference in quality between the different producers. The unique coating of tarpaulins printed with SolidskinTec passed all tests with flying colors, resulting in a substantial reduction of the cleaning frequency.”

The differences were also visible. Zandbergen and Ambrosius are proud of their identities and want their trailers to look equally beautiful and professional, even after years on the road. “The colors on Solidskin curtainsiders do not fade. Red stays bright and powerful, and the typical dark grey color in Zandbergen’s identity is the same in different productions.” After these extensive field tests,  Zandbergen and Ambrosius made their choice for curtainsiders printed with SolidskinTec. In the time to come, all trailers that are still equipped with other curtainsiders will be replaced.

Printed truck side curtains with SolidskinTec

Over 4000 new sets of  SolidskinTec printed truck sidecurtains hit the road yearly. Almost all major trailer en tarpaulin manufacturers use our printing process for their premium-grade printed sidecurtains. Many major logistic companies know from experience that no other printed truck-side curtains meet their requirements in terms of durability, wear resistance, and quality of appearance. They know from experience that no other printed side curtain meets their needs regarding durability, resistance to wear and tear, and appearance.

curtainsiders
curtainsiders
Printable solidskin schuifzeilen
Printed side curtains for trailers