The digital direct-to-film (DTF) printing market has expanded rapidly this decade, offering a flexible and affordable solution for the garment decoration market.

However, its emergence as the first inkjet printing technology to originate from China has presented European manufacturers with a unique challenge: competing against well-established Chinese print service providers (PSPs) with lower-cost offerings. For Spain-based digital ink manufacturer Afford Inks, the solution lies in differentiation – focusing on quality, certifications and sustainability rather than price alone.

According to Pedro J. Martínez, CEO of Afford Inks, the company anticipated the rise of DTF early on, leveraging its existing expertise in pigment inks to enter the market. Martínez said: “Compared to other European companies, we were quick to react to the growth of DTF technology in China. We always knew we wouldn’t be able to compete on price, so we had to focus on product performance, regulatory compliance and sustainability, which is our USP in the DTF space.”

Certifications
One of Afford Inks’ key strategies has been securing internationally recognised certifications to validate the quality and safety of its inks. “Our factory has been audited by GOTS, and we have Eco Passport Level 3 certification from Oeko-Tex,” Martínez added. “This is important