Directa Plus PLC (LON:DCTA) is to invest €240,000 into an EU-sponsored initiative to develop a digital printing method for textiles using graphene.
The €1mln GREEN.TEX project is designed to reduce the environmental impact of textiles production and also involves EFI Reggiani, the Italian subsidiary of global digital printing group Electronics For Imaging (EFI), and IBS Consulting.
Directa Plus will receive an EU grant of €100,000 for the project, which will look for a digital way of printing using a water-based graphene ink and ecologically friendly fabrics.
The AIM-listed group will develop a suitable grade of G+ for the process; EFI Reggiani will develop specific ink and printing equipment while IBS will identify and supply fabrics.
Digital printing will represent an important step forward from traditional rotary screen printing as it offers superior flexibility of production, such as the possibility to print small batches of fabrics without significant set-up costs,
Giulio Cesareo, Directa Plus chief executive, said: “[Its] strategy in each of our industrial verticals is to capture as much value as possible from the supply chain, by working with established partners to develop processes that we can bring to market worldwide.
“This partnership will advance this strategy in our key textiles vertical.”