Meet the new Hybrid TexWiz

Large format print technology continues to race ahead with faster machines, sharper output, and increasingly efficient pre-press workflows. And as the pace accelerates, being competitive is not just about keeping up, it’s about staying ahead. Yet while ‘feeds and speeds’ tend to grab the headlines, an overlooked yet crucial step in large format print production is often finishing.

However, while speed and performance often make the headlines, finishing remains a critical—and frequently overlooked—stage in large-format production. The challenge is that this phase can easily become the single biggest bottleneck in the entire workflow.
As our good friend and long-term partner at Cactus Imaging, Keith Ferrel, puts it:
“You’re only as fast as the slowest point in your production.”
For many companies, that slowest point is finishing.

Without strategic investment in finishing automation to reduce or eliminate that common bottleneck, print businesses risk being left behind those who are prioritising large format print finishing as a crucial part of their production line. But how do you choose which areas of finishing to prioritise when you produce a range of different large-format products on various materials, and especially when floor space is at a premium? Advancements in hybrid finishing solutions now mean there doesn’t need to be a choice.

The rise of textile

With Smithers Pira predicting the global printed signage market to grow in value from $40.9 billion in 2022 to $41.4 billion at a CAGR of 0.2% and in printed area by 0.7% CAGR to 10.4 billion m2 by 2028, it’s clear that the industry is experiencing a dramatic increase in demand for textile signage.

Its versatility, reusability, and image quality are increasingly attracting both brands and print service providers. Beyond visual impact, textile signage also delivers clear environmental benefits: it is washable, reusable, and lighter to transport.
When reinforced with polyester tape and combined with recyclable grommets—such as the recyclable transparent grommets from PLASTGROMMET—even airmesh banners can be recycled with the grommets still in place, resulting in a fully recyclable product.

In order to capitalise on the growth in demand for textile-based signage, many large format print businesses are seeking ways to diversify and expand their product offerings. For many, this will mean producing textile signage alongside their existing banner offerings. But whilst diversification makes sense from a commercial point of view, it also adds complexity to the production process, especially when it comes to finishing.

Given the different finishing requirements of welded PVC and airmesh textiles, how can print shops optimize efficiency when space and investment are constrained?

The case for hybrid finishing

Sewing textile banners can be labour-intensive and time-consuming, while traditional banner finishing often requires welding, cutting and grommeting. Typically, each process would demand its own set of machines and operators. However, this can be extremely labour and time intensive, and take up a fair amount of valuable floor space too.

This is where hybrid finishing systems come in.

Because they are designed to handle both banner and textile finishing in a single, compact system, Hybrid finishing platforms are a compelling option for print shops managing varying volumes of mixed materials. Rather than investing in two separate lines, a hybrid finishing system lets businesses automate tasks like welding, grommeting, cutting, and sewing, all in one integrated workflow. This is especially useful for businesses producing PVC banners one day, fabric airmesh banners the next, or even both in the same shift.

By combining our integrated All In One finishing platform with the new TexWiz dual sewing module, print shops can bring cutting, welding, grommeting, and sewing together in a single production line: the TexWiz hybrid system.

A solution for businesses of all sizes

Crucially, a hybrid finishing system like the Hybrid TexWiz makes automation more accessible to small and mid-sized businesses, where the individual volumes of traditional banners or textile-based work may not justify dedicated systems, but the combined demand does. For larger operations, hybrid finishing stands to increase their flexibility, helping teams keep pace with their fast, high-volume printers without overloading staff or overwhelming floor space.

Ultimately, hybrid finishing platforms help remove the dilemma of having to choose between which area of large format print finishing to automate first. You don’t need to choose between banners or textiles, or between automation and space. With a hybrid solution, you get the flexibility to handle both and the scalability to grow with changing demand.

For print businesses today, streamlining production, tackling labour shortages, and getting more out of their floorspace isn’t simply a nice to have, it’s a necessity to remain competitive. This is why investing in hybrid finishing is a smart and strategic investment, not just a clever compromise.