We create finest textile printing inks available in the world
Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc is redefining performance and sustainability in the printing ink industry through innovation, data-driven development, and a deep understanding of materials. Known for its versatile Natron and SilTex ink series, the company offers high-performance solutions that meet the evolving needs of textile, rubber, and industrial printing.
From creating inks that print seamlessly across diverse substrates to developing silicone-based inks that enhance durability, flexibility, and safety, Boston Industrial Solutions continues to empower decorators and manufacturers worldwide. In conversation with Fibre2Fashion, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Bonaventure Mutuku, discusses the company’s customer-centric innovation, advanced formulations, and vision for the future of textile printing.
What differentiates Boston Industrial Solutions’ printing inks from competitors in terms of performance and innovation?
Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc possesses an unmatched understanding of materials in the industry which plays a crucial role in the development of new ink. We also prioritise our customers' needs—what would their ideal ink look like.
Furthermore, we consider factors like environment and technology, relying heavily on data to guide and inform our ink development process. By combining these elements with our passion, we create some of the finest inks in the world which significantly differentiate us from our competitors.
For instance, one of our ink series can print on a wide range of materials. In contrast, competitors often require four or five different ink lines to achieve similar versatility.
Our ink enables customers to consolidate their inventory, resulting in reduced stock levels, improved printing quality, and lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
What challenges are printers currently facing, and how does Boston Industrial Solutions help them overcome?
The current challenges faced by printers include the difficulty of finding the right ink for their materials. Although there are additional issues related to logistics and trade, the primary concern for decorators remains selecting the appropriate ink for their applications.
Boston Industrial Solutions can offer or develop custom inks on demand when our existing portfolio does not meet a customer's specific needs. Furthermore, we have created some of the most effective and advanced adhesion primers available, designed to address ink adhesion challenges.
What makes the XG Series stand out from conventional inks in terms of opacity, flexibility, and finish?
The Natron XG Series ink line was developed as an alternative to our outgoing NxT Series, which was designed for printing on rubber materials. This new ink (XG) can print on a wide range of substrates, including various rubber types such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), Viton, Butadyl, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), polyurethane, and soft touch coated plastics, nylons, polyesters, natural fabrics, and synthetic materials like Tyvek and Lycra.
Furthermore, it provides excellent controllability and can be utilised for both screen printing and pad printing applications. When paired with the appropriate solvent, it demonstrates outstanding screen stability and printability. As a single component, it boasts a long pot life, comparable to that of UV screen printing inks. In combination with pad printing ink, it exhibits excellent ink pickup and release properties.
The XG Series offers high opacity, exceptional flexibility, chemical resistance, and a glossy finish. Whether you are printing hard goods like rubber or on fabrics such as tagless materials; you can expect crisp, durable prints with unmatched high opacity compared to other inks available today.
What inspired the addition of six new colours to the Natron XG Series, and how were these specific shades chosen?
Customer needs inspired the addition of six new colours. All inks in this series, like our other inks, are intermixable to create new shades.
Previously, customers found it challenging to match some bright colours with the existing options. The new colours provide customers with additional choices, creating new opportunities for them.
With these new colours, it is now possible to match any colour in the Pantone coated colour matching system or, more simply, any colour desired, ranging from metallics to neon shades.
How does your SilTex HD ink address the challenges of frequent washing, stretching, and wearing of textiles compared to conventional inks?
SilTex HD ink is a silicone-based screen-printing ink developed as an alternative to plastisol. With its high solid content and lighter weight, it offers unlimited colour options and delivers superior opacity compared to traditional plastisol inks.
The elevated solid content also allows printers to use 30–50 per cent less ink while achieving similar or even higher opacity in prints.
This ink does not fade or crack and maintains its vibrancy for the lifespan of the printed fabric—remains as vibrant as the day it was printed. Additionally, it offers 500X stretchability compared to conventional screen-printing inks.
It is relatively safer as it is free from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates, and heavy metals and hence, ideal for printing on children’s and medical clothing.
SilTex AS ink is designed for anti-slip grips — which industries are seeing the most demand for this solution?
The SilTex AS Series is designed for printing grip on hospital and sporting socks and gloves, as well as grip socks intended for indoor trampoline parks. We have noticed an increase in demand driven by the rise of indoor playgrounds.
The SilTex GR and XF inks offer a glossy, round finish—which applications or brands are most drawn to this high-shine look?
Prints produced with this ink series are notable for their high gloss finish and exceptional durability. Both GR and XF are designed specifically for sporting goods.
What testing protocols do you use to ensure SilTex inks maintain colour vibrancy and adhesion even after repeated laundering?
All our inks contain fade-resistant pigments which enable it to maintain its vibrancy without fading throughout the life of the fabric. Additionally, because SilTex inks are made using high-purity silicone, the silicone encapsulates the pigments, which prevents them from coming into direct contact with detergents.
How do your inks support faster curing times and reduce downtime for screen printers or textile decorators?
SilTex series inks are designed for efficiency and are optimised for rapid drying at low temperatures while ensuring a long pot life for extended production. Furthermore, the drying time can be adjusted by increasing the catalyst ratio and reducing the temperature, making them suitable for printing on heat-sensitive textiles.
How do your customised colour matching services ensure precision and consistency for global brands?
We utilise advanced technology to provide our colour matching services, ensuring that we deliver precise and consistent colours for global brands. Our extensive database contains colours from hundreds of brands around the world.
Furthermore, we employ both digital and analogue colour matching tools to guarantee that each colour we match meets our customers' needs. Each matched colour undergoes testing to confirm that it prints accurately in relation to the customer’s colour sample and the intended printing background—the result is an impeccable replica of the customer’s colour.
We match colours using various standards, including Pantone, RAL, Federal Standard, Coloro, and others.
Do you witness growing demand for customised colours and textures in textile printing, and how does Boston Industrial Solutions cater to this need?
We have seen an increase in demand for customised colours in the shoe and textile printing industries. Additionally, there is also a growing demand for raised (3D) prints. To accommodate this, we have increased the number of available colour matching stations and invested in an automated colour matching system to meet the heightened demand.
For 3D prints, we have developed a 3D printing ink—the HD ink series—and embossing silicone—the EB Series.
Are there plans to expand the SilTex or Natron product lines further?
We plan to expand both the Natron and SilTex ink lines to meet customer needs and demands. There are current materials that present printing challenges. Additionally, there are new materials coming into the market that make it impossible to print both durable goods and textiles. Our goal is to develop inks that effectively print on these materials.
We specifically aim to develop inks for the SilTex series that are tailored for smart clothing and fabrics.
How are consumer preferences for personalisation and unique finishes shaping the future of textile printing?
Consumer preferences for personalisation and unique finishes are prompting manufacturers to create systems that efficiently meet these demands. These expectations are fostering innovation in the printing equipment and ink manufacturing sectors to fulfil these specific needs.
