A Look Back at WB/WEEK ’23

Last week, July 19-22, we hosted WB/WEEK ‘23 at MADE Laboratory in Fort Worth, TX. Decorators from around the country came together to learn from the best in the industry and perfect their water-based printing skills while making new friends and discussing the challenges we all face in every region.

WB/BASIC

We began the activities with a new workshop named WB/BASIC. As per the title, we covered all of the fundamental foundations of using water-based ink. Decorators of various skill levels and backgrounds, but new to water-based printing, were able to learn from industry-leading manufacturers Avient, Matsui, and Green Galaxy, through a series of discussions and hands-on print demonstrations.

WB/CAMP

Continuing the week’s events, WB/CAMP promised to ‘demystify’ the provocations of water-based printing, delivering attendees a deep-dive into advanced techniques and operations. Instructors from Night Owls, Forward Printing, Avient, Matsui, and Green Galaxy covered everything from learning simulated process, wet-on-wet printing, to small details like popping shirts out of the dryer to remove discharge bridging and providing an immediate soft print to the customer without washing. Jeffery Paul of Youngone, ltd., expanded the understanding of what high-volume production means on a global scale. Questions were answered during in-depth panels, and we even got to riff with our friend Matt Marcotte during a live take-over of the Print Hustlers Podcast.

We want to extend an enormous thank you to this years event sponsors: PRINTING United Alliance, Green Galaxy, Avient, Matsui, PMI Tape, SAATI, Graphic Screen Fashion, SanMar, BELLA+CANVAS, ROQ.US, Supacolor, Inktavo, Hirsch Solutions, and Reece Supply Co.