Sports apparel producer Soul Sports Penrith has upgraded its wide format print kit to sustain its growth and keep work in Australia

The Western Sydney business, which prints on and sells clothing and equipment for sports teams, has installed a new high-speed Mimaki TS300P-1800 dye sublimation printer.

Director Steve Sardi says upgrading the Soul’s equipment is necessary to stay competitive and will increase speed and efficiency while replacing three old machines.

“Dye sublimation printing enables us to keep sports apparel manufacturing in Australia. This means producing short runs of just a few jerseys or netball dresses, or kitting out entire squads,” he says.

[Related: Kitted up]

“The TS300P-1800 we bought from Fujifilm can run at up to 115 square metres per hour, and has a new ink set that reduces costs and minimises nozzle blockage, so it will boost production for us.

“The vibrancy of the new inks is really impressive, and the new anti-cockling mechanism will further improve print quality and reduce waste.”

Sardi runs the 25-year-old business with partners Brad Connelly and Mark Hennessy with a turnover of $1m after acquiring similar business The Netball Shop a year ago.

“We have nothing to compare it to but overall the business has grown. In fact, since we opened our doors we have never gone backwards,” he says.

Sardi says the market is becoming more competitive and Australians need to take a hard look at themselves when buying overseas products.

“We import 50 per cent of our manufacturing from overseas, mostly large runs, orders exceeding 500 units, which is also depended on clients and how competitive we need to be,” he says.

“Today customers are not thinking of the future when they buy overseas owned, albeit cheaper, products. And what this does to the industry owned brands is not thought of.

“I always buy Australian owned products because that supports our industries and our economy.”

Soul Sports produces sublimation-printed AFL, athletic, soccer, hockey, roller derby and rugby uniforms as well as school jerseys, polos and tee shirts.

Basketballs, netballs, protective gear, trackies and hoodies are also in the inventory. It still offers screen print and embroidery facilities along with digital dye-sublimation.

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