Completing the acquisition on 1 November, the garment and bag supplier-decorator also brought on board ARC Textiles’ managing director and founder Alan Chidgey, alongside five staff. 

Clive Allcott, commercial director of DTB, said ARC, which specialises in dye sublimation printed towels and blankets, had long been a strategic supplier for the firm. 

The existing synergies between the two companies’ products and staff would only enhance their ability to serve their customers, he said, adding: “Our two companies have shared a close relationship for many years and will combine their products to bring the best of these to the industry.”

DTB’s sales director, Mark Somerfield, added: “I think it’s a natural progression for us.

“We've been involved in the digital dye-sublimation market for a number of years, without properly putting our toe in the water. So it's a natural progression for the business.”

DTB’s prior digital capabilities included direct-to-garment (DTG), direct-to-film (DTF) and a large-volume digital transfer system, called TST Transfer Technology, which prints onto paper rather than film before being transferred. 

Chidgey, installed as digital sales manager on 7 November, will head up DTB’s digital expansion. 

He told Printweek: “The sale was something that we have been working on together for quite some time [...] We’re working on a range of transfer products, dye-sublimation products, thinks like towels, blankets, t-shirts – products you can digitally print at full colour, edge to edge.

“It’s just great. It has a huge amount of potential going forward, and I am very excited.”