On 11 December DCC inaugurated a 'Textile Experience Zone'; "the first of its kind," said Vasudevan LK, business manager, Epson India. At its 10,000sq/ft space in Pandurangwadi, near Dahisar toll naka, the father-son duo of Narendra Dadia and Dhaval Dadia have conceptualised an experience zone displaying the many textile and dye-sublimation applications that they have on offer.

Beginning with an apparel boutique, a wedding zone, a children's room, a boutique cafe and finally, corporate office set-ups, one can 'see touch and feel' at the Experience Zone. Across these sections, on display were textile applications as diverse as personalised tables, personalised crockery, back-lits, front-lits, table tops, ceiling decorations, wall murals and so on. All this, printed on the Epson Surecolor F6070 and Surecolor F7170.

"The possibilities are endless. A photographer, an interior designer, need to see beyond paper as a substrate. Using the Epson machine with the eco-friendly UltraChrome DS inks, one can conceptulaise and produce various applications across all sections and age groups," said Dhaval.

He goes ahead to explain, "The photographs printed on aluminium sheet can remain intact for 300 years, thanks to inks and media used. Furthermore, these prints are scratch proof and can be wiped clean of any marks. It means longer shelf-life plus the convenience and luxury of tweaking the decor to your taste with the changing trends. The proverbial win-win at all times."

On display and in operation were the two Epson equipment. These are six-months old at DCC. Both the SC F6070, which handles a media width of 44-inch and the SC F7170, which handles a media width of 64-inch, are designed with the Epson PrecisionCore TFP print heads which work only with the UltraChrome DS inks.

With the Experience Zone, which is open to all, DCC has entered the B2C segment. At the inauguration DCC announced the launch of its B2C brand, UNQ. UNQ will provide the end-users with apparel solutions through its eCommerce website, which was launched a couple of months ago. "Today, the website deals with apparels only. In next two months, our website will handle all the products from frames to murals to coasters to cushion covers, everything that is available at Experience Zone."

"At Tirupur, where we operate out of a 20,000 sq/ft area, we have a similar Expreience Zone, only bigger in size. The applications showcased there are, however, different, adhering to the market demand and trends."

Barring the investment in technology (read machines) DCC has pumped in close to Rs two crore in the setting up of the Experience Zone.

Today, DCC represents 20 international brands from across the globe. These include inks, substrates, and screen-printing and heat transfer machines. Some of the brands that DCC represents include Jetcol, Monti Antonio, Swangrass, Union Inks, Wastach, and Unisub. The company has been a supplier of equipment, substrates and inks since the past 20 years.

Toshiyuki Kasai, president and CEO of Epson India, "The Experience Zone is a great concept. Such initiatives will educate and create an awareness, among the end-users, of the many possibilities of the dye-sublimation technology and the power of print."