UK manufacturer Basic Prints commits to digital-first production model with Kornit Apollo

Founded more than 30 years ago, Basic Prints has built its reputation supporting leading high street retailers, licensed music programs, and private label fashion brands with high-quality manufacturing and garment decoration. Basic Prints has now strategically transitioned the majority of its UK production from traditional screen printing to fully automated digital mass production – positioning itself at the forefront of agile, on-demand driven apparel manufacturing.

With two Apollo systems running at industrial scale, each capable of producing thousands of prints per day, Basic Prints has redefined its operational model to meet the speed, complexity, and unpredictability of today’s retail environment. The investment enables Basic Prints to deliver rapid replenishment, manage complex graphics without setup limitations, and switch designs instantly while maintaining consistent industrial level quality.

Apollo is a fully automated high volume DTG platform that manages loading, printing, curing, and unloading in a seamless workflow. By eliminating traditional screen setup processes and significantly reducing labor intensity, the system enables true end-to-end digital mass production at scale.

“This is not about just adding capacity. It’s about redefining how apparel is produced at scale,” said Ronen Samuel, Chief Executive Officer at Kornit Digital. “Basic Prints has moved most of its production from screen to digital and is running thousands of prints per day on each of their Apollo systems. That shift gives them the freedom to change designs instantly, manage complex graphics with ease, run short- or mid-sized orders without setup limitations, and deliver consistent quality at industrial volumes, proving again that digital is ready for mainstream retail production.”

By bringing high-volume digital production closer to market, Basic Prints enables retailers to reduce inventory risk, shorten lead times, and react quickly to demand spikes. The move supports a broader industry shift toward a more agile, data-driven manufacturing model.

“We have spent more than three decades manufacturing garments for the UK retail market,” said Kieran Hickey, Founder of Basic Prints. “Digital production is no longer an add-on to our business. It is now the backbone of how we operate. With two Apollo systems in place, we can deliver industrial scale with the flexibility modern retail demands. It simplifies our operations, increases speed-to-market, and allows us to support our customers with greater responsiveness than ever before.”