UFabrik appoints Tsekmeres GS as Greek distributor in continued European expansion

UFabrik has extended its European distribution network into Greece with the appointment of Tsekmeres GS, an established supplier to the country's textile, screen, and large format digital printing industries.

The agreement brings UFabrik's digital textile portfolio to a market where UV and latex technologies remain dominant, but where dye sublimation is emerging as a significant area of potential growth. The partnership will focus on providing high quality textiles for silicone edge graphics (SEG) applications, alongside a wider substrate offering for the Greek market.

Founded in 1968, Tsekmeres GS has been supplying the Greek print industry for almost six decades. Its portfolio encompasses printing systems, machinery, inks, software, roll to roll substrates, auxiliary equipment and consumables.

The company has longstanding relationships with several major international manufacturers. It has represented Fujifilm Specialty Ink Systems for more than 50 years, including the Sericol, Color+, Uvijet and Euromedia ranges. It has also distributed M&R garment and cut piece printing equipment since 1999 and Atexco digital textile printing technology since 2019. It has been an IGEPA Group partner since 2017.

The IGEPA relationship was instrumental in bringing the two companies together. Tsekmeres GS had been looking for a specialist textile manufacturer capable of meeting the demanding requirements of SEG applications.

Colleagues within the IGEPA network recommended UFabrik, based on their experience of the products in other European markets.

Padelis Tsekmeres, general manager of Tsekmeres GS, said: ‘We wanted to work with a manufacturer that could deliver the quality and consistency required for SEG applications. UFabrik was recommended by our colleagues within IGEPA, who have had very positive experiences with its textiles.

‘We are still in the early stages of introducing the range into Greece, but the feedback from our European colleagues has given us considerable confidence in the products.’

Tsekmeres GS operates an established stockholding infrastructure, maintaining approximately 1500 product codes, including media, inks, and spare parts. The company places considerable importance on inventory planning and product availability. Before introducing new media products, it establishes stock levels to meet anticipated demand, monitoring market developments and customer feedback to ensure continuity of supply.

Padelis said, ‘Product consistency and availability are essential to our business. We need to be confident that we can maintain sufficient stock to respond to customers' requirements, including urgent and unexpected orders.

‘UFabrik's manufacturing and supply infrastructure gives us the reliability we need to maintain local availability, even when customers require materials at very short notice.’

Technical support is another important part of the distributor's service. Its specialist teams provide individual consultations and on-site testing, working with customers to establish the correct printing conditions for different substrates and equipment.

This includes adjustments to media feeding, ink volumes and colour profiles to ensure materials perform consistently and deliver optimum visual results.

‘Our technical teams work directly with customers to make sure the media is running correctly on their equipment,’ added Padelis. ‘That includes testing and adjusting print settings to achieve the best results. It is an important part of the support we provide.’

The company will work with existing and prospective customers to identify appropriate products for current applications and future projects, with an emphasis on quality, dependable supply and technical support.

Padelis concluded, ‘We are committed to continually improving our portfolio with quality products, reliable stock management and new technologies.

‘We encourage customers to talk to us about their current and upcoming projects so that we can identify the UFabrik textiles best suited to their requirements, with performance and sustainability important considerations in the solutions we provide.’

Monika Mourao, European Sales Director at UFabrik, said: ‘Tsekmeres GS brings an extraordinary depth of industry experience to this partnership. Its longstanding relationships with leading manufacturers, extensive knowledge of the Greek market and established customer base make it a valuable addition to our European distribution network.

‘Greece is an interesting market for us, particularly as textile printing continues to develop. We look forward to working closely with Padelis and his team to establish UFabrik in the region and build on the opportunities ahead.’