USColorworks expands digital apparel production with Kornit Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS
North Carolina-based apparel decorator strengthens its on-demand production capabilities with Kornit’s latest DTG technology, targeting a 30% increase in output across multiple fabric types.
USColorworks, a North Carolina-based apparel decoration and fulfilment company, has expanded its digital production capabilities by adding Kornit Digital’s Atlas MATRIX and Atlas MAX PLUS systems. The investment is expected to increase the company’s on-demand apparel and textile production by around 30%, while improving print quality across cotton, blended fabrics and polyester.
The move marks one of the first commercial installations of Kornit’s newly introduced Atlas MATRIX direct-to-garment (DTG) platform. The system enables USColorworks to produce high-quality prints on a wider range of fabrics while simplifying production for both short-run and large-volume orders.
The expansion supports the company’s growing demand from retail and promotional customers seeking faster delivery, consistent quality and flexible order quantities.
Supporting on-demand production across all order sizes
USColorworks has been strengthening its digital production strategy as brands increasingly look for suppliers that can handle both bulk production and single-item fulfilment within the same workflow.
With the Atlas MATRIX platform, the company can produce customised garments on demand without maintaining large inventories. Instead of stocking finished products, orders can be printed and shipped directly to customers as they are received.
The new system also eliminates the need for pre-treatment, reduces labour requirements and delivers a softer hand feel, helping improve production efficiency while maintaining consistent print quality.
Alongside the Atlas MATRIX installation, USColorworks is replacing several legacy production systems to create a unified workflow capable of handling orders ranging from one garment to thousands.
Reducing dependence on DTF printing
Another key objective of the investment is reducing the company’s reliance on direct-to-film (DTF) printing for short-run polyester orders.
DTF has been widely used for polyester print-on-demand applications but typically involves additional production steps. By shifting these jobs to Kornit’s DTG platform, USColorworks expects to simplify operations while maintaining quality across different fabric types.
The Atlas MATRIX system supports printing on cotton, polyester and blended fabrics, allowing the company to manage a broader mix of customer orders through a single production platform.
Growing retail demand drives investment
According to Rodney McDonald, President of USColorworks, digital production has become essential for serving today’s retail market.
He said digital technology has significantly improved the company’s competitiveness and revenue, adding that suppliers increasingly need the flexibility to handle both bulk programmes and on-demand orders within one production process.
McDonald noted that speed, consistency and accuracy remain critical requirements for retail customers. Since installing the Atlas MATRIX system, USColorworks has already seen a noticeable increase in production volumes from retail clients and expects the platform to support print-on-demand growth across its business.
Kornit focuses on scalable digital manufacturing
Kornit Digital introduced the Atlas MATRIX platform during its Kornit Konnections event earlier this year as part of its strategy to expand digital apparel production for the growing on-demand market.
Chris Carson, Vice President of Sales at Kornit North America, said the company developed Atlas MATRIX to help brands and manufacturers adopt digital production without the limitations associated with conventional manufacturing methods.
He added that early customer installations are already delivering measurable production benefits, and USColorworks’ latest investment demonstrates how manufacturers are increasingly using digital production to improve flexibility, efficiency and responsiveness to market demand.
As consumer expectations continue to shift towards faster delivery and customised products, investments in scalable digital production systems are becoming an important part of apparel manufacturing strategies, particularly for companies serving retail, e-commerce and promotional markets.
