PLASTGrommet Hybrid TexWiz investment powers Britten Inc’s large-format finishing automation drive
The purchase of a Hybrid TexWiz banner finishing platform from PLASTGrommet marks a significant turning point in the event fabrication company’s large-format print finishing automation focus
Michigan-based event fabrication company Britten Inc has taken order of a Hybrid TexWiz banner finishing platform from PLASTGrommet as part of a wider investment worth over $1 million to automate its large-format print finishing department.
Over 50% of Britten’s revenue comes from printed signage with a team of 40 making up its sewing department. Historically the company has struggled to find a solution to automate its large-format print sewing, a particularly challenging area of large-format print production.
While attending FESPA 2025, Britten Inc founder Paul Britten discovered and committed to an investment in the PLASTGrommet Hybrid TexWiz, having finally found a solution that meets the company’s need for high production sewing automation. This marks the first time Britten has invested in large-format print finishing ahead of printing equipment. The Hybrid TexWiz is set to be installed in November.
Automation and Innovation, All in One
Built on the All In One automated banner finishing platform that combines hem welding, grometting, and cutting into a single process, PLASTGrommet’s new Hybrid TexWiz platform integrates a sewing module to enable automated sewing of hems along with grommeting and cutting of airmesh fabric banners.
With the Hybrid TexWiz, large-format print businesses can:
Grommet and slit with adjustable distance between grommet machines, a vision system to read grommet setting and cutting marks, and a precise and fast slitting unit with an in-built rotary cutter
Hot air weld hems, tape reinforcement and keder with setting adjustments and an accumulating system for continuous welding
Sew hems with an integrated dual sewing module for fast and efficient hemming of textile banners such as airmesh fabric banners
The addition of the TexWiz sewing module enables hybrid finishing automation for print shops simultaneously producing traditional PVC banner and textile-based banner products in a single line.
Commenting on the decision to invest in the Hybrid TexWiz platform from PLASTGrommet, Paul Britten says: “I’d made a decision following some earlier research before going to FESPA Berlin that the next mountain that I was going to try to climb was sewing automation, so that’s what I was specifically looking for at that show. PLASTGrommet has made a lot of progress and the technology has advanced substantially.”
On what it was that attracted him to the Hybrid TexWiz, Britten adds: “The increased size of bobbins on the sewing module, the increased speed, and the addition of Dürkopp Adler sewing machines dramatically caught my attention. The hybrid nature of the machine offering both welding and sewing also offers system redundancy, which has always been a priority for us at Britten.”
Over 50% of Britten's revenue comes from printed signage with a team of 40 making up its sewing department
Finish First with PLASTGrommet
Rafa Menéndez, Head of Sales and Marketing at PLASTGrommet, comments:
“Britten Inc is an impressive company with a long history of innovation and a commitment to automation that mirrors our own values at PLASTGrommet. Finishing is often the biggest yet most overlooked bottleneck in large-format production, and Britten’s significant investment in this area underlines their forward-thinking approach. By prioritizing automation in finishing, they are positioning themselves to stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly competitive market.”
The PLASTGrommet Hybrid TexWiz will be on show at PRINTING United Expo on Booth 2866, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from October 22nd to 24th, 2025, where it will make its US debut. In addition to showcasing the platform’s automation capabilities, PLASTGrommet will demonstrate that with simple switches such as using polyester reinforcement tape for hemming fabric and PLASTGrommet’s proprietary clear recyclable grommets, polyester banners can be fully recycled after use without any need to separate the grommets and tape, making for easier banner recycling.
About PLASTGrommet
PLASTGrommet is a leading manufacturer and supplier of banner finishing systems, grommet presses and grommets, welders, media storage racks and media roll lifters, as well as tools and accessories such as car wrapping squeegees. Headquartered in Alcoy, Spain, PLASTGrommet supplies high-quality finishing equipment in over 30 countries and has had a US hub in Miami since 2018, offering US customers pricing transparency that is inclusive of tariffs and shipping fees with orders often processed and dispatched within a day. For more information, visit plastgrommet.com/en
