Wollux

Rik Deman (CEO of textile printer Wollux): “An ERP story is never finished, and that’s actually a good thing”

Wollux produces thousands of flags, banners and textile carriers in-house daily, using a mix of screen printing and digital printing. This hybrid production requires tight planning, clear cost control and a single central management. CEO Rik Deman found in MultiPress an ERP partner that grows with their complexity.

From screen printing to digital printing: full-service textile production on a European scale

Wollux, market leader in communication textiles in the Benelux, has been producing flags, banners, parasols and other large-format products for more than 75 years.

The company has about 75 employees, with a strong emphasis on production roles. In addition to central administration, internal sales staff play a crucial role in advising customers, supported by production and finishing activities at their various sites in Belgium, France, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Romania.

The Belgian headquarters of Wollux in Mouscron features a hybrid and fully integrated machine park that cleverly combines screen printing and digital print technology. For large volumes, the company uses industrial Zimmer screen printing lines, which produce intensely coloured flags and banners with exceptional penetration. The digital department includes several wide-format printers from Durst and HP (including the HP Stitch), ideal for flexible, visually complex jobs in smaller runs. This production is further optimised with a Zünd G3 3XL-3200 cutting table and automatic workflow with barcode-driven job processing.

That combination of traditional power and modern precision makes Wollux unique: fast, scalable and technically ready for any customer request, from 10 to 20,000 flags.

One platform for all sites

But behind that scale was a complex IT story for years. “We worked with a combination of an internally developed application for calculations and SAP for order processing,” says CEO Rik Deman. “That became untenable. The systems couldn’t communicate, let alone be maintained.”

After thorough market research, Wollux chose MultiPress MIS/ERP. “We now have one central solution for all our branches. From CRM and calculations to planning, warehouse management, purchasing, reporting and even third-party work, everything is included,” says Deman.

For a company like Wollux, where screen printing and digital printing coexist, reliable cost calculation is essential. Especially with screen printing, with complex parameters like colour sequence, printing forms and ink consumption, it’s crucial that the ERP system correctly translates these processes into figures. MultiPress stands out in this regard: the system offers specific support for the technical complexity of screen printing calculation. This provides Wollux with a reliable basis to substantiate their prices and protect their margins, even with large volumes or technically demanding jobs.

According to him, two modules stand out:

• (Post)calculation: “We get a complete overview of the cost structure, from textiles and ink to labour time. By analysing data afterwards, we are constantly learning. We adjust based on real figures.”
• Planning: “With our high order diversity, smart machine planning is crucial. MultiPress helps us group jobs, avoid textile changes and control machines optimally. That yields immediate cost savings.”

Reporting within the company has also significantly improved. Wollux uses tailor-made dashboards per department. “Sales monitors offers and targets, purchasing looks at supplier performance, and I as CEO can immediately see where we stand in terms of margin, pain points and growth opportunities. All with one click.”

Even the logistics side is covered: “Our products often have special dimensions. Thanks to the MultiPress expedition module, we can quickly choose the right transport solution, linked to various shipping partners.”

ERP as a strategic choice

For Rik Deman, an ERP system is not a clearly defined project, but a continuous growth journey. “You don’t change ERP every year. So you choose a long-term partner who understands your business and continues to support it.” According to him, that makes the difference too: “MultiPress is not a static solution that you install and then forget. The system grows with our company and our needs. And that’s exactly what you should expect from a partner with vision. We found that trust in Dataline, and that makes the difference in the long run.”

You don’t buy an MIS/ERP system for today, but for tomorrow. Contact our experts here and let us show you how MultiPress evolves with your ambitions.