{"id":30300,"date":"2025-05-27T07:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T07:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/?p=30300"},"modified":"2025-11-16T15:27:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T15:27:31","slug":"inside-kornits-apollo-the-industrys-mass-production-powerhouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/inside-kornits-apollo-the-industrys-mass-production-powerhouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Kornit\u2019s Apollo: The Industry\u2019s Mass Production Powerhouse"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/b>As the digital printing industry moves toward faster, more agile production models, traditional analog methods can feel increasingly rigid. In the world of direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, the demand for speed, scalability, and sustainability has never been greater. With the apparel industry\u2019s shift toward on-demand, just-in-time (JIT) production, Kornit Digital\u2019s Apollo technology is the game-changing solution. The Apollo offers a bridge between the speed of analog and the flexibility of digital, purpose-built for high-volume operations. Developed over several years with input from some of the world\u2019s busiest print floors and launched in 2023 after years of rigorous beta testing, the Apollo is Kornit\u2019s response to a shifting production landscape\u2014one majorly defined by a supreme demand for <\/span>creative flexibility<\/span>,<\/span> local responsiveness<\/span>, and <\/span>sustainable profitability<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Apollo can most effectively be considered a platform – not simply a printer. It is part of a longer-term transformation in how garments are produced\u2014one that\u2019s increasingly automated, digitally connected, and localized. \u201cApollo represents a turning point for digital textile printing\u2014not just in speed and quality, but in how it redefines production,\u201d says Moran Levy, who along with Efi Yohanani, leads the printer\u2019s in-depth R&D and system management. \u201cIn five years, I see it setting a new standard for high-volume, on-demand digital workflows. Ten years out, it could be at the center of fully automated, interconnected production floors\u2014linked to e-commerce, supply chains, and real-time order systems\u2014enabling faster turnaround, <\/span>real-time adaptability<\/span>, and <\/span>mass customization<\/span> at scale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Designing from the Ground Up<\/strong><\/h4>\n

<\/b>Unlike many printers that are retrofits or reconfigurations of older tech, Apollo was built from scratch with <\/span>high-throughput digital production<\/span> in mind. Its automated workflow\u2014from garment loading to curing\u2014is designed to keep operations moving, minimizing downtime and labor. One thing that often surprises new users is how swiftly it runs. \u201cThe most consistent feedback we get is around the speed,\u201d says Levy. \u201cIn some cases, customers have had to rework their entire floor management strategy just to keep up. Picking and staging garments efficiently becomes critical\u2014otherwise the Apollo can outpace the rest of the process.\u201d <\/span>
\n<\/span>With a throughput of up to 400 garments per hour, the Apollo is capable of supporting annual production levels well into the seven figures\u2014all with a relatively small footprint and a single operator. Effectively the most industrial-grade solution in the DTG space, the Apollo is ideal for companies with high production volumes\u2014550,000 impressions per year at a minimum, though it truly shines above 700,000. It\u2019s well-suited for jobs that were traditionally produced using analog methods, like short runs of 200 to 300 units with a few colors. Those can now be done digitally, without sacrificing quality.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Digital Efficiency Meets Operational Flexibility<\/b><\/h4>\n

While speed is a standout, Apollo\u2019s core strength may lie in its <\/span>integration-ready design<\/span>. It supports full automation via API, making it easier to connect to <\/span>production planning systems<\/span>, <\/span>e-commerce platforms<\/span>, or <\/span>digital order flows<\/span>. Yet it\u2019s equally functional as a standalone unit, allowing for localized or semi-automated use depending on the operation. \u201cApollo was designed as a truly digital solution,\u201d Levy explains. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about speed\u2014it\u2019s about ergonomics, reliability, and how it fits into a modern workflow. Every decision was made to support efficient, high-volume production.\u201d This balance of automation and manual flexibility makes it adaptable\u2014whether you\u2019re running a tightly <\/span>integrated fulfillment network<\/span> or <\/span>scaling<\/span> a <\/span>mid-sized business<\/span> into new markets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Kornit is also tapping into new innovations regarding how businesses invest in the Apollo. With its all-inclusive SaaS \u201cpay-per-click\u201d model, customers don\u2019t need to purchase the printer outright. Instead, they pay a fixed fee per impression\u2014covering the printer, consumables, and service. This frees up capital for businesses by removing the printing costs associated with each order. Customers only pay when they\u2019re producing and selling, which makes it a more scalable, lower-risk model for businesses that are growing. This approach also simplifies planning. In contrast to traditional <\/span>capital expenditure models<\/span>\u2014where the cost per garment can vary depending on ink coverage\u2014the Apollo model offers a <\/span>predictable cost structure<\/span>, easing pricing decisions and <\/span>financial forecasting<\/span>. With the AIC model, the cost per garment is fixed and predictable, removing the variability often seen in traditional CAPEX setups. Kornit also assists in providing samples and detailed cost analyses so customers can actually visualize and map out a plan that fits their most agile and cost effective business needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Built-in Sustainability<\/b><\/h4>\n

<\/b>For businesses trying to reduce their environmental impact, Apollo offers meaningful advantages. Its pigment ink system eliminates the water-intensive processes required by other technologies, while its built-in infrared dryer is designed to minimize energy waste through insulation and targeted heat distribution. More importantly, Apollo enables<\/span> just-in-time production<\/span>\u2014helping reduce overproduction and excess inventory by aligning output more closely with <\/span>real-time demand<\/span>. \u201cIt\u2019s not only about greener materials or processes\u2014it\u2019s about making the entire production model more efficient and less wasteful,\u201d emphasizes Levy. This kind of change can ripple throughout a supply chain, especially as more brands prioritize both <\/span>environmental impact <\/span>and <\/span>production transparency<\/span>.<\/span><\/h4>\n

For apparel decorators, fulfillment centers, and global brands alike, the move to digital is no longer a question of if, but how. With its focus on<\/span> high-speed output<\/span>, <\/span>scalable automation<\/span>, and <\/span>environmental responsibility<\/span>, Kornit\u2019s Apollo is a thoughtfully designed answer for operations that want to grow with the best of the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

To explore how to future-proof your production floor and make your workflow more responsive to real-world demand, find out more here \u2192 <\/span>Kornit Apollo<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the digital printing industry moves toward faster, more agile production models, traditional analog methods can feel increasingly rigid. In the world of direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, the demand for speed, scalability, and sustainability has never been greater. With the apparel industry\u2019s shift toward on-demand, just-in-time (JIT) production, Kornit Digital\u2019s Apollo technology is the game-changing solution. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":30301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[280],"class_list":["post-30300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-industry"],"acf":[],"modified_by":"Angora Media","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/27"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30300"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30313,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30300\/revisions\/30313"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kornit.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}