Custom clothing company from the Sault gets a new ultramodern piece of equipment with help from the province

A Sault Ste. Marie based custom printing and embroidery business was able to buy a half-million dollar piece of equipment thanks to an investment from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC).
SK Group is showing off their new direct-to-garment (DTG) machine, a Kornit Storm HD6.
Company officials called the machine "the future of garment printing."
The province provided more than $112,000 for the purchase of the new machine.
Sherry Berlinghoff is the president of SK Group and said the investment was huge for bringing in the new machine.
“NOHFC’s help in us acquiring this machine has been phenomenal. Without it, it would have taken us a lot longer to get to this spot,” said Berlinghoff
“With the funding it’s really pushed us to be able to get this moving for the north way quicker than we would have been able to do.”
The new DTG machine allows customers to submit an image online and within a minute, the device can have the intricate design on a shirt.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
It also doesn't require the charge for separate colours, like traditional garment printing.
Sault-area MPP Ross Romano was on hand for the announcement, on behalf of Greg Rickford, the Minister responsible for NOHFC.
He said it was amazing to see the new machine at work first hand.
“There’s only 45 of these across the entire country which I think is pretty cool as well,” said Romano.
“This piece of technology allows them to create a greater number of products, really customizing what people are looking for in the marketplace.”
Ross Romano announced $112k in funding for SK Group in the Sault on Jan. 28/23. (Supplied)The new printer is also eco-friendly and by making specialized orders quicker, it frees up the older printers for bulk orders, which they excel at.
Berlinghoff also told CTV News that the company was able to hire five additional staff because of the machine.
With the possibility of expansion even more likely now, she said that number could increase.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What are the predictions for Canada's real estate market this spring?
The Canadian real estate market has been sluggish since last year, when prospective buyers started putting off plans to purchase homes as the Bank of Canada aggressively hiked interest rates eight consecutive times. But realtors see many edging toward a purchase once more.

China and Russia's complicated friendship, explained
Chinese leader Xi Jinping just concluded a three-day visit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a warm affair in which the two men praised each other and spoke of a profound friendship. It's a high point in a complicated, centuries-long relationship.
What made Beethoven sick? DNA from his hair offers clues
Nearly 200 years after Ludwig van Beethoven's death, researchers pulled DNA from strands of his hair, searching for clues about the health problems and hearing loss that plagued him.
Calgary doctor performs spine surgery on conscious patient
Last month, Dr. Michael Yang, a spine surgeon at Foothills Medical Centre, performed a discectomy to remove the damaged part of a herniated disc in the spine, on a patient who was wide awake.
Gwyneth Paltrow ski collision trial brings doctors to stand
Doctors and family members are expected to testify on Wednesday in a trial about a 2016 ski crash between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired Utah man suing her and claiming her recklessness left him with lasting injuries and brain damage.
'I'm a Canadian': MP named in foreign interference report speaks out, refutes claims
The Liberal MP who allegedly benefitted from Chinese election interference is speaking out against the report, categorically stating the foreign government did not help him in his nomination campaign.
Canadians throw out millions of food products each year. Here's how to reduce that waste
Canadians are throwing out millions of food products each year, a practice that is not only harming the environment but also their wallets. Here are some tips to reduce food waste from an eco expert.
Shake Shack to come to Canada in 2024 with first location set for Toronto
Canadians with a hankering for Shake Shack's juicy burgers soon won't have to cross the border to satisfy their cravings. Toronto-based private investment firms Osmington Inc. and Harlo Entertainment Inc. announced plans Wednesday to bring the U.S. fast food giant to Canada.
5 remain missing as rescuers continue search through wreckage of Old Montreal fire
The search for victims continues in Old Montreal Wednesday, nearly a week after a major fire left at least two dead and five missing. Rescuers are slowly but surely combing through the historic building, which contained multiple illegal Airbnb units at the time of the fire.