Impressions - March 2023 - 35

for the cap or hat being decorated and an integrated hold-down strap
to secure the transfer being applied to ensure everything stays in place.
Similarly, the Geo Knight DK7 includes a hold-down device that
pulls the rear strap of whatever kind of hat is being decorated down
against the pressing surface. Same thing with the STAHLS' Hotronix
MAXX Cap, 360 IQ and Auto Cap, the HPN Black and Signature
series cap presses, the Insta 418 hat press and the Ricoma line of hat
presses, all of which come equipped with a kind of lever-operated
hold-down system.
Hold-down features like these are " very important, " says Geo Knight
& Co.'s Knight. " Without [them] the cap is too loose on the bottom
table and can move around and cause a lot of handling issues and
time lost. "
" Our customers especially treasure the hold-down bracket and strap, "
says HIX Corporation's global graphics sales manager at HIX Corporation
Henri Coëme. " It fi rmly secures the transfer in place prior to
releasing it, i.e., removing your fi ngers, and closing the press. Without
this hold-down device, removing your hand from the transfer with
nothing else holding it down is hit-and-miss. "
As is the case with a conventional clamshell press, overall construction
quality is also key when evaluating these kinds of presses.
Granted, there are plenty of inexpensive, foreign-made presses out
there available on, say, Amazon. However, while this kind of equipment
may work great for hobbyists, it will inevitably-and often very
quickly-come up short for professionals, the same was with a conventional
fl at-platen press.
Platen quality, for example, is again critical to ensuring you get even,
consistent pressing temperatures across the entire design throughout
even the longest production run. Th e key here is a platen with a dense
heating element traversing the entire pressing area, as opposed to a
much sparser pattern that all too often results in cold spots.
You could even argue, STAHLS' Harding says, that platen quality,
which in this case includes the engineered curvature of both the top
and bottom platens, may be even more critical in a hat press than a
consistent pressing temperatures across the entire design throughout
even the longest production run. Th e key here is a platen with a dense
heating element traversing the entire pressing area, as opposed to a
You could even argue, STAHLS' Harding says, that platen quality,
which in this case includes the engineered curvature of both the top
and bottom platens, may be even more critical in a hat press than a
of the HIX B-250. Photos courtesy of HIX Corporation
The hold-down bracket and strap can be easily seen in these shots
conventional press. Th e reason? Because you no longer have the option
of employing heat printing pads or pillows to make things work.
" With headwear, particularly baseball caps, you must pay close attention
to support of the blank hat, " Harding explains. " For example,
the crown of a cap is susceptible to creasing or folding when the upper
platen's pressure is applied during heat application, so it's important
to have a quality lower platen that properly fi ts the blanks. Otherwise,
decorators may encounter issues with transfer adhesion or even ruin
the integrity of the hat. "
Beyond that, look for rock-solid construction quality overall, especially
in the system's base, handles and pressing linkages. Note, this is
another situation in which you 1) get what you pay for 2) would be
well advised to go with a system made here in the United States and
3) should make sure the press you're purchasing comes with both a
warranty easy to access customer support. Th e latter, in addition to
the build quality of domestically produced brands, is one of the main
reasons to go with " Made in the U.S.A. " If or when your press goes
down in the middle of a rush job, the last thing you're going to want
to have to deal with is a company on the other side of the world, or
a company that won't answer the phone!
Taking an even closer look at the nuts and bolts of a well-made
press, HIX Corporation's Coëme emphasizes the bottom platen pad
is especially important, saying the goal is a " goldilocks middle-ofthe-road "
compromise between enough fi rmness to provide proper
pressure and enough softness to allow for easy operation.
Equally important, he says, is the arm linkage system that allows for
March 2023
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Impressions - March 2023

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