Impressions - March 2025 - 30

GTXpro R2R DTF System, DTF Station
Prestige XL4, Epson SureColor G6070 and
ColDesi DigitalHeat FX DTF-24H4.
Other smaller, less expensive systems include
the ColDesi DTF 12H2 Basic and
diminutive tabletop Roland VersaSTUDIO
BY-20, which goes for around $8,000 and
can be integrated with its own DTF powder
shaker and heater unit in the interest
of creating a fully automated system. No
matter what size system you go with, it's
important to bear in mind a DTF printer
requires a fair bit of maintenance to ensure
it continues working properly. At issue here
are the print nozzles, especially, which can
become compromised or clogged by the ink
the systems employ.
Nonetheless, despite the upfront costs and
added work these kinds of systems engender,
there are still plenty of reasons to take the
plunge: especially if your business is an established
one, with plenty of customers and
orders in need of fast, effective fulfillment.
" If you are screen printing already and
outsourcing transfers, it's time to invest in
a direct-to-film printer. The benefits of outsourcing
are only short-lived for a screenprint
shop. The lower cost per print, increased
flexibility and ease of use are great reasons
to bring a printer in house, " ColDesi's director
of marketing, Marc Vila said.
Companies like 613 Originals are
making available an ever-widening
variety of special effects options,
including puff and glitter. Photo
courtesy of 613 Originals
As an added benefit, Vila noted that in
addition to the DTF decorating a shop might
be doing at present, you will likely " find more
jobs to run through the DTF printer as you
get used to the process " as well.
As for those decorators who are already
creating their own DTF transfers but looking
to grow this aspect of their business through
the possible acquisition of an even larger
system, Vila said, " This is going to really
depend on production. A small printer like
the BY-20 is going to be great for very short
runs that don't require a fully automated
process of powder application and curing. "
Beyond that, Vila noted that by going
with a larger system, " You will find the consistency
in quality vastly improves with a
more automated system. The answer is really
in the math. How many prints are you
running a day? How many hours do you
spend running a smaller machine? If you
increased production speed 10, how would
that impact your business? "
In this same vein, Brian Richards, marketing
director at ROQ, which recently introduced
what it calls its IMPRESS automated
heat-press system, said his company
is seeing interest in DTF among decorators
of all types and sizes.
By way of analogy, ROQ's Richards said,
" A growing small business that started with
DTF on one heat press [often] views the
IMPRESS today much like a screen-printing
business that started with a manual press views
upgrading to an automatic screen-printing
press. Once the business scales to enough
volume that you are hiring more labor to
keep up, automation begins to make more
and more sense...We've also seen some midsize
decorators adopt DTF to move a percentage
of their screen printing to DTF and
maintain only their highest volume orders
for automated screen printing. "
" Some will use DTF as a complete business
model, where others will use it to take
pressure off their other decoration methods, "
agreed Zac Biberstine, director of product
management at M&R said. " We see DTF
finding its place amongst large traditional
screen-printing operations, where it's adding
efficiencies, opening opportunities, and taking
pressure off things like cost and timeline.
We also see DTF finding its place as entry
level equipment for those that are brand
new to garment decoration. "
Whatever the case, if and when a company
decides to bring its DTG printing in-house,
it pays to 1) go with a top-quality system-
and top-quality materials-as opposed to a
cut-rate no-name printer from abroad and
2) as mentioned earlier, be ready and willing
to put in the necessary work to keep the
P.30
ImpressionsMagazine.com March 2025
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Impressions - March 2025

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