p42,43 Machinery:Layout 1 16/07/2009 10:37 Page 42
MACHINERY
Heat
transfer
presses
explained
Hotronix swinger
press
This article is one in an occasional series, supplied by Target Transfers and aimed specifically at the
garment decoration and embellishment industry. Target is a major UK supplier of equipment, materials,
custom transfers, garments and accessories to the imprinted wear market, and is a member of
GroupeSTAHL, the world’s leading suppliers of Identity for Textiles.
T
here is, if you will excuse the pun, a lot of will you have many breakdowns or problems, and a much lower stock holding than before, as each
"hot air" surrounding heat transfer presses. It getting spare parts is straightforward. item could be printed as it was ordered, and
is almost like a mystique has grown up It’s the same with a heat press. Before you buy, would not be committed to a design until sold.
around the machines, when in fact, all you need to check: And as the market grew larger, heat press
know are the basics! a) that it is really CE approved. manufacturers naturally started a process of
Having said that, it is important to remember the b) Can the supplier provide spare parts? evolution – both improving performance and
old cliché – "You get what you pay for". It is c) Does supplier have a repairs department? adding extra bells and whistles.
perhaps tempting to a newcomer (in particular) to d) What is the warranty? In today’s market there is a press to suit every
the trade to buy one of the cheaper presses on the e) And are they a long established, reputable commercial requirement, and what’s more, some
market. But as in almost every other circumstance, business? of them are now very sophisticated and are
it is a false economy. It’s like comparing a Trabant After all, you are depending upon this piece of computer controlled. All presses achieve the same
to a Mercedes. They both do the equipment to generate income, and the last thing end – it’s just that the extra refinements and
same thing. But which one would you will want is an unreliable press. Your customer additions make the process easier and more
you rather drive? In a few years' will not be sympathetic to your problem – so, buy efficient.
time, the Mercedes will still with care. All heat presses utilise three basic requirements:
be a great drive, but it's a
fair bet that the Trabant THE HISTORY
probably won’t. 1. TEMPERATURE
Neither Heat transfer presses started to appear years ago
in the days when there were still independent Most machines are now thermostatically controlled
sports shops and dedicated T shirt shops. so that the press can be set to a pre-determined
They were used to apply letters and temperature, and the thermostat will ensure that,
numbers to sports clothing (primarily once that temperature is reached, it will maintain
football shirts), and to create "on-the- the machine at that setting.
spot" personalised T shirts Adjustable temperature is provided, as in today’s
Hotronix clam press
for customers while they market there are many different materials and
waited. They removed the transfers which may be used, and are often
need for the retailer to use the applied at different temperatures.
services of a screen print shop As a rule, the average application temperature will
because now they could customize orders be around 160-180°C. Ensure that the press you
in-house and on-demand. are considering has a robust heating element that
This also meant that the retailer could hold covers the entire upper platen. This ensures even
| 42 | August 2009 www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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