THE DTG COLUMN
Streamlining your DTG business – increasing production
Any time you can save in producing your direct to garment prints whether you are a small business running from home or a multi printer installation producing hundreds of prints a day can increase profits whilst reducing delivery times. Here are a few proven tips to help streamline your direct to garment business from the team at Resolute.
P Preparation is a key factor
reparing your garments in batches can save a lot of effort and help to reduce the average time it takes to produce a print. I am going to use Identity Printing in Manchester an experienced company producing 1000s of prints on multiple machines as an example of how simple processes can boost production.
Most direct to garment print jobs are either one offs or relatively small print runs. It is necessary to pre-treat all dark garments printed with white ink, this is the same for any direct to garment process regardless of the brand of printer or ink. Light shirts with or without white ink can also benefit from pre- treatment in more ways than one. Choosing to pre-treat a white shirt might seem like a waste of time but it is exactly the opposite. Take a look at the picture (right) illustrating a colour print onto a white T shirt. It is plain to see which side of the shirt has been pre-treated. Richer colours are achieved with denser blacks using the same amount of ink which on the left side of the print looks washed out and faded.
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE: It’s easy to see which side of this colour printed T shirt has been pre-treated.
Pre-treatment machine.
Pre-treating a light garment allows for faster printing with less ink which easily compensates for the extra process involved. Not only will prints stand out better, durability in the wash is also increased.
The pre-treatment solution used for light garments is completely clear and different to the normal solution used for dark garments, designed not to leave a stain or scorch mark after curing.
S Batch pre-treating
o if you are going to pre-treat your light garments to improve the look and speed up the process what else can you do to make sure you are working effectively?
Pre-treating in batches and hanging on a rail for printing at a later time is proven to increase production especially where multiple machines are used. A direct to garment operator presented with a rail of garments pre-treated and ready to print can operate up to four single platen printers, this is practically impossible if the operator is also charged with preparing the garments in an ad hoc process. Introducing a pre-treatment machine into the process will also increase the number of shirts one person can produce per hour. Starting from as little as £1,900 and producing a shirt in around eleven seconds a pre-treatment machine is a smart investment for the serious printer. Curing pre-treated shirts at this speed can be achieved by using a specially designed tunnel dryer, the same dryer can also cure the shirts once printed. The main difference in using a tunnel dryer for direct to garment printing is speed with a little added extra durability. Printed light shirts can be placed on every 30 seconds with a dark shirt around every 60 seconds. In most cases this is much quicker than using the traditional method of curing with a heat press. n The processes mentioned in this article are proven and currently in use by many companies across the UK. Streamlining your direct to garment business regardless of its size is an important exercise that can save you money and improve your products.
At the DTG seminar during Printwear & Promotion LIVE 2013 and on the Resolute stand we will be demonstrating some of these time saving processes along with a new modular system that grows with your business. Visit our Facebook page for more information on this exciting show (which takes place in Hall 12 at the NEC, Birmingham, from February 24-26).
For more information
If you have a general question about direct to garment printing or would like advice on the process please contact: Resolute DTG Ltd, Unit 2, Turnoaks Lane, Chesterfield S40 2HA. Tel: 01246 202686, email
info@resoluteink.co.uk or visit
www.resolutedtg.com
| 80 | January 2013
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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