The DTGColumn How DTG technology can help
Is your company feeling the pinch? Phil McMullin, C&I head of sales, Epson (UK) Ltd, advises how DTG can assist with reducing operating costs.
downtime and increase product longevity, saving those all-important long-term costs.
3 Fast speeds – Solutions with various production printing options such as Light Garment Mode, can deliver consistent print quality at up to twice the speed of previous generations. The higher the speed, the higher the productivity, reduced downtime, and more scalable operation.
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usinesses have been battling through the toughest operational environment seen in many years. While the immediate impact of the pandemic is slowly dissipating, a cost of living crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, has created a number of challenges that continue to pile on economic pressure. For textile providers and UK businesses in general, the difficult situation has been exacerbated by the cessation of the Energy Bills Relief Scheme. This initiative was set up by the government to help businesses with rising energy costs on 1 October 2022, has since ended on 31 March 2023. It has been replaced by the not quite as generous Energy Bills Discount Scheme, which will run until 31 March 2024.
Minding energy costs and modifying day to day operations to minimise them, such as working hours, job planning and scheduling, can help businesses keep on top of things. But overall running costs can also be significantly alleviated when considering different ways of working. For example, bringing processes inhouse. Not only does this reduce costs in terms of outsourcing and minimum orders, it can also speed up turnaround times and enhance
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production capacity for short run fast turnaround jobs.
When it comes to printing processes, the direct-to-garment (DTG) sector is one of today’s most promising markets. According to industry analysts Smithers, digital textile printed volume are predicted to increase by 13.9% in 2026, reaching 5.531 million square metres annually.
Here are six benefits DTG technology can offer textile businesses:
1 Production flexibility – Bulk ink solutions from modern DTG printers ensure continuous printing capabilities by reducing the frequency by which ink needs to be refilled. This cost-effective method supports increased production capacity and allows businesses to scale their operation more flexibly based on customer demand. Small footprint devices also mean that bringing production in-house needn’t mean transforming your premises.
2 Reduced maintenance time – Daily maintenance solutions found on Epson’s DTG printers such as an integrated self- cleaning system complete with fabric wiper and an inline cleaning cartridge, allows the printer to manage its own operational health. This helps reduce
4 Production control – Issues in production, shipping or elsewhere in the supply chain, when outsourcing textile printing, will seldom be indicated quickly. On the other hand, production that is monitored in real time, on your own premises, as and when you want, enable users to manage their day-to-day workflow and operational planning.
5 Enhanced performance – Utilising the right print software can deliver significant savings in time and budget. Provisions such as true on-screen visualisation allow operators to see what their output will look like as accurately as possible, particularly important for personalisation and diverse production lines. Not only can this help reduce errors, but it cuts down on waste and subsequent costs as well.
6 Your choice of substrates – Selected devices (see more below) also offer the ability to seamlessly switch from direct-to-garment (DTG) to direct-to- film (DTFilm) printing, enabling users to print beyond cotton onto a multitude of different fabrics without having to change device or ink type.
With so many external factors causing pressure on businesses, it’s easy to get lured by cheap and cheerful outsourcing solutions that risk limited long-term gain with no sustainability agenda. However, today’s easy-use, easy-install DTG systems can help businesses take greater control of market opportunities without compromising the quality their offering customers.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
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