The Transfer Print Column
High-performance printing: Maximising efficiency for large orders
Andy Rogers, marketing director at Stahls’ UK, takes the time to explain how you can maximise efficiency for larger orders.
I
n the fast-paced world of heat printing, efficiency is key to high performance.
An optimised workflow boosts profitability, improves turnaround times and ensures product consistency. Businesses that streamline their operations better meet customer demands and maintain an edge.
Why heat printing efficiency matters Efficiency in heat printing impacts production quality, cost management, and customer satisfaction. Here’s what high performance printers do: • Cost savings: Reducing material waste, lowering energy consumption, and minimising labour costs make production more cost-effective.
• Faster turnaround: Streamlined workflows enable quicker order fulfilment, helping meet tight deadlines and increasing output.
• Consistent quality: Uniform heat application reduces the chances of misprints, and defects.
• Higher profit margins: Reduced waste and improved productivity lead to greater profitability.
• Competitive advantage: Efficient processes allow businesses to offer competitive pricing and superior service.
Strategies to improve efficiency in heat printing Enhancing efficiency in a heat press business reduces costs, boosts productivity, and ensures consistent quality. Here are key strategies to optimise your operations:
1) Optimise workflow and workstation layout Arrange equipment and materials for easy access to minimise unnecessary movement.
Spending five seconds retrieving each garment can add up to 41 minutes a day when printing 500 garments. Designate separate areas for printing, cutting, and packing. This reduces clutter, and a disorganised environment increases errors.
2) Invest in high-quality equipment
Reliable heat presses with consistent temperature and pressure control reduce errors.
Consider upgrading to either an automatic heat press or a dual station heat press.
3) Improve time management
Batch similar jobs to minimise setup times. Printing hoodies with three placements is faster when all placements are completed separately. Print the front, back and sleeve in batches. Rather than printing one garment at a time.
Switching accessories during production may take five seconds per garment. Which could translate to 25+ minutes wasted on a small order.
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
Optimise cutting layouts
• Leverage dual timers: This saves time by automating time adjustments for different applications. Eliminating the need for manual changes. • Automate repetitive tasks: Gang cutting HTV on large sheets reduces cutting time, and switching to custom heat transfers can eliminate cutting and weeding altogether.
4) Use high-quality materials
Invest in reliable, high-quality materials to ensure consistent performance and customer satisfaction. Low-cost products may seem appealing. But poor-quality transfers can damage your reputation and waste resources. Proven, premium materials prevent reruns and reduce costs by minimising errors.
5) Train employees and standardise processes Provide comprehensive training on heat press techniques to minimise user errors. Connect your press online to track heat press performance. Use detailed reports that identify application errors. For example, if a batch of garments returns faulty, you can analyse the print logs. Then determine whether the correct parameters were applied.
6) Reduce waste and improve sustainability Optimise cutting layouts: Use gang sheets to maximise material efficiency and reduce costs per design. But, ensure that cutting time doesn’t offset these savings. Spending excessive time cutting out designs can negate the benefits of gang sheeting. Energy-efficient presses: Top level heat presses offer energy-saving features that reduce electricity costs. • Programme the press to pre-heat 20 minutes before the workday begins.
• Set the press to enter standby mode after inactivity. Saving energy and reducing costs.
Start your journey into high performance Make strategic upgrades and process improvements. Then you can increase production speed, reduce waste, and enhance business performance.
May 2025 | 51 |
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