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Strategy

Decorating Roundup: Vastex Offers New Direct-to-Film Equipment

Plus, Arcus Printers has introduced a new flatbed cutting machine and Stahls’ is lowering prices on large DTF transfer orders.

Want to increase productivity without sacrificing space? Vastex offers a new PTF-100 powder-to-film coating system with integral D-100 conveyor dryer to increase direct-to-film (DTF) production by applying and curing adhesive powder quickly and conveniently within a 10-square-foot area.

decorating equipment

The PTF-100 powder-to-film coating system and D-100 conveyor dryer from Vastex will help DTF decorators increase productivity.

Mark Vasilantone, Vastex president, said the mobile system, which is mounted on a utility cart, lets decorators “apply a uniform layer of adhesive powder to a run of DTF graphics and cure them uniformly in an infrared conveyor dryer from a single location.” When the system isn’t in use, it “can be rolled away” to save space.

The PTF-100 features an angled steel casing and clear polycarbonate door with dust-tight seal for mess-free operation. Supplied as standard are two interchangeable cartridges, each of which can hold approximately 3 pounds of adhesive powder for quick and clean refills. The coating cabinet accommodates film up to 16 by 20 inches and has an adjustable timer for repeatable results.

The compact D-100 dryer with an 18-inch-wide conveyor allows adjustment of temperature, belt speed and heater height to cure films at high rates. An integral exhaust hood removes moisture and fumes for operator safety – especially critical in the confined spaces typical for many DTF shops, according to Vastex.

Arcus Printers Introduces Conveyor Flatbed Cutter

decorating equipment

The Barracuda conveyor flatbed cutter from Arcus Printers cuts a variety of materials, including DTF film, stickers, vinyl, paper and carton boxes.

Arcus Printers has released the Barracuda conveyor flatbed cutter, a solution for precise and continuous roll-to-roll cutting in DTF and UV DTF printing. The versatile machine caters to a wide range of materials, including DTF film, stickers, vinyl, paper and carton boxes. It offers kiss-cut, full-cut and creasing capabilities.

The Barracuda “is a game-changer for DTF cutting,” said Rick Marcelo, director of technology at Axiom America, parent company of Arcus Printers. “This machine is designed to elevate the cutting experience for decorators, offering unmatched versatility and performance.”

Key features include a dual tool carriage, allowing multiple tool types or blade depths on the machine simultaneously for increased production speed and less downtime for tool changes; QR code automation and an optical camera recognition system that allows for precise cut-through and/or kiss-cutting of graphic bounding boxes or contours; CADlink RIP software integration; compatibility with a wide range of software formats; and a touchscreen display.

Stahls’ Lowers Pricing on DTF Transfers

Stahls’ (asi/88984) has announced quantity price breaks for its UltraColor MAX DTF transfers with free ground shipping available for DTF orders over $149.

As demand for DTF transfers continues to rise, the St. Clair Shores, MI-based company said it’s taken customer feedback into account to offer a tiered pricing structure that lowers the cost per transfer for higher-quantity orders.

Originally, UltraColor MAX transfers had a flat rate of 6 cents per square inch, but with the new pricing model, the cost starts at 6 cents per square inch and decreases to as low as 4 cents per square inch as the order quantity increases. Quantity price breaks are based on the number of single pieces ordered per individual design.

Stahls’ is also offering more savings potential with free freight on UltraColor MAX orders over $149.