Counselor Top 40 supplier Koozie Group (asi/40480) has entered into an agreement with Canon Solutions America to install two digital inkjet presses in its Sleepy Eye, MN, location. The new equipment will be used to produce components of the company’s stock calendars, along with small-quantity custom calendars.

“Digital printing continues to evolve with new technologies, and Koozie Group is committed to building and improving our capabilities along with it,” said Jeff Ibberson, Sleepy Eye site manager. “We’ve already seen many benefits with the digital printing processes we’ve implemented, including reduced lead times, and we’re proud to be investing in our facility so we can remain at the forefront of the field.”

Koozie Group said it did extensive research and settled on the Canon presses because they delivered the highest level of print contrast and resolution, and noted that the presses will deliver better print quality for customers.

The Sleepy Eye facility has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative since 2021, and 95% of the calendars produced there are printed on certified paper. Koozie Group ranked seventh on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest suppliers in the industry, with a reported 2023 North American promotional products revenue of $317 million.

Inkcups Offers Nano Pin Curing Technology

Inkcups offers its Nano Pin Curing technology for the Helix range of UV printers.

Inkcups, a manufacturer of digital inkjet and other printing equipment, now offers its patent-pending Nano Pin Curing technology for the Helix range of cylindrical direct-to-object UV printers.

The technology, which won a Pinnacle Award last year from ASI’s strategic partner PRINTING United Alliance, enables printing on transparent cylindrical vessels such as glassware, clear plastic bottles, wine and spirit bottles, candle holders and assorted drinkware, without the need to first fill the vessel with a UV-blocking substance or stuffing agent. The removal of this process reduces production time and maintains the sterile environment on the inside of the bottle.

Additional key enhancements include a reorganization of the printheads within the system, enabling the ability to print seamlessly on the sham of glassware, as well as the incorporation of a precision laser alignment tool to ensure optimal print positioning. By repositioning the varnish printhead, Inkcups said Nano Pin Curing users can achieve a 10% increase in print speed, further enhancing production efficiency. Glass vessels with a sham, or the thick base portion, traditionally present challenges due to light reflection during the UV curing process. This innovation allows printing to commence from the bottom of the glass, progressing over the sham and upward. Lastly, the integration of the laser alignment tool ensures consistent and precise positioning, optimizing print quality with each cycle.

“Stuffing transparent items with a foxtail or pellets and cleaning them afterward is time-consuming, but for a long time it has been a necessary step to preserve the life of printheads,” said Ian Bedford, senior project engineer at Inkcups. “We developed this technology to change that for Inkcups Helix customers, enabling them to save both time and their printheads.”

Stahls’ Announces Family Scholarship for 2025

Stahls’ (asi/88984), the St. Clair Shores, MI-based supplier of heat-printing technology and heat transfers, announced the Stahl Family Scholarship for 2025. The scholarship, launched in 2020, has awarded more than $100,000 worth of equipment to 37 winners, helping small businesses and educational programs boost their productivity.

In 2025, Stahls’ will award eight “Dream Shop Packages” throughout the year. Each quarter, two winners – one small business and one school – will receive a comprehensive heat-printing package, valued at over $6,000.

“Stahls’ began over 90 years ago in a small garage in Detroit. Like so many aspiring decorators, my family had a dream: to build a successful apparel decoration business,” said Dan Stahl, president of the Stahl Family Scholarship. “Thanks to hard work, dedication and the incredible support of our customers, that dream became a reality. Today, Stahls’ stands as a leader in the industry, and we’re proud to give back to the community that made it all possible.”