Manufacturer and supplier of digital inkjet equipment introduces MagiCoat Glassware Primer
Danvers, MA – September 2018
Inkcups, a leading supplier and manufacturer of digital inkjet equipment, pad printing equipment and all corresponding supplies, is proud to announce the launch of their all new system for pre-treating glassware, barware, candle holders and glass bottles….
Going back to school is an exciting time (or not) for students of all ages. You see your friends once again, make new ones, start or return to an extracurricular activity, are introduced to new classes as well as teachers. Autumn is in the air and you are back in the swing of things returning from summer vacation. However, before you or your child heads off to school, it is paramount that they are equipped with a backpack and in that backpack, they have essential items for school. Below we take a look at that the top items that a student can bring with them in their backpack. This list ranges for all students of all ages so there are students that do or do not need certain school items.
On a side note when packing your backpack, never try to cram your bag because many times it will get disorganized and heavy. The bag might also split if it is not strong enough therefore it is very important to ensure the bag weighs no more than 10% of your own body weight. Bags that are too heavy can cause issues with your back, neck, and shoulders. Most recent bags have a weight limit that will be specified by the manufacturer.
Inkcups Printhead at work
One of the most essential components in any printing job is the printhead – which type of printhead is used greatly affects the overall outcome for the project. Here’s what you need to know about different printheads and how to select the most appropriate one for your specific printing project.
Printheads are a component in all types digital printers that are used to transfer the desired image onto your chosen print media. The printhead will spray, write, or drop the ink onto your paper in the pattern needed to produce the finished image.
The mechanism is made with a number of electrical components and multiple nozzles that will hold the different ink colors. Most often, printheads will include inks including cyan, yellow, magenta, and black with additional colors sometimes including light magenta, and light cyan.
The electrical circuits will send messages to the print nozzles signaling each one when and how much ink it needs to output. You will usually find printheads in inkjet printers, where the print head component will most often be found on the inside of the ink or printer cartridge.
When an image is sent to the printer, the printhead will receive the image information as instructions after which it will evaluate the necessary intensity, amount, and location where the ink will be required. Once the calculations are complete, the head will move horizontally going line by line until it has finished the image.
There are two primary types of printheads that will be used in the digital printing process, piezoelectric and thermal. These print heads differ in the types of images they are used to create as well as how the image is formed.
While both printheads use drop technology to place ink onto your chosen medium, each of the different printheads will function in different ways. In the piezoelectric print head, there are microscopic piezoelectric elements that are built in behind each of the print nozzles. To drop the ink, an electrical charge will be applied to the element which will move the nozzle backward. When this movement occurs, an exact amount of ink will be deposited onto the substrate.
Since this type of printhead is controlled by an electrical charge, there is a great degree of control over the amount of ink that is being dropped as it can function in the same ways as an on-off switch would. These printheads are known for being able to create perfectly formed dots in a variety of sizes. Piezoelectric printheads are best for UV cured, aqueous, and solvent-based ink.
The alternative to piezoelectric printheads is thermal inkjet technology. In thermal technology, the printhead is operated by heat instead of electricity. The concept of thermal printing is similar to the way in which water boils. The thermal technology will electrify the microscopic resistors that lay behind the print nozzle creating an intense heat. As this heat occurs, it will vaporize the ink, creating bubbles that will expand rapidly and in effect explode onto the paper or substrate.
Once the ink has been expelled from the nozzles, it will cool quickly and then refill, repeating the process. Thermal printheads are most suitable for water-based inks such as latex inks used for outdoor signage as well as a number of textile applications.
Choosing the proper printhead is necessary when using specific inks but also to achieve the desired results from your printed piece. During printing, the individual drops of ink that are put onto the substrate will affect the overall quality of the image. Smaller drops will produce better definition and higher resolution. This is primarily better when creating easy to read text, especially text that may have fine lines.
The use of larger drops is better when you need to print quickly by covering a large area. Large drops are better for printing larger flat pieces such as large format signage. If your piece requires high resolution, has small or fine details, using a piezoelectric printhead that has better control of the size of the droplets will provide you with the best quality image. For pieces that might be larger but less detailed, thermal technology can make producing the them less costly and often provide you with a piece that is suitable for your needs.
The ink you use and the quality and detail that your final piece requires will be the two vital components that determine which type of printhead will work best for your printing project.
Last week, Inkcups hosted our annual Sales Summit at our HQ located in Danvers, MA. Our Sales Team traveled far and wide from countries such as Canada, Mexico, Vietnam, and Hong Kong for this yearly event. The Inkcups Sales Summit is a time to gather to communicate about experiences and insights, discuss strategy and tactics, learn more about our technological advances and bond through fun activities.
On April 7th, 2018, the President and Owner of Inkcups Ben Adner displayed our ground breaking rotary inkjet printer, the Helix® at the 2018 Deco trade show held in Columbus, Ohio. Deco, held by the Society of Glass and Ceramic Decorated Products (SGCD), is a trade show that brings designers, decorators, and marketers of glass, ceramic, and related products together for two days of speakers and a half day of exhibiting. Some topics discussed include maximizing profitability, technical applications, regulatory compliance, and new methods for decorating.
For this show, Ben and the Inkcups team were presenting the revolutionary inkjet machine; the Helix®. This machine is making a significant impact in markets such as glassware, drinkware, and promotional with its latest technological advances. With its, direct-to-object cylindrical printing, the Helix® can print superior quality single or multi-color images on many forms of substrates. “It’s the future,” Ben proudly stated during an interview at DECO. The Helix® has numerous print capabilities and Ben alluded to a few of the applications that include but are not limited to “Pint glasses, mixing glasses, wine and spirits, and even candles.” The Helix® is trying to expand and enter new markets and Ben reiterated this by stating that “[The Helix] is the hottest machine on the market and we are trying to introduce it to the glassware market.”
The Helix® is also, different from its competition and previous inkjet printers by the way it is constructed. “It is a short run, quick change machine. You can print multi-color graphics [and] beautiful looking logos.” He added how convenient the Helix® is compared to machines such as a screen printer and how quickly as well as time efficient the Helix is. “I can change it over in 5 minutes, one part from another.”
To view the full interview from DECO 2018, check out the link below!
Video Interviewing Inkcups about their latest rotary inkjet printer.
Make way for our all new industrial inkjet ink- the DL Series! The DL inkjet ink series is a versatile ink for glass, plastic, stainless and powder coated materials. This new ink is strong enough to adhere to glass and other hard materials yet flexible enough to print on squeezable plastics. The DL Series is both FDA and CPSIA compliant. Not sure where this new ink will fit into your projects? Check out the top 5 applications for the DL Series:
1. Glassware
This 4th of July, we would like to share some fun ideas with printing on items that will show off your Independence Day spirit. From promotional items to customizable drinkware products, Inkcups is proud to offer numerous printers that can create a myriad of designs on various products. The direct-to-shape, Flatbed UV Printer X5 for example, has the capability to print on various promotional products. Or look at the amazing drinkware designs from our Rotary Inkjet Printer, the Helix can print on. Let us begin!
1. Cooler Lids- The X5-T allows for impeccable printing on many items including small, medium or large cooler lids. Take a look below for yourself!
The X5-T Printing on Cooler Lids
2. Koozies are always a nice add on for a 4th of July party. Show your love for ‘Merica.
3. Mugs- Who says mugs can’t be apart of your 4th of July Celebration? The Helix can print on many forms of drinkware.
4. Plastic Cups- At any July 4th party, plastic cups are essential. However, most plastic cups are plain and boring. Spice them up with 4th of July designs by Inkcups!
5. Beer Mugs- Nothing says you love America more than a patriotic customized beer mug.
6. Whether you are grilling, baking, mixing, stirring or serving during a cookout, having a star spangled spatula will certainty be appropriate. Our SI series ink can tackle any silicone based product.
7. Beach Ball- Who does not love beach balls? You can play with them at the beach, in the pool, or in your backyard. Kids and adults love them so they are a must at any 4th of July party! With our J3 ink series, a 4th of July print can be possible!
8. Frisbee! Another fun party item that kids and adults will love, is a Frisbee. Toss it almost anywhere. Well not in the house…
9. Sunglasses- Red, white and blue sunglasses are another creative party item that will get your friends and family into the holiday spirit.
10. Drink Coasters- A perfect combination for your cold drink. You will have heads turning with an American themed coaster.
At Inkcups, we strive to deliver the finest quality products. From ground-breaking printing equipment, supplies and solutions to customers in the promotional, apparel and industrial markets worldwide, our goal is to be leaders in the printing industry. To achieve the level of success we have had and want to continue, we need to be unremittingly creative with our product lines. Our production quality and compliance teams work with particular attention to detail on printability and appearance to ensure all products are made to specification and are easy to work with. This overview can be viewed by anyone who is interested in or is already familiar/owns any of our ink products. Our goal is to make our customers and potential customers more educated about our inks through this informative overview.
For those who own any of our tagless products or are looking to purchase any of our tagless printing machines, particularly our pad printers, having quality ink will make a major difference when printing on any application. But why use pad printing? Why use our Sapphire® inks? We will explain it all. Before we get into our ink product line, this overview will serve as an introductory about how pad printing will make a difference when using our inks compared to alternative printing methods such as screen printing or heat transfer for example.
In addition, we would like to highlight all of the ink services that Inkcups provides such as color mixing, matching, and adhesion testing. These services will be most beneficial to anyone who has or is thinking about printing on various items using our inks. This overview will also cover the importance of using auxiliaries when using certain inks. We will lastly want to ensure that our customers will feel comfortable using our inks knowing that our inks are safe and reliable based on our achievements with compliance.
Pad Printing:
Pad Printing has been around since the beginning of the 20th century and has been widely used for various applications such as printing promotional products, automotive and industrial parts, medical equipment, sporting goods, toys, and more. Since 2008, pad printing has become the gold standard for Tagless garments and footwear production. The process for pad printing is a printing method that uses a silicone print pad to pick up ink from an etched cliché (plate), and transfer it to a part. The idea of pad printing is to lay a thin layer of ink onto the plate which leaves a soft touch and most importantly, cuts down the per-label cost. Inkcups offers an extensive line of pad printers that consist of 1, 2, 4 and 6 color seal cup models that are designed to meet a wide range of printing needs.
But why use pad printing and inks over traditional methods of printing such as heat transfer for example? While heat transfer can only put markings on a garment’s surface, pad printing inks such as SB ink for example, will infiltrate and douse the textile which in turn will lengthen the life of the tag. Along with an enhanced life of the tag, pad printing allows an image to be easily modified in-house which enables cost-effective short run production. However, with heat transfer, labels have to be bought by the thousands which is not nearly as time and cost effective as pad printing. Whether you are starting to use pad printing technology or are experienced, all of our pad printing machines, including the compact tabletop models, have robust compression capability and come with the VersaCup®, our patented universal ink cup.
On to the inks! At Inkcups, we offer a substantial line of inks that will meet pad printing needs. This is where our Sapphire® ink line comes into play. With Sapphire® inks, choose from over eight types of inks that fit your printing needs and numerous colors. Take a more in-depth look below!
Comprehending Our Sapphire® Inks:
The Sapphire® ink line is run by Inkcups pad printing machines which print images onto a wide range of surfaces. We provide numerous variants of inks, contingent on the color, grade or surface preferred. But what does this mean? How can you know or understand which color, grade or surface you want to use based on the eight Sapphire® inks? Our inks are recognized using a formula that articulates the exact details of each ink. They are branded by two letters followed by a sequence of numbers and/or letters. The first two letters indicate the ink series. The series shows the characteristics and functions of the ink. Based on the description mentioned above, the SB series ink works best on rubbery and textile surfaces which is important in determining what type of ink to purchase. The same goes for any ink series so you know exactly what each ink is capable of.
Next is observing the ink number/letter sequence. Standard colors are written in the arrangement XX 1##, with the XX signifying the series and the ## displaying the color number. For example, the ink SB 165 is one of the many variations of inks we offer as it is the black standard color in the SB series. Standard colors are ready to be printed with no mixing required. With mixing colors, they are written in the form XX ##, so the ink SB 60 is a white mixing color. Mixing colors are made specifically to be mixed with other inks to create custom colors. Another form is our high density inks, which are written as XX 1##HD, meaning the ink SB 160 HD is a white high density ink in the SB series. High density colors are more opaque than standard colors, which leaves a more solid finish. Our method of classifying pad printing inks allows for a simple way to determine which ink to use for a certain product and allows the customer to ensure the highest quality of results.
Color Matching:
In addition to our eight series of inks, Inkcups’ easy to use, cost effective and fast Sapphire® color matching system, gives you the flexibility to produce any color, anytime! We offer 12 different colors that allow you to mix and match pad printing/screen printing inks and to create both standard Sapphire® color as well as any popular numerical color shade. This process is very simple and beneficial if you are looking to color match. Simply identify the chosen color you are looking to create as well as the quantity, then our spreadsheet will calculate the mixing formula for you. It’s that easy!
Harmony Color Mixing:
Some customers may prefer not to make PMS colors themselves, which is totally okay! Inkcups provides same-day color mixing services. We offer customers the option to provide us with either the color number (from any of the popular numerical scales) or send an imprinted product to be color matched. This method is simple and by utilizing our color mixing card and color calculating spreadsheet, our customers have to simply choose their desired color and enter the quantity of ink they need. From here, our spreadsheet will show which of the 12 main Sapphire® mixing colors are needed and in which quantities.
Adhesion Testing:
Another benefit of Inkcups pad printing services is our complimentary adhesion testing. You may be asking, why would someone want to have their product tested through this method? If a customer of ours has a product that is difficult to print on through pad, screen or inkjet printing, we offer free adhesion testing that will detail exactly what series of ink is right for them. The ink technicians at Inkcups will then test multiple inks and test for abrasion resistance to confirm the ink meets the adhesion needs of the product.
Auxiliaries:
How can using auxiliaries be beneficial to your printing needs? Auxiliaries are used to support all aspects of printing, pre-press and post press operations. From solvents, to hardeners, to primers, they all play a big role to provide the best process control and improved production output. To start is the hardeners. Inkcups carries 4 separate hardeners, the 1000-H, 1000 HGL, 1000 HN and the 1000 HNX. Each provide different functions. For most of the Sapphire® series inks, the hardener used is the 1000-H. A hardener’s main function is to increase adhesion and chemical resistance.
Looking at solvents, Inkcups carries nine various solvents that are used for fine tuning inks to any printing situation. They have been specially prepared to reduce evaporative variations, deliver process balance and improve manufacturing output. Depending on the environment/climate of where the solvent is curing, makes a big difference when drying. For example, an ink that has solvent applied will evaporate at different speeds in a warmer climate as opposed to a frigid climate. To slow evaporation rates, Inkcups also providers retarders. We also, supply custom ink solvents that our chemists are able to prepare that meet unique process demands. A quick look at our nine solvents are listed below:
An ideal time to use one of our solvents would be once a hardener is applied to one of the series of inks. Sticking with the SB series for example, once the 1000H hardener is applied, the mixture should be thinned to a printing thickness with 10% – 30% SB-M or SB-MS by weight. Adding solvent will make the ink less viscous (sticky) and dry slower.
Compliance:
Safety is most important, especially when using ink. Our customers who use our inks will feel confident knowing that all of our inks they are using are certified and compliant with industry standards. Through Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), all of our Sapphire® ink products are non-toxic and compliant with all current US regulations as well as European toy safety (EN-71) and RoHS regulations. Every one of our Sapphire inks have certificates from Bureau Veritas and other independent laboratories confirming the absence of lead, restricted phthalates, carcinogenic and dangerous substances as demanded by The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (also known as CPSIA) and The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (also known as California Proposition 65). The MB and J3 series are Class VI certified, meeting strict medical safety standards and can be applied to devices in direct contact with the human body. The Sapphire SB series ink is also certified by Oeko-Tex and Bureau Veritas to not contain Azo dyes, restricted metals and PVC. In addition, the SB ink is certified by NAMSA to not cause skin irritation. Tests by Govmark Inc. demonstrated that the ink withstands at least 50 industrial washes.
To Conclude:
In conclusion, we hope that you find this overview of our inks and the many processes associated with them insightful and helpful. Whether you are new or experienced handling inks, this overview is ideal as it covers all of the areas you need to be familiar with when dealing with Inkcups’ inks.
Silicone spatula and swim cap!
We all know of products that are made out of silicone material. From medical and promotional products, to rubber parts and buttons, there are many different silicone applications one can print on. But what about the type of ink to use when printing on these materials? Virtually all inks in the printing industry and certainly at Inkcups, can print on a wide range of applications but yet, there are very few inks in the industry that are available for silicone decoration. Prints on wristbands for example, go through a myriad of wear and tear on a person’s wrist. As they are used for an extended period of time, the image is consistently stretched when taken off or put on. So what is the solution? The answer is Inkcups’ SI Series ink. Here at Inkcups, we possess over eight assorted types of inks and plenty of colors. With our Sapphire series, our inks can print on several products ranging from promotional products, metals, plastics, etc.
As mentioned, Inkcups possesses a specialty ink produced in-house, labeled the SI Series. What separates the SI series from all of other inks we offer? This ink Series is our only ink exclusively aimed at printing on silicone applications. The SI Series ink can be utilized by either screen or pad printing processes and the finishing product produces an opaque, supple, smooth and scratch resistant appearance. SI also, comes in 18 stock colors and we also offer a twelve color mixing system with a calculator for color matching. This method allows customers to be able to create Pantone colors in-house. This specialty ink is a platinum based, two-component ink that is comprised of ink and catalyst (hardener). The pot life of the SI Series is much more user friendly than other solvent based inks. The great benefit of the pot life of SI ink is that the customer has 24 hours or more to use that ink which is significantly higher than the 6-8 hour life for other solvent based inks.
SI Series cannot be used to print on any other applications except silicone making it the perfect ink for any looking to print on silicone products. Print on items made of silicone rubber including:
Silicone Credit Card Wallets (Back of phone)
For those of you wondering, how do we achieve the appealing finish to each of our silicone products using the SI Series? The process is simple. We mix the ink, print and then cure the ink and you can too! Once the SI Series is fully cured, you will notice that the ink will have a very high resistance to abrasion and be very flexible so whether you bend or stretch the product, the print will not break.
Unlike our other solvent based ink product lines, the SI Series remains wet until it is dried and cured in an oven. Silicone ink is normally heated for six minutes at 124 degrees C (255 degrees F). However, if you are printing in-house, certain products can vary with curing time. For example, a wrist band takes less time to cure than say a swim cap based on the size of the products so it depends on the product you are printing on. It should also, be noted that the SI Series ink is a harmless product with little to no odor. It passes compliance tests such as CPSIA with flying colors, so the advantages are paramount with the SI Series ink!
Inkcups expert Luis Gúnera (middle) shows employees the secret to successful pad printing
This week from June 11th- June 13th 2018, at the Inkcups headquarters in Danvers, MA, we were thrilled to host our Tech Summit. Over the course of the week, we welcomed and trained our employees on new products such as the new Brite White tagless printer and the latest laser plate-maker, the CobaltONE.
Travis Griffin, who is the Customer Care Department Manager at Inkcups was excited to share that our employees who were involved in the Tech Summit were located from diverse locations that include “Hong Kong, Mexico, Guatemala and California.” He summed up that our abroad employees experienced a terrific and informative event hosted by our Danvers, MA technicians.
During the three-day training event, our abroad employees came out of the training seminar with a better understanding of Inkcups pad printers specifically the Brite White. They were also trained to use standard pad printing techniques that entail learning to print on promotional products. Furthermore, they were be taught to understand our Cobalt series laser plate engravers and inks. With all of the information they attained, they will use their new skills on tagless products back in their homelands where our international and country wide offices are located. We would like to thank them for attending the Tech Summit and the Inkcups headquarters!
