Inkcups DTO Print Technology Helps Bevanda Build Momentum

Bringing print in-house with Inkcups technology empowered Bevanda to take control over product quality and accelerate fulfillment timelines

September 23rd, 2025 – Bevanda is a thriving small business based in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where it makes rugged, dependable drinkware, lunchboxes and drink dispensers that can be custom-branded to outfit crews and promote businesses. The company has big aspirations today, but back in 2017 the Bevanda team was still on the lookout for a customization solution that would enable them to capitalize on the market opportunity they spotted. Their search ultimately led them to an Inkcups direct-to-object printer. Watch the full story in this video case study:

Capturing the Custom-Brand Opportunity

Bevanda launched in 2017 as a product line within a family-owned business. At the time, the company was generating less than $100,000 in annual revenue and had only just introduced its first drinkware products, a 20oz tumbler and two sizes of canteens.

Operating in a close-knit, blue-collar community, the team quickly saw a local demand for custom-branded drinkware. “Our very first customer walked into our showroom. He’s like, ‘Hey, that’s a really cool water bottle. I’ll order 750 if I can print my logo on it,’” recalls Jonathan Fischer, Owner & CEO of Bevanda. “And then our second customer appeared. ‘Hey, cool water bottle. If I can have 500 with my logo printed on it, I’m a customer.’”

However, early production methods presented challenges. The company’s first large customization order had to be fulfilled overseas, which led to problems with minimum order quantities, inconsistent quality, and long lead times.

“It’s going to solve all our problems”

Recognizing that they needed a more reliable and flexible customization solution in order to grow, the Bevanda team set out to explore the market. According to Jonathan, “The challenge with custom printing was quality control, minimum order quantities and lead times. When we started exploring the customization side of it, laser engraving, screen printing, those were all options, but everybody else was doing that. So we began to search the market.”

It was Leon Fischer, Jonathan’s brother and the founder of Bevanda who first came across Inkcups. “He comes into work and he’s like, ‘Hey guys, I found the solution. I know exactly what it is,’ and it was Inkcups’ website,” recalls Jonathan. He explains that Leon told the team: “They have this printer called the Helix® and it’s going to solve all our problems.”

The Inkcups Helix® direct-to-object cylinder printer stood out for its speed, durability, and exceptional print quality, everything that Bevanda had been looking for. The only challenge was the size of the investment. With revenue still under $100,000, Bevanda’s investment meant signing a promissory note for more than their annual revenue.

It was a bold decision, but one the company’s leadership felt confident in. They believed in their product and trusted that bringing drinkware printing in-house would enable them to keep growing.

A Bold Decision that Built Momentum

The Inkcups printer quickly became the center of Bevanda’s production and growth strategy as the company transitioned to in-house printing, taking control over product quality and fulfillment timelines while also gaining the flexibility to produce orders as small as just one item if so desired.

“We found the success of custom decorating was very beneficial from an upsell standpoint,” says Jonathan. “When we talk about product development and R&D, we always keep in mind it has to accommodate a logo.”

In 2019, when Bevanda launched its new line of lunchboxes, they were designed with logo printing in mind, and the company invested in a UV flatbed printer from Inkcups, the X5-T to digitally decorate its lunchboxes, coolers, and drinkware dispensers.

Increased Profit Margins Through High-Value Personalization

As a result of the investment in direct-to-object digital printing technology from Inkcups, explains Jonathan: “If a business owner is looking for client Christmas gifts, employee Christmas gifts, we can serve them because of the custom printing aspect.” He adds that Bevanda is now also able to operate a direct-to-consumer model: “If an individual wants to buy a single lunchbox, a one-off, we can print that with the capacity of the Helix® and the X5-T.”

The technology’s impact on lead times has also enhanced Bevanda’s overall profitability. The company has historically been what Jonathan describes as ‘a Q4 business’, making almost two-thirds of its sales in the fourth quarter each year. He attributes a large part of the company’s profitability to the print speeds and user-friendliness of both the Helix® and the X5-T.

Bold Decisions Enable Big Aspirations

Eight years on from when Leon excitedly told the team about the Inkcups Helix®, the printer that once seemed like a risk has become one of Bevanda’s most important assets. Jonathan describes it as “the lifeline of our business”, adding that the Helix® has now also paid for itself. “Print by print, we chipped away. It’s officially paid off. No more notes. Just momentum,” he adds.

Now profitable and perfectly positioned for expansion, Bevanda has big aspirations and goals for the next five years. “Our goal is to be a brand of the trades and create good quality gear, customized options, logo printing, and to scale that through corporate printing, B2B sales channels, and direct-to-consumer channels,” says Jonathan.

Bevanda’s story demonstrates that when bold visions and innovative ideas are matched with the right technology, anything is possible.