DecoNetwork TV Interview Featuring Michael Barron and the X5-T High Throw

Thank you DecoNetwork TV for the video interview for at PRINTING United Expo 2025! Zach Dewhurst interviewed our Inkcups Western Sales Manager, Michael Barron on site discussing the latest high throw technology on the Inkcups X5-T High Throw. Watch the full interview below:

Zach: What’s up, guys? We’re here at the Printing United Expo at the InkCups booth with Michael Barron. How’s it going, Michael?

Michael: Good. How are you doing? How are you, Zach?

Zach: Good, Mike. We’ve met up at a few different shows over the past couple years. We’ve done pad printing. We’ve done your cylinder printing onto drinkware. I know you’ve got a really cool prototype that you guys are going to have to check out. But what we’re looking at right here is what? A flatbed UV printer?

Michael: Yes, this is an industrial digital UV flatbed printer with the capability of doing a 19.7 inch drop. So it’s ideal for small products or large products. So the bed lowers almost 20 inches.

Zach: Wow.

Michael: For coolers mostly, or large parts that people want to print on.

Zach: So for those who don’t know, flatbed UV is really a lot of hard goods decorating. But something like this is very flexible because it’s a digital printer for low runs versus when you’re looking for high runs. That’s when pad printing is often the better solution, right?

Michael: Absolutely.

Zach: It also comes down to the artwork and all types of variables. Going on a round product is never the easiest thing to do.

Michael: It’s always challenging. People struggle with it because curvature creates issues with most digital printing since the heads are usually stationary. But this machine is called the X5 High Throw. We developed it to throw the ink far enough to reach around curved surfaces.

Michael: We have a fixture here set up for camper mugs, and we have the ability to do 32 of these mugs with about a two and a half inch diameter print all around in about four to five minutes.

Zach: Thirty two of them?

Michael: Thirty two. With a fixture this size, we can do 32.

Zach: Wow.

Michael: And UV is very durable.

Zach: Very durable. With DTF UV being popular, a lot of people still don’t have the confidence they would with direct printing. You feel that’s still the case, right?

Michael: Yes, absolutely. With powder coated materials, it depends on the material. For powder coated camper mugs like these, we typically jet a primer first. The primer goes on, then we print. That gives very good durability. Dishwasher safe. Twenty five to thirty dishwasher cycles with no problem.

Michael: If it’s a low volume application, some customers wipe on the primer. For higher volume, to be more efficient, we jet it inside the machine. So we do primer, white, CMYK, and varnish.

Zach: One thing I didn’t realize until we got into drinkware is how different powder coated drinkware is compared to smooth stainless steel.

Michael: Very different world. Not all powder coats are the same, and not all colors are the same.

Zach: Alright, let’s make one.

Michael: Okay. Gregg, do you want to roll one?

Zach: Oh my gosh, this is a heavy fixture.

Michael: Yeah, but up top we’re doing the mug fixture. Down here we could be loading a lot of balls. This is just an example of a fixture. We can do basketballs, footballs, baseballs, volleyballs, any balls like that. We can do a large print. We could print these, flip the fixture, swap it out, and in five minutes we’re printing basketballs or golf balls. Products with pretty steep curvature.

Zach: Out of curiosity, if you were doing Major League Baseballs, are those pad printed?

Michael: Yes, that’s how they would do it for that run size.

Zach: Every piece of equipment has its time and place. Pad printing for large runs, this for low runs, and newer equipment for curved drinkware. You always need the right tool for the job.

Michael: Correct.

Zach: But this is more universal because of the jigs and the ability to lower the bed.

Michael: Yes. This offers customers extreme flexibility. They can do flat products easily, plus drinkware, curved drinkware, and balls. It gives them a lot of options.

Zach: So this is the X5T. Why is it called the X5T?

Michael: The T stands for tall. It has a 19.75 inch depth. Previous models had a 6 inch height. This one has a 20 inch height.

Zach: You tripled it.

Zach: Now it’s UV ink, and I saw the blue light. So it’s cured right away?

Zach: Yes. It won’t smudge. It’s still a little warm from the light.

Zach: What kind of DPI are we getting?

Michael: Up to about 600 by 1200 DPI. It’s adjustable depending on what quality you want.

Zach: Was that white, then highlight, or just one under base?

Michael: White, white, white, CMYK, and varnish.

Zach: Very cool. You said about 32 of these in around five minutes.

Michael: Yep.

Zach: How much is a UV printer like this X5T from InkCups?

Watch the video to find out!

Zach: Very cool. And you guys at InkCups specialize in hard goods printing, whether low run or high run.

Michael: Exactly. High run, high speed. This is an industrial machine, not a commercial one. It’s designed to run all day, 24/7. It uses very little ink and is extremely efficient for customers who run production heavily.

Zach: Awesome. Michael, where can viewers learn more about InkCups’ equipment, especially the X5T?

Michael: You can go to inkcups.com and look under the equipment section for flatbed printers. It will be the first one listed.

Zach: Very cool. Michael, it’s always a pleasure. Guys, check out our other videos with their pad printers, cylinder drinkware printers, and our podcast episode. InkCups is a great company to work with. Check out their lineup of equipment. Thanks, Mike.

Michael: Thank you, Zach. Appreciate it.

To learn more about what applications we’ve had great success decorating please review the following resources: 

• Stand Out with High Drop Printing on Hot/Cold Packs
• Q&A Around What is a High Throw Digital Printer
• Score Big with a High Drop UV Printer for Sporting Equipment
• Squeeze Away Stress with Larger Logos on Stress Balls
• Elevated Customization with Extended Throw Printing