Digitally Decorate Vacuum Sealed Drinkware

Lingo in any field can become difficult to digest if you don’t use it every day. For instance, what comes to mind when you hear, “vacuum sealed drinkware”, it could be a buzz word that really doesn’t quite line up. While I refrain from a good clean joke, let’s dive into what exactly a vacuum- insulated or vacuum sealed piece of drinkware is.

What is Vacuum Sealed?

It is easy to confuse vacuum sealed with doubled walled tumblers, but after this blog article you will be able to easily differentiate between the two. Typically, vacuum sealed drinkware are made from stainless steel and has two walls, an inner and outer. Vacuum sealed differs from double walled as air is removed between the two walls creating a vacuum effect. It is either the hot or cold air that encounters cold or hot drinks and alters the temperature quickly, but if the heat cannot escape and the cold cannot come in, the beverage will stay at its intended temperature for longer. Brilliant!

Manufacturing can level up the quality of vacuum sealed drinkware by adding a thin copper layer to the inner layer, out the outside of it. While the copper will not be visible peeking inside the vessel or from the outside you can rest assured that the copper layer will more evenly disperse heat or cold more evenly, prolonging the amount of time that the drink remains at its optimal temperature.

Vacuum sealed drinkware vessels can come in a variety of different shapes, from a tumbler to bottle. Within those two categories there is a wide variety of shapes and versions that are available, consider how different a wine tumbler looks from an iced coffee tumbler from a hot coffee tumbler.

The real question is how to effectively differentiate their vacuum sealed drinkware from the next company. Many search for the same quality at a cheaper price tag, or for a similar product but not so “over-done”. Additionally, other drinkware brands that manufacture vacuum sealed pieces have listened to complaints over spilling, accessible cleaning and mold growth, and have catered their product to meet the needs and demands of customers. While quality and features make brands stand out, other ways to differentiate include design. Digital decoration for vacuum sealed drinkware can vastly improve standings as often vacuum sealed drinkware are without decoration or are laser engraved.

To learn more about laser engraving visit: Drinkware Decoration Dilemma: Laser Engraving or Digital UV

Digitally Decorate Vacuum Sealed Drinkware

There are two different UV digital printer types that are available to digitally decorate vacuum sealed drinkware, depending on if there is a handle. For any vessel with a handle, we suggest a UV flatbed printer. For those without a handle, a cylindrical inkjet printer.

X5®

The X5® flatbed printer has a generous print area of 43.3″ x 24″ (1,100 x 610 mm). Within this print area, multiple vessels can be printed at once. Engineered with cutting-edge print head technology, it delivers exceptional print quality with a remarkable resolution of 1200dpi, ensuring that every detail is captured with precision and clarity. The X5 allows for printing on vessels with mugs as they cannot enter a cylindrical inkjet printer.

Please note that with a flatbed printer you will not achieve a full wrap coverage, however, this is an excellent option for printing logos or other smaller designs. 

Helix® ONE

The Helix® ONE Benchtop Cylindrical Printer offers a perfect entry point for digital decoration of vacuum sealed drinkware. Ideal for beginners or those seeking new revenue streams, this machine boasts full CMYKW + V capabilities, allowing for vibrant 360-degree graphics and images. It accommodates vessels with a diameter range of 1.77″ to 4.7″ (45 mm – 120 mm) and features an 8-Watt segmented UV lamp for optimal curing.

Helix®

The Helix®, remains a customer favorite thanks to its ease of use and high-quality output. With the ability to print 360° full-color (CMYKW+ V) images directly onto cylindrical objects, including both tapered and straight-walled cylinders, it offers versatility. The Helix is capable of printing images up to 218 mm (8.6 in) in length.

Helix®+

The Helix®+, a field upgradeable machine by Inkcups, retains all the functionality of the Helix® but offers scalability as production increases. Upgradeable from a single tunnel to a double tunnel machine, it can print seamless full-color images on both straight-walled and tapered vessels. With a maximum part length of 12 in (305 mm) and equipped with ColorBoost for superior imaging at faster speeds, it ensures flexibility and efficiency.

Double Helix®

The Double Helix® doubles the output while maintaining the quality features of the Helix®. With two print fixtures, it effectively doubles the printing volume, catering to higher production demands. Like its predecessor, it prints seamless full-color images directly onto straight-walled and tapered vessels, with a maximum part length of 12 in (305 mm).

To get started digitally decorating on vacuum sealed drinkware today, contact your local Inkcups sales representative.