What to Look for in a Bottle Printing Machine

Navigating the world of bottle printing can be overwhelming, especially when it’s your first endeavor. To help you through the initial stages of research, consult this comprehensive guide as your trusted resource. You’ve already checked off the first box: narrowing down your market to drinkware! When deciding on a bottle printing machine, focus on three key areas: sourcing your blanks, assessing the bottle printer capabilities, and evaluating the manufacturer’s service and support.

Sourcing Blanks for Bottle Printing

Sourcing suitable vessels for printing drinkware can be a challenge, but building a good relationship with a reliable drinkware distributor can make all the difference. As a small startup, without historical data, accurately forecasting demand might seem daunting. However, with growth and time, purchasing just the right amount of drinkware blanks becomes much easier. The Goldilocks approach of ordering just the right number of blanks to avoid stockouts or excess inventory is possible, but it does take time.

If you’re unsure where to start with blanks, leverage your connections! Ask the companies you’re researching for bottle printers if they can recommend reputable blank suppliers.

Bottle Printing Machine Capabilities

Investing in a bottle printing machine is a significant undertaking. When evaluating different manufacturers, consider the complete package: the bottle printers offered, customer and technical service and support, staff training, and available consumables.

A bottle printing machine, more commonly referred to as a rotary UV printer or cylindrical inkjet printer, can decorate various cylindrical items with straight or tapered sides. Whether it’s bottles (wine, water, or beer), barware, shot glasses, growlers, stadium cups, tumblers, and more, these printers can print directly onto them.

Digital printing on bottles using UV cylindrical printers offers numerous advantages over alternative methods like pad printing, dye-sublimation, or screen printing. UV LED lights cure ink instantly, eliminating downtime or the need for an additional drying step.

Bottle Printer Service & Support

When considering a machine manufacturer, ask these pertinent questions:

• What does your warranty cover?
• How quickly can I reach a live person for support?
• If I require an on-site technician, how soon can they arrive?
• Are replacement parts readily available?
• What other services do you offer?

Establishing a strong relationship with the chosen cylindrical printer company is essential, much like finding a reliable supplier for drinkware blanks.

Additional beneficial services may include adhesion testing, custom fixturing, application consultation, and sample testing. These services can be invaluable resources for a business that deals with inkjet printing on bottles.

Staff Training for UV Printers

Choosing the right bottle printer involves considering training and installation for your team. If you’re already familiar with printing methods like screen printing, the transition may be easier but proper training can significantly flatten the learning curve.

Available Printer Consumables

Success with digital printing on bottles extends beyond the bottle printer itself- consumables such as UV inks and primers are vital to the printing process. The selection of materials depend on the substrate being printed, but having consistent access to fully stocked warehouses for consumables is crucial. Some digital ink companies provide their own ink lines, while others outsource, which can be a deciding factor when it comes to lead time and availability.

Consider the stock levels of consumables at a moment’s notice if demand suddenly surges. Also worth considering is the location of the warehouse – both the distance of the warehouse from your equipment and the route that supplies will take to get to you can heavily influence the time you end up waiting for a resupply. A digital printer is merely a large paperweight without ink, so asking these questions upfront provides a clear understanding of the company’s operations and what they can do for you.

Replacement Parts

Closely related to consumables, replacement parts are also crucial to have on hand or shipped overnight. Hand in hand with service and support, replacement parts and the experience to replace them correctly are necessary to keep down time to a minimum.

Why Choose Inkcups for Cylindrical Printing

Unlock the potential of bottle printing and various cylindrical items, such as cosmetic bottles and coffee tins, by partnering with Inkcups today. Our comprehensive printing solutions cater to operations of any scale, offering a wide range of cylindrical inkjet printers, from compact benchtop machines to high-speed models with 12 stations and everything in between.

With eight digital ink lines and in-house adhesion testing, Inkcups ensures your drinkware meets the highest adhesion standards. Our world-class 1-year warranty is included with your equipment purchases, with extended warranty plans are available for added peace of mind.

Inkcups boasts a global presence with direct sales offices, strategically positioned warehouses, and skilled technicians, ensuring unparalleled coverage and swift service and support worldwide. Experience top-tier technical support, both in-person and over the phone, no matter your location. Contact us today!

Additional informative resources: Custom Liquor Bottle Labels, Digitally Printed