NEW VS OLD: The M&R Red Chilli

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It’s that time again….NEW VS OLD. And this month it’s a printshop must have. flash cures! The M&R Red Chilli in particular. 

Not much has changed spec wise on the Red Chilli’s over the years, It’s still available in all the same print sizes and it’s the same power wise.

That being said, As with everything, It has been modernised. One of the most obvious changes in recent years is the updated user interface. Back in the day, This would have just been a timer, Whereas nowadays It’s a digital touchscreen making it alot easier to use and control. With the new digital touchscreen, You can adjust the power outage, so if you’d like 50% or 100% power, this can be changed easily. You can also turn on/off your flash zones (red chilli’s have 3 flashing zones and can be turned on and off depending on your flashing needs). On the earlier models this would have been done with a toggle switch. 

Another update is the bulbs. They have been updated to less bright, But more efficient and even bulbs, However if your looking at an older red chilli, The newer bulbs also work in those too so are accessible no matter what the age of the machine is. 

As always the deciding factor is usually the price. A used Red Chilli flash cure can be between £1500-1700 EX VAT delivery and will still do all of the things above excluding adjusting the power outages, Whereas a new red chilli will set you back approx. £4400 EX VAT and delivery and for this price the machine comes with a 2 year warranty and a modernised user interface/controls.

As with all used equipment, It’s important to keep it clean and serviced. This pro-longs the life meaning it can last some printers many years without any issues occurring. Below is a flash cure we recently serviced and cleaned in our workshop after years of daily use and no cleaning. The machine had been experiencing a few problems which was actually caused by build up of fluff and glue, causing parts to fail. Not to mention causing a fire hazard. 

           

Buying used doesn’t mean an inferior product, It can work just as well as a new machine, If looked after correctly. 

For more information on our flash cures, Give us a call on 01562829009 or drop us an email at sales@screenprintworld.co.uk

How to print zipper hoodies – The easy way!

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With the cooler weather rolling in, We’re sure you’re seeing an increased demand for hoodies, long sleeves and zipper hoodies.

When it comes to printing zipper hoodies in particular you can run into a few issues, Which is why the zipper hoodie pallet was created! Printing zipper hoodies on a standard pallet can be tricky.. The zip gets in the way and ends up getting caught on your squeegee causing all sorts of issues and can even tear your screen. The zipper hoodie pallet was made to combat this exact issue. It is engineered with a slot down the middle, allowing you to rest the zip part of the hoodie in so it is out of the way when printing.

When placing your zip into the slot, You need to make sure that it rests at the same height as your print surface. In order to help get this right, The zipper hoodie pallet has been carefully measured with many samples of hoodies, resulting in a two-tiered drop for your zipper to fit into. The first tier is for your zipper hem, while the deeper tier is for your zipper to sit in. Creating perfect zipper hoodie prints every time without wasting resources!

The Zipper hoodie pallet is available in many sizes, the most popular being 16″ x 22″ and can be ordered for your machine type.

Please call on 01562 829009 or drop us an email sales@Screenprintworld.co.uk for more information and pricing!

NEW LAUNCH: The TFOLD Table-top Auto Folder

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Folding and bagging made easy with another big launch for Screen Print World this month…

The TFOLD Table-top Auto Folder!

Upgrading your folding and bagging process can often be a hassle and comes at a large cost. The TFOLD is the perfect option if you’d like a space saving and money saving alternative. No need for a compressor as it’s electric driven (requires only a 13amp standard plug) and even has a inbuilt blower for bag inflation, Making bagging easy too! 

This slick new folder is 43″ x 28″, Making it perfect if your limited on space and can fold a t-shirt in around 5 seconds, which works out to around 350-500 an hour. The inbuilt bagging arm can be activated, lifting the t-shirt in the air whilst you fill the bag with air, allowing you to easily slide the bag over the garment. Simple, fast and effective.

For more information, give us a call on 01562829009 or email us at sales@Screenprintworld.co.uk

 

Introducing the all new MTEX Direct To Film Printer!

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We are extremely excited to announce a new edition to Screen Printing World (drum roll please)……

Introducing The MTEX DTF range of printers! 

The screen print industry is constantly evolving and we are seeing increasing demand for DTF, An easy and quick garment decoration process. Some of you may be thinking, So what is DTF and why MTEX? 

DTF stands for Direct to Film, so let’s break the process down into 4 easy steps:

Who are MTEX?

Founded in 2011, MTEX are one of Europe’s leading suppliers of digital printers based out of Portugal. They have been making large format digital printers for well over a decade so they know there stuff when it comes to DTF. 

A little about the MTEX DTF Machines

The MTEX DTF machines are available in both 30cm and 60cm, and are European purpose built machines for the DTF process. It’s the one stop shop, all-in-one printer, shaker and dryer. Unlike other processes, it can print on to pretty much anything and because your printing on flat clear film with digital heads, The detail and quality is next to none. Superb on cotton, poly cotton, polyester, nylon, leather and denim to name a few! Another amazing thing about these printers is the print durability, Because the powder has been melted onto the transfer whilst in the oven, when you come to heat press the transfer onto your garment it bonds with the surface making it very durable and prefect for workwear and high viz garments. Here’s a detailed video from MTEX explaining everything you need to know about these machines:

The MTEX machines are available to order now so please get in touch if you would like more information and pricing. You can call us on 01562 829009 or email us at sales@screenprintworld.co.uk. 

NEW PRODUCT: KREBS Tex25+ Spot Cleaning Gun

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Introducing an old school favourite and the new edition to our spot cleaning gun family…the KREBS Tex25+ Spot Cleaning Gun. 

Our Top model Gun, The powerful TEX25+ is ideally suited for professional garment and textile producers who require a reliable high power gun for removing Ink and stains from your garment. 

Made from good quality and durable parts, the TEX25+ spot cleaning gun can easily remove any spots, stains or misprints with the help of it’s 60w high pulsating jet. It also comes with a 700ml container capacity and an adjustable nozzle which can be adjusted from a needle jet to mist without hassle. 

We have a few Spot Cleaning Gun options to offer here at SPW, So we’ve put together the below chart to help you out when choosing the best cleaning gun for you:

You can find the Red Arrow Spot Cleaning Gun here

You can find the TG300 Spot Cleaning Gun here

For more information, give us a call on 01562 829009, drop us an email at sales@screenprintworld.co.uk or use our online chat function. 

ALL ABOUT OUR ECO-FRIENDLY PACKAGING

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We get questions daily on our eco-friendly packaging and what we are doing to help the environment, So today we thought we would give you the run down on all things eco-friendly and what we are doing to be more green. As the leading suppliers in the industry, We feel a responsibility to set an example for the rest of the industry and encourage others to look at their processes!

Lets start with our boxes, Which are made from recycled materials. Our boxes can be reused or recycled. If you are packing orders yourself and need an efficient, cost effect way to fill them, you can shred the boxes down and re-use as packaging! 

Majority of questions we get are regards our packing peanuts, Which are actually made from corn-starch, Making them eco-friendly, 100% recyclable and compostable! The best way to dispose of them is to dissolve them in water – Simply put them in your sink, Run the tap and watch them melt away! 

We also only use paper tape and labels to secure the boxes and also label our pots. 

 

Another thing we have changed is our courier service. Our main courier is DPD, which are not only the most reliable and safest we have tried, They are also aiming to be the greenest delivery courier on the planet. Below are some of the things they have changed to reach their goal!

They currently have over 700 electric vehicles operating though-out England, Scotland and Wales, and continue to invest in these vehicles to deliver clean and emission free on the streets of our cities! They’ve also recently opened a brand new hub, Located in Hinkley, Leicestershire, Where they have installed a state of the art solar PV system compromising of 6000 panels. The power generated by this new system will enable to the hub offices to operate off grid during daytime working hours with the excess power being exported back into the national grid to supply green energy. Project eclipse is something they are also working on, Which is evaluating the expansion of the solar pv to 22 other sites across their network. 

Another important thing which can be done by you at home, Is to download the DPD app! When you receive a delivery from DPD via one of their all-electric vans, the app will keep count and when it reaches 50 DPD will plant a tree on your behalf!  

To find out more about DPD and their mission to be the greenest delivery courier on the planet, Follow this link.

How Step Up Your Screen Cleaning Game

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Screen cleaning can sometimes be overwhelming. With so many products on the market, It can be hard to choose the right ones. Thats were the Franmar kit steps in. Everything you need to clean screens in one great kit. From everyday products like degreaser and cleaning pads, to your more heavy duty products like emulsion remover, this kit has everything you need to clean screens. See below a full breakdown of whats included:

Franmar Color Change On Press Ink Remover

Quickly change colour on press or open clogged mesh areas during a run, saving valuable time and money. Franmar’s On Press Ink Remover is non-aerosol and replaces harsh chemicals such as methylene chloride without negative side effects and offensive odor. 

Franmar UN-LOK 

UN-Lok is perfect for removing hardened emulsion that has locked-in to your screen printing mesh. It is a cleaning solution perfect for reclaiming old screens. No need for a nozzle spray, the lid also functions as a measured applicator.

Franmar Strip-e-Doo 

Strip-e-doo Emulsion Remover is specifically designed to penetrate and dissolve all types of emulsion as well as capillary film without weakening the mesh. Emulsion Remover breaks down the toughest of emulsions, capillary films, and stencils without weakening the screen mesh. This powerful emulsion remover is formulated with a built-in degreaser that changes colour when no longer active, saving time and money. Franmar’s Emulsion Remover has revolutionized the once unpleasant process of screen reclaiming.

Franmar De Haze 

Franmar’s De Haze ES Haze Remover is the first haze remover that is safe to use on emulsion without breaking it down or locking it in. We introduce a cleaning product that will revolutionise the way you deal with haze and ghost images. Franmar’s Haze Remover ES is the first haze remover that is safe to use on emulsion without breaking it down or locking it in. Screens can now be thoroughly cleaned and haze removed without damaging the stencil prior to cataloguing the screen for future printing. Haze Remover ES will keep screens looking like new even after multiple runs of prints.

Franmar Bean-e-doo

Plastisol Ink Remover effectively cleans screens without the odour and is a drain safe product. Franmar’s Plastisol Ink Remover eliminates the use of mineral spirits and other volatile solvents while saving time and money. Plastisol Ink Remover was the first product introduced by Franmar to replace the caustic, toxic, high odour products, and at a fraction of the cost.

Franmar D-Grease

Screen Degreaser is a fast-drying formula that helps prevent “fish-eyes” in the emulsion on the screen and is great for prepping screens before recoating them with emulsion. Franmar’s Screen Degreaser is tough on solvent residues and easy on the environment. It is alcohol-free, non-caustic, and 100% biodegradable, making it essential for any screen printer. 

2 x White Cleaning Pads 

White cleaning pads are non-absorbent pads which are more gentle, could be used for degreasing or ink removal.

1 x Red Cleaning pads 

Red cleaning pads are super tough, to be used on tougher stains or when removing emulsion. These are separate pads that can be used for cleaning and reclaiming screens.

5 x Heavy-duty trigger sprayers

Trigger sprays that easily attach to the bottles to provide 

 

NEW PRODUCT: GT BASE AND STONE BASE

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New product alert! We’ve recently added 2 new bases to our plastisol range of bases. 

Introducing Plast PF HS Transparente GT Base and Plast PF Stone base. 

Both bases are for 3D printing and can be used to achieve amazing 3D Effects. GT Base is has a high glossy finish and stone base has a matt finish. Both Phthalate-free. You can also use AMEX’s CMX or standard plastisol ink range to achieve any colour you desire. 

For more information click the links above for a full breakdown. 

New VS Old: Automatics

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The age old question, New or old? When it comes to equipment there could be a few differences that could be  deciding factors in whether you buy old of new, so we’ve created a mini series of blog posts that will help you in your decision! 

This month, We’re comparing a 2008 Diamondback R Series against a new Diamondback E Series

Spec comparison:

So as you can see from the spec comparison, There is not a great difference between the two apart from slightly newer technology such a digital screen and electric heads, So if you love modern technology and ease of use, a new press might be better for you.  

Power wise, The 2008 Diamondback is 1 phase, So if your looking at a newer press, 3 phase will need to be installed into your unit. If your trying to keep your costs down, The 2008 diamondback R might be better for you. 

Speaking of costs, that also might be a deciding factor for you. The diamond back R is £14,995 (ex shipping/install/vat)whereas a new diamondback E starts at £42,000 (ex shipping/install/vat). One thing to keep in mind is, as with all used equipment, There may be some used parts that need replacing somewhere down the line and servicing will need to regular to make sure everything’s working as it should, this should be considered into costings. 

If you’d like more information on old or new equipment, Please get in touch by phone 01562829009 or email sales@screenprintworld.co.uk. 

NEW PRODUCT: Amex Waterbased Puff Base!

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 Introducing a brand new product – Amex Waterbased Puff Base! We’ve had a plastisol puff base for quite sometime but have now added a waterbased option!

Amex Water based puff is a ready to print Puff Base which can be used with our Amex Texprint Pigments to achieve any colour you desire. all you need to do is add a maximum of 5% pigment to achieve full shade. once fully cured, You’ll see the full (incredible) effects. We also have a Waterbased puff white which is perfect for printing white puff prints onto dark garments!

We always recommend that the necessary wash testing is done to ensure you are satisfied with your results prior to undertaking any production. Curing times will not be affected – manufacturer recommends 165°C at 2-3 minutes.