Also, the right press can mean happier employees. A low-quality press is physically harder to operate and will wear out employees faster, whereas a higher-quality one is less demanding. For instance, cheap presses may have short handles, which doesn’t give the operator the leverage he needs, causing him to tire more quickly.

Further, a cheap, small press limits your decorating options, because you can only imprint items that fit on the platen. And longevity may also be an issue with a lower-end unit. If a supplier cuts a few corners with cheaper bearings or metal, for instance, the press will have a shorter lifespan. And a good press also should mean a good supplier — one that has good technical service and support. These machines don’t last forever, and in the event of a breakdown, you want a supplier who backs up his product.

Clearly, then, it’s key to choose the right unit. Here’s a rundown of some key shopping considerations.

Pressing Options
Heat presses come in manual and semi-automatic models. A manual press requires the operator to use physical force to close the press and open it when the timer goes off. A semi-automatic is typically easier to close and opens on its own once the time is up. It is much less tiring for the operator to use than a manual. For a shop that uses a press only occasionally, a manual is sufficient.

Ideal for higher-production environments, semi-automatic units cause significantly less fatigue than manual presses because they’re air operated or incorporate electronic magnetic technology. Push a few buttons, and the unit does the rest. Automatic controls mean the press is more accurate in temperature time and pressure, and it’s excellent for layout work.

A semi-automatic unit’s pressure readout is calibrated in psi (pounds per square inch), so the operator simply turns a knob to the setting required. On the downside, it often weighs in at around 75kgs, so it’s not very portable. Some models require an air compressor. Only about one-third of heat presses sold are semi-automatic, partially due to their higher price.

Once you’ve decided on manual or automatic, you can choose from the following types of heat presses:

Clam shell press (low to medium price range). This is a popular option because it takes the least amount of space. It’s also lighter in weight than other types making it more portable. A consideration is that the operator’s hands must go under the heated platen to load the shirt and then position the transfer, letters, or numbers. So there is more exposure to the heated platen than on other types.

Swing away press (moderate price range). The name “swing away” refers to the fact that the heated platen is moved to the side of the press before and after pressing. So the operator is not exposed to the heated platen when loading and positioning heat-applied materials. It’s also available with more advanced controls. It’s the most popular type of press for doing team uniforms; however, it requires twice as much space as a clam shell press because you need room to swing the top to one side. Also, it’s a two-step operation: you have to unlock and lift the top, and swing it away, whereas a clam just opens straight up. Further, a swinger provides less pressure than a clam-style press, so it’s not recommended for heavy applications such as puff transfers. It’s also heavier than a clam shell style.

Draw press (moderate price range). This unique press, which provides a heat-free work space, has a stationary platen and fits easily into a corner, unlike a swing away. However, it requires more aisle space, as the drawer comes out, much like the drawer on a cash register. A somewhat unique feature of the draw press is it has a digital pressure readout that is especially useful in retail environments where inexperienced users can be assured they are using the proper pressure required for the specific job. It eliminates the need for guessing. This press is popular in retail and the team uniform market.

Mug press (moderate price range). Ideal for add-on sales, these specialty presses are made to apply transfers to mugs, often at a high profit margin. For instance, you might apply a photo transfer of a client’s child to a mug that costs you £1.50, and charge £10. On the other hand, the print cycle is fairly long (more than three minutes), and the press’ lifespan is shorter than that of other types.

Mug glazer (low price range). This unit cures color laser transfers on mugs, giving it a vibrant shine and making it dishwasher safe.  Check with your paper manufacturer to see if this unit is required for your specific application.

Cap press. Customizing caps with transfers or heat-applied embroidery is another ideal way to increase add-on sales and more cost effective than screen printing or embroidering on caps. However, because of the huge variety of cap sizes and you must be sure that your cap press has interchangeable platens. Using the wrong size cap platen can mean the difference between a properly applied transfer and a wrinkled transfer. A quality press comes with platens to handle everything from six-panel caps to low-crown caps, as well as auto release capabilities.

Multipurpose press (moderate price range). This unit comes with a variety of attachments so that it can handle many types of substrates, making it a good choice for decorators who aren’t sure yet which market they’ll focus on. Specifically, it can do thicker items such as notepads, plates, etc. One consideration is that every time you change out the platen, you have to wait for the new one to heat up. So it’s not practical for low-volume orders where you must change the platen out often. Most shops will buy a heat press dedicated to shirts and add a multipurpose press for specialty items. It will greatly increase the number of items to which you can apply decoration.

Key Features
Presses range anywhere from about £300 for an entry-level, light-duty press to £2,500 for a high-end, semi-automatic unit. As you pay more, you’ll get more accurate controls, leading to better products for your customers. Another high-end feature: non-stick coating. With this feature, employees can literally wipe off the press while it’s still warm. When you’ve put a transfer on upside down, this is handy to have. You’ll also get a better warranty with a higher-end unit.

Other features to look for:

Automatic open. This helpful feature uses electronic magnetic technology to open the press automatically when an item is done, allowing you to walk away from the unit and do other things — such as loading a second unit — instead of standing by idly, waiting for it to finish. It does not require an air compressor.

Digital pressure readout. This feature is one that you definitely should look for in a heat press, as it ensures accurate, consistent pressure item after item.

Interchangeable platens. By changing out platens, you can use the same heat press to easily do a wide variety of items besides T-shirts — everything from tote bags to youth garments and sleeves. Many suppliers offer around six or so standard platens, while some will custom build a platen to your needs.

Key Questions
When shopping for a heat press, ask yourself the following:

• How much space do I have?
• What’s my budget?
• Why type of items and how many will I produce?
• What is my market, and will it expand into others?

The Heat Is On!
If you think of heat presses as the domain of small decorators, you’ll be surprised to discover that they’re actually well-suited for high-production situations — assuming you choose the right press and arrange your shop properly. For instance, Majestic Athletic in Bangor, Pa., uses 40 heat presses to do baseball uniforms for Major League Baseball.

“We heat seal the names and numbers,” explains mechanic Fred Valania. “We also do uniforms for retail. We heat seal tackle twill, then it’s sewn with a zigzag stitch around the edges.”

Decorations are as varied as the teams, with some uniforms getting a team logo on the front while others might also have a shoulder patch and a flag, or a team number on the back. Adding to the complexity, the shop does anywhere from 1,500 to 4,500 units every day. Amazingly, Majestic Athletic boasts a 99% accuracy rate.

“Shirts are picked out of the warehouse and come with a work order that tells exactly what goes on it: the name, logo, patches, whatever,” Valania says. “The work order is put in the shirt, on the hanger.”

Overhead, an automated transport system moves the hangers to the press area of the shop, where the 40 units are arranged in two long lines, each at its own 6’ x 3’ table with two benches. “Let’s say a store wants a dozen garments of Garcia Pira. An employee reaches up and takes a dozen garments from the hangers overhead, and she puts them on her bench. When she’s done (with the heat transferring), she sends those garments to sewing.”

At each work station are about 20 boxes with numbering and lettering. A floating supervisor provides each station with numbers or other items that may be missing for a special order. “The employees don’t leave their stations,” Valania says. “You can’t have 40 people running around looking for stuff.”

The shop uses 20” x 16” automatic Hotronix units, Valania says, all of them attached to a single compressor that also runs the transport system. “All the worker has to do is swing it over and press two buttons; then the machine takes over.”

Still, it’s not entirely automatic, because the shop uses a number of suppliers for its tackle twill. “Each one requires a different temperature to melt the glue,” he says. “The employee also does a quality check to make sure that it has sealed properly.”

Generally, employees can do about 40 garments per hour, depending on the complexity of the items.

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About Author

Guest Author Ben Robinson is director of operations for Hotronix, a GroupeStahl company, a leading manufacturer of heat seal equipment with numerous patents and trademarks. He has been in the decorated apparel industry for the past 20 years. His responsibilities include heading up the development and production of new products as well as sales and customer service. You can reach Ben at ben.robinson@hotronix.com or visit the Web site at www.hotronix.com. The Hotronix range of presses is available in the UK from Target Transfers Ltd, a GroupeSTAHL company. (www.targettransfers.com) Tel: +44 (0) 1376 326251.