Value-Added Solutions Shine at PRINTING United Expo 2025

By Kalie VanDewater

PRINTING United Expo is the perfect place for in-plants to get ideas for value-added services. From apparel decoration to embellishment to direct-to-object printing, innovative ideas abound at the show.

IPI walked the show floor looking at some of the systems on display that can really help your in-plant stand out. Here’s what we saw.

Direct to Film

UJV300DTF-75

The Mimaki (Booth 1255, 1555) UJV300DTF-75 is a UV-DTF printer designed for high-quality transfers onto diverse products, including curved or uneven surfaces. Eliminating the need for weeding or direct-to-product printing, it enables durable, detailed customization for items such as helmets, mugs, and promotional goods.

TY-300 Direct-to-Film Printer

Roland DG (Booth 1536) introduced the TY-300 direct-to-film printer, a 2025 Pinnacle Product Award recipient in the Technology category that is designed for vivid, detailed apparel transfer graphics. Featuring high-speed output up to four times faster than comparable models and optimized S-PG2 inks for reduced consumption, the TY-300 delivers exceptional image quality, productivity, and efficiency for apparel customization.

“We sell it with an optional bundle shaker/dryer unit, because that's one of the steps of basically a four-step process," says Marc Malkin, public relations manager at Roland. "It's pretty simple. You can do a T-shirt in, realistically, about four minutes."

Tx330-1800B

Mimaki (Booth 1255, 1555) introduced the Tx330-1800B, a compact sublimation printer with a transport belt system for stable output on stretchy, thick, or thin fabrics. Supporting dedicated or hybrid “waterless” textile pigment and dye sublimation inks, it enables versatile printing for apparel, home textiles, and soft signage.

QUATRO CUTTER X Direct-to-Film Transfer Film Cutter

The QUATRO CUTTER X Direct-to-Film (DTF) Transfer Film Cutter from M&R Printing Equipment (Booth 1566) is the recipient of a 2025 Pinnacle Award for Lasers/Routers/Cutters (Less than 4x8ft.). It’s a versatile cutting system designed to automate PET film cutting after transfers are printed and cured on the M&R QUATRO DTF Transfer Printing System. It uses a rotary wheel blade for cutting along the X-axis of PET film.

Other highlights include:

Cutting at speeds of up to 90 linear ft./hr.
Optic reflective sensor for crop mark detection and linear cutting.
Color touchscreen control panel for easy setup of cutting commands.

Direct-to-Shape Printers

VersaSTUDIO BN2-30

Roland DG (Booth 1536) introduced the VersaSTUDIO BN2-30 Desktop Eco-Solvent Printer/Cutter, a 30" device that integrates high-quality printing with precision contour cutting. Designed for efficiency and ease of use, it produces T-shirt transfers, signs, posters, labels, stickers, and custom-shaped graphics with versatility and reliability.

VersaSTUDIO BD-12

Roland DG (Booth 1536) debuted the VersaSTUDIO BD-12 Desktop UV Flatbed Printer, featuring a 12.2x8.3" print area for high-definition direct-to-object printing. Designed for versatility, it enables customization on items such as smartphone covers, notepads, giftware, and promotional products.

“A lot of online businesses and things like that — in-plants — they want to get into product customization," Malkin says. "Pretty affordable; they can get the smaller version at a lower price. But just it's amazing, the things that it can print on: any kind of curve, cylindrical, or any kind of flat object we're interested in."

Helix ONE

Inkcups (Booth 1530) introduced updates to its Helix ONE cylindrical direct-to-object printer, including Auto File for streamlined file management, barcode scanning, a jettable primer for powder-coated products, and expanded diameter capability ranging from 33mm to 116mm.

SG1000 Printer

Sawgrass (Booth 2984) showed the new SG1000, a professional desktop sublimation printer offering print sizes up to 11x17" with vivid 4,880×1,200dpi output. Featuring Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB connectivity, it ensures reliable performance with automatic maintenance and includes Sawgrass Print Manager and CreativeStudio for streamlined design and production.

Coating, Foiling, and Laminating

DFL-200 Xpress Foil

The DFL-200 Xpress Foil from Duplo USA (Booth 3921) is a compact solution for adding toner-reactive metallic finishes through a simple sleeking process. Designed for small shops and franchises, it enhances short-run applications like business cards, invitations, and certificates with brilliant, on-demand embellishments.

“This is unique because it's very easy and user-friendly, so if you have a toner printer, then you can install this, then you can do the foiling process," says Mimi Palomo, business strategy program director at Duplo USA. "And also the quality is good because of our special roller."

LamPrix100

GBC (Booth 5673) introduced the LamPrix100, a near-line, fully automated cold laminator producing encapsulated documents at 100 ppm. Designed to alleviate lamination bottlenecks, it offers efficient off-line finishing while maintaining high productivity.

Kara GinkoLam 65" Laminator

Quality Media & Laminating Solutions (QMLS) (Booth 2486) showed the Kara GinkoLam 65" Entry-Level Laminator, designed for media up to 64" wide and 45mm thick. Equipped with pneumatic roller control, integrated rewinder, and advanced safety features, it supports lamination, premask application, and mounting for startups and shops with occasional finishing needs.

Flexi 1510 Flatbed Laminator

The Flexi 1510 from Rollover AS (Booth 1000) is a compact laminating solution ideal for shops with limited space, non-wide-format applications, or as a demo unit. Despite its smaller footprint, it delivers the same high-quality performance and production results as the established Rollover Range.

DIMENSE DA-640

Roland DG (Booth 1536) introduced the DIMENSE DA-640, a dimensional surface printer that combines full-color printing with embossing effects in a single process. Using water-based inks and specialty media, it produces textured wall wraps, fine art, signage, and display graphics with striking visual and tactile depth.

“It can create really nice, stunning, eye-catching signage with texture," Malkin says. "So, we're letting people know that as well. It's not strictly a wallcovering or interior decor. It could be SEG displays. Depends on what the in-plant is, but if they want to get into either interior decor or they want to create one-of-a-kind type signage with textural effects, then they would want one of these machines."

FINISHpro 3D 1623

Skandacor (Booth 2421) unveiled the FINISHpro 3D 1623 flatbed UV resin printer, an inkjet embellishment press. The press has XYZ-axis control, and is designed to create striking textures, raised details, and eye-catching gloss effects. It has a maximum printing width of 16" and the ability to handle materials from 200gsm to 400gsm.