STS Inks goes all in on direct-to-film (DTF) printing

Ink manufacturer STS Inks went all in on direct-to-film (DTF) printing at this year’s recently concluded PRINTING United Expo 2023, where the company showcased its 64″ XPJ-1628D DTF printer, 24″ XPD-724 DTF printer, and TPU powder shakers. As an ink maker, the company creates compatible ink solutions for major equipment manufacturers, from eco-solvent, aqueous, and latex to UV, DTG, and dye-sublimation. While a large chunk of its ink is sold aftermarket, 40 percent of the ink it makes is for OEMs.

Having sold ink for over 25 years for three different ink companies, STS Inks has never seen anything blow up as DTF has in the last few years. This led to STS Inks reaching out to MUTOH to offer them an ink solution or custom-made development. That’s when MUTOH approached STS Inks to go to the market with a printer, giving STS exclusivity. STS then partnered up with SAi to develop a DTF-specific RIP software to pair with the printer, and it launched in 2021.