Archive for September, 2007
Due to an increase in web traffic that our dusty old server could not handle we have decided to upgrade to a shiny new dedicated server. With our old hosting sytem we did not have enough bandwidth, this meant that as more people visited us we had less space and this in turn could lead to slow responsiveness from the site or even a dreaded crash. The dedicated server will be far more flexible than our old hosting, as we will have full control over the server and software.
The upshot of this for you is that crashes should be eliminated. Performance will also be much quicker than it was previously and there will be far less downtime – leading to an easier and more enjoyable experience for you.
For the technologically-literate amongst you here are the details of the new server:
1x Intel Woodcrest 5310 quad core CPU
4x 160GB Raid Edition SATA HDDs
3ware 9550SXU-4LP SATA RAID controller
2GB RAM
September 18th, 2007
What are the odds? No sooner do we replace our heat press with a cutting-edge machine than it looks as if the technology is set to become obsolete. The Florida-based company US Sublimination have introduced the ‘Velotex’, an all-in-one DTG printer.
Not only does this revolutionary new machine use digital printing technology it can also use water-based dye sublimation to print directly onto fabric and cures the inks in one step with an in-line sublimation/curing unit. This is achieved using a patented system of synchronized cylinders for controlled media feeding and a unique built-in heat fixation module that, based on the ink used, either sublimates or cures the colour on the fabric as it exits the printer unit. Both treated and untreated fabrics can be printed directly using a new generation of print heads that allow for production speeds of 581 square feet per hour in four colour modes at a sharp 540-by-720 dpi resolution.
“Production speed, trouble free manufacturing processes and innovative applications are the key to competing in today’s textile industry. I instructed our distribution division to search for cost effective and innovative products that reduce waste, improve productivity and give customers a competitive edge” says Michael Choo, CEO of PrintVillage, Inc. “The Velotex direct to textile system has exceeded my expectations”.
This new system promises to offer several key advantages over using two separate units for your curing and sublimination. Obviously both space, and in the longer run money, will be saved but less apparent is the benefit to the environment. The water-based inks used in the Velotex eliminate paper from the printing process and reduce the impact on the environment.
To be the first outside of the company to view its results and see the products for yourself the Velotex DS 6400 is set be unveiled at the IFAI Expo in Las Vegas on October 3-5, 2007.
September 15th, 2007
Although new fabric technology is being introduced to popular brands such as Regatta and Uneek, they do not present decoration problems and the print and embroidery industries have developed technology to match the modern fabrics used in textile manufacture.
What this means is that the quality of the material used to create promotional jackets will rise, having no adverse effects on our ability to embroider them. With poor quality or outdated equipment the waterproof integrity of an outdoor garment could easily be compromised through the embroidering process, but fortunately both the jacket manufacturers and embroidery companies have developed at an equal rate, meaning that modern and sophisticated promotional jackets and outdoor wear have never been easier to order!
September 11th, 2007
Thanks to an increase in the sheer volume of t-shirt print jobs here at Clothes2Order we have replaced our old heat press with a new top-of-the-range model that should guarantee the continued speedy fulfilment of orders.
The new heat press, one of the ‘beta’ range manufactured by A. Adkins, will also offer significant other advantages in our quest to provide consistently high-quality prints at affordable prices. Our new machine is designed so that the swing head gives a perfect view of the transfer and garment for accurate and easy application, ensuring that text is perfectly aligned.
The new machine features a digital temperature/time control, ensuring that costly mistakes or burning of t-shirts will be eradicated.
If you run a small garment printing business and are looking for a used heat press ours will be available for auction on ebay soon – keep your eye out for it!
September 6th, 2007
It is a well established fact that promotional wear can be effective in boosting your brand awareness but if you keep hold of them they could well be worth something in a few years, and not just in increased revenue.
Hobbies such as card collecting originated from promotional packs of cards distributed with tobacco and the benefits were immediately realised by traders, soon hundreds of different types of cards were being manufactured, “some were beautiful, some funny, some had puzzles and some were risqué” according to the Collector Trading Cards Website
When promotional items branched out from easily forgotten or lost cards to other more effective methods the hobbyists followed. Now thousands collect unique mugs, pencils and of course t-shirts.
So who knows? That promotional shirt you have just ordered may just become a collectors item one day!
September 4th, 2007
