Author Topic: Neck Labels  (Read 2636 times)

Offline CBCB

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #15 on: April 15, 2017, 09:13:20 AM »
3-up custom pallets, direct manual print. Each "prong" on the pallet dedicated to a specific size. Artwork templated so that we could burn multiple rows of sizes, 3 sizes per row. (Generally XS/S/M on one row, L/XL/2XL on the next.) Pallet could slide into correct position for each row.

Did a lot of these for one customer, with many reorders. But in general, this isn't something we've done much of.

Why different sizes per row?

I've thought about getting a custom pallet made so we can print them 3up. Wouldn't it be a nightmare trying to load one of each size and defeat the purpose of the 3up pallet?


We didn't/don't load different sizes simultaneously. We keep sizes grouped together, and just do one shirt per pallet. We put one shirt on, print (small 3" squeegee just dabs the spot), spin the press, put next one on. When that size is done, we tape off the back of the screen, and move over to the next "prong" with the next size. No, it isn't as efficient as using a 3-up the standard way where you print 3 garments at once. But as small as the print is, hitting one color like that, with a printer & a puller, it goes pretty quickly. Also, with the size of orders we were doing this for, we'd usually have only a few dozen of each size. It just made setup & everything else go smoothly to have all sizes in one screen, with the transition between sizes adding very little time.

Ah, I see. I never found the setups to be slow. I think there's more time to be saved by lowering the screen and printing 3up, than there is in two setups.

We use lasers so moving the screen over to the next size is fast. Move it, quick test print, onto the next size.


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Offline inkstain

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2017, 12:31:52 PM »
yeah, that's what we do too. The cold peel will typically result in a higher opacity!

What you mentioned about cold peel got me thinking.  I print a ton of trucker hats with hot peel transfer paper.  Works pretty good but lighter inks, especially yellow is not really opaque.  Would using cold peel provide more opaque prints on truckers?  I use union mixopaque inks.  Thanks for any info.

Offline Monkeysmakemenervous

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2017, 05:06:26 AM »
I use sleeve pallets on a four color manual; burn tags upside down on a 305, lay back neck of shirt on end of pallet and pull front of neck hole down and out of the way, so that the shirt is now hanging down towards the floor, secured to pallet only by that 4" wide area of the back, leaving your label area exposed for the print. Then one smooth pass with based down plastisol or a high solids water base and she's ready to hit the dryer. I'll print with a loader, off loader, and printer and get that press spinning to do 400+ per hour, but drop one of those people and double up two of the tasks and you can still do 300 easy, without turning shirts inside-out and back. Have yet to find anything more efficient, and, considering more and more of our clients are asking for this, yet baulking at paying as much for them as a normal one color, efficiency is  VERY important.

Offline IntegriTees

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2017, 09:33:00 AM »
Anatol Prodigy.  Its a dream over the RapidTag I traded up for.
the only problem is.....its so quiet.  I can't tell if my guys are working because it makes 0 sound from across the shop.

Offline ffokazak

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2017, 03:52:00 PM »
I second the Prodigy...

We bought a "used" one that had never been used.

As soon as it hit the dock, I tore apart the print head screen holder, and custom fabricated our own, using screen holders and air locks from an old challenger I salvaged. ( The original design would have only allowed small screens, and most of our clients request an individual graphic for each size, no the classic underline, or dot under the S-M-L-XL )

The design we have is very similar to a numbering press, where we put individual size markers 6 across on a 14"x30" screen. ( I-image template, ensures they are all in the same spots every time)  The beauty of this system is I can change a size marker in about 4 seconds. No taping off of the previous tag, and you don't have to touch the squeegee or flood bar. Just flick the screen holder airlocks, and slide it over to a line on the frame of the screen, and everything is lined up and centered.

Love the fact that the anatol has two flashes to "cure" the ink, and the guys can stack them after labelling. We do about 20-30K tags every month, and when shirts hit the dock, they are printed with neck labels before being sorted for front graphics.

We print on a CHIIID, so the anatol control touch screen is a bit rudimentary, and is a bit challenging to get used to... its basic.  BUT it does was it is designed to do, and that is simple neck label printing.  Wouldn't want to print an opaque white on this press, i think the same can be said for the rapid tags though. I do like the chopper system they have on this press however, its something we are used to.

Hope this helps!


Offline IntegriTees

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Re: Neck Labels
« Reply #20 on: May 11, 2017, 10:39:56 AM »
I second the Prodigy...

We bought a "used" one that had never been used.

As soon as it hit the dock, I tore apart the print head screen holder, and custom fabricated our own, using screen holders and air locks from an old challenger I salvaged. ( The original design would have only allowed small screens, and most of our clients request an individual graphic for each size, no the classic underline, or dot under the S-M-L-XL )

The design we have is very similar to a numbering press, where we put individual size markers 6 across on a 14"x30" screen. ( I-image template, ensures they are all in the same spots every time)  The beauty of this system is I can change a size marker in about 4 seconds. No taping off of the previous tag, and you don't have to touch the squeegee or flood bar. Just flick the screen holder airlocks, and slide it over to a line on the frame of the screen, and everything is lined up and centered.

Love the fact that the anatol has two flashes to "cure" the ink, and the guys can stack them after labelling. We do about 20-30K tags every month, and when shirts hit the dock, they are printed with neck labels before being sorted for front graphics.

We print on a CHIIID, so the anatol control touch screen is a bit rudimentary, and is a bit challenging to get used to... its basic.  BUT it does was it is designed to do, and that is simple neck label printing.  Wouldn't want to print an opaque white on this press, i think the same can be said for the rapid tags though. I do like the chopper system they have on this press however, its something we are used to.

Hope this helps!

I have the new All Electric model.  Think it was the first in the US.  no problem doing opaque white if you want to go around twice.  But it keeps registration tight....not like the rapid tag.