HSA inks - what's shaking?

[ZooCity]

So I've been waiting to test the new HSA inks out and while Sericol, Wilflex and Rutland all have them now, nobody but Rutland has info on the systems. 

Who's running these?  Brand, distributor, press characteristics, general thoughts? 

I have a job running next week where this ink type would have been ideal for the client so that lit the fire under my arse to get them in here.  My goal is to be running HSA by 2014 Spring season.  I would default to WFX but will likely test all of them. Would love to hear what others are experiencing.

[dirkdiggler]

*crickets*

[ZooCity]

*crickets*

Ha, my impression exactly!  I need to make calls to my reps again but our WFX rep had me all going on them releasing their HSA base + pig set this summer, had it marked on my calendar and then....*crickets*

I'm wondering if these inks aren't going so well in the field....then again that Mark Gervais/M&R vid was almost exclusively about this ink type and I know the big boys have been running it for a while now.  My sericol rep said they sold jaw dropping amounts of it right at launch but they like to sell ocean containers full of drums of ink, not gallons.   I'm not clear on where I could by gallons or 5ers of base, white, black and pigs from any of the mfg'ers.

[dirkdiggler]

Magna has it available through Nazdar.  You should start there.

[brandon]

The HSA from Rutland is very nice stuff. I know a few shops that use it but yeah, they buy in drums many times over. For us it would be like a few gallons. We had by the time I left only two requests for it and it was of course Nike related. But it does print well!

[Rob Coleman]

Nazdar SourceOne inventories both the Wilflex and Magna High Solids water base line.  Both are base and pigment systems.  We sell significant quantities of both to a few print shops – those that must meet the non-pvc Restricted Substance List (RSL) for some major brands (primarily Nike).  We primarily stock these items in our Chicago and Miami facilities.

I have messaged Zoo City with a good deal of information.  All of the Magna material is on our web site - sourceoneonline.com.  Wilflex justreleased their HSA product, and we have not update our site as of yet.  I do however have links to my drop box for both Wilflex and Magna products.  Don't want to spam the board or I would post them here.

Regards, Rob

[ZooCity]

Awesome, thanks Rob.  Sounds like I have three solid options here- WFX, Magna and Rutland (also Sericol, depending).  Time to see who will kick me gallons, stocks consistently and is closest then start doing the R&D. 

I agree that it's not many jobs looking for this ink type but if it can replace a lot of plastisol and print on 100% poly then it sounds like a darn good thing to me.

[pwalsh]

Awesome, thanks Rob.  Sounds like I have three solid options here- WFX, Magna and Rutland (also Sericol, depending).  Time to see who will kick me gallons, stocks consistently and is closest then start doing the R&D. 

I agree that it's not many jobs looking for this ink type but if it can replace a lot of plastisol and print on 100% poly then it sounds like a darn good thing to me.

I might be wrong but it’s my understanding that the Magna, Rutland, and Wilflex High Solids Acrylic inks are all water-based systems, while the Sericol is an oil based “Acryisol” type ink system.  All systems have their own set of unique performance benefits and challenges when compared to the traditional PVC plastisol inks that we are used to printing with.

[alan802]

The Lancer Evolution series is not considered HSA is it?  It's RSL, Nike approved PVC and Pthalate free but I don't see anything about it being High Solids Acrylic based.  I've tried the 6581 optical white and it's ok, I get better opacity and prints from Tidy plastisol but I can see where it might shine.  It looked fantastic on 100% polyester under armour material with one stroke, but that was about it.  It was missing something, I don't know the technical term for it but I know how it reacts compared to plastisol and it's like comparing whip cream to really creamy peanut butter.  It's missing "heft" in less technical terms.

[Rob Coleman]

The Lancer Evolution series is not considered HSA is it?  It's RSL, Nike approved PVC and Pthalate free but I don't see anything about it being High Solids Acrylic based.  I've tried the 6581 optical white and it's ok, I get better opacity and prints from Tidy plastisol but I can see where it might shine.  It looked fantastic on 100% polyester under armour material with one stroke, but that was about it.  It was missing something, I don't know the technical term for it but I know how it reacts compared to plastisol and it's like comparing whip cream to really creamy peanut butter.  It's missing "heft" in less technical terms.

You are correct.  The Lancer product is an "Acrosol" like the Sericol product.  They have their own set of challenges as PW stated just like Waterbase HSA systems.  None are as "easy" nor as versatile as a PVC based system.  Nut if you have to hit a non-pvc RSL, you do not have much choice......