Digital

A new Lo-E Dryer cures DTG-printed inks and pretreatment, and water-based screen-printed inks and discharge, at high rates using 20% less energy than comparable dryers, it was announced by Mark Vasilantone, president of Vastex International. “We engineered the Lo-E for printers who have limited amperage, and those who simply want to cut energy costs and carbon emissions,” explains Vasilantone.

A new Lo-E Dryer from Vastex cures DTG and screen-printed water-based inks while minimising amperage requirements, energy costs and carbon emissions. Photo: Vastex International, Inc.

The dryer cures up to 45 garments per hour printed with digital white ink at three minutes dwell time. At 1.5 minutes dwell time it cures up to 88 CMYK DTG garments per hour, 88 garments per hour with pretreatment only, or 88 garments per hour screen-printed with water-based ink or discharge.

Modularity permits users to quickly add one or multiple heating chambers and extend the conveyor belt, multiplying capacity in direct proportion to each heating chamber added. Conveyor extensions can also be added to the front or back of the dryer to optimize loading and cooling/unloading of garments.

Energy efficient dryer

Drawing only 22 amps, the dryer’s two 61 cm wide by 46 cm deep high-efficiency infrared heaters provide 4.6 kW of power, maximising curing capacity and in turn, minimising energy costs per garment cured.  Height-adjustable, the heaters offer dual zone temperature control with a boost zone to quickly reach cure temperatures, and carry an industry-leading 15-year warranty.

A 10.5 m3 per minute exhaust system evacuates moisture and air contaminates from the heating chamber, and cools the enclosure’s outer skin and control panel. The 76 cm wide by 224 cm long conveyor runs true by means of a low friction belt aligner patented by the company, with belt speed controls allowing infinitely adjustable dwell times from one to five minutes.

“Although the Lo-E Dryer is designed for curing of DTG garments, it can also cure screen-printed water-based inks and discharge,” says Vasilantone, adding, “It is the most energy efficient dryer in our lineup, and maybe the world.”

The company also produce mid-and high-capacity dryers for DTG and screen-printing applications, as well as commercial-grade and entry-level manual screenprinting presses, flash cure units, screen exposing units, screen drying cabinets, washout boots and complete screen printing shop systems.