Considerations in Expanding Print Product Lines with UV Technology

UV printing technology is becoming increasingly affordable and opening up new lines of business for all different types and sizes of companies. People often ask us about best practices as it goes to implementing UV print technology. At the DPI Laboratory, I work directly with a number of startups and also established companies that are adding or expanding UV printing capability in their current operations. UV print technology is playing a large role in opening up industrial digital print capabilities to any size business, but also bringing down the cost of short run jobs compared to prior technologies such as pad and screen printing. For companies exploring adding personalization to their product line or looking to launch a totally new lines based around the UV print technology, I always recommend a few key steps;

The Plan. Take the time to produce a solid operational, sales and marketing plan to get your store front or product in front of the right buyers. It is just good business practice to ensure that the plan is fully formed and you understand the risks before making a major investment in technology. My go-to resource that I have recommended for years is the Ernst and Young Business Plan guide (https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Ernst_Young_Business_Plan_Guide/LGF4cGm-z0sC?hl=enamp;gbpv=0amp;kptab=getbook).This book cooks the complicated science of business planning into some manageable steps and gives excellent guidance. After many years, I continue to go back to this resource every time I personally launch a new product, line of business, division or physical location.

The Interface. A great front end platform is a must to make it simple for customers to place orders and drive repeat business. The cost of this type of technology has come down substantially, at the same time the ease of use has increased. Web platforms such as @Shopify can provide a direct path to a retail platform that is inexpensive, easy to use and subscription-based. Add-ons, such as Uploadery or Infinite Options from @ShopPad, are simple plugins that extend customization capabilities to the consumers. The platform should make it simple for the customer to place an order, while establishing the image parameters necessary to easily produce a quality print.

The Back Office. Efficient back office process will drive efficiency, reduce cost and delivery time and increase customer satisfaction. For companies exploring UV printing, the RIP software technology is central to this process. The software must provide the capability to produce exceptional color matched output when paired with the printer, but also should include the workflow capabilities that interface directly with the front end order technologies. In a volume custom print business, managing art and orders manually can negatively impact profits and slow production times. The ability to produce templates and import jobs efficiently, making it simple for the print operators is critical to success and profitability with the platform.

The Printer. It probably goes without saying that the quality of the output is paramount to success of a print program. There are a few really exceptional UV printers on the market, and all reputable companies will provide you samples that demonstrate the machine capabilities. There are some other key buying criteria to ensure the device fits within your production environment. Always look for a printer that is built on an industrial platform with heavy-duty components to minimize downtime and simplify operations. Also, evaluate the footprint of the device relative to the print area, making sure you can produce the maximum output, using the least square footage in your shop. Look closely at the the support mechanism of the company you are buying from. We all hope that problems with hardware do not occur, but you must ensure your provider can give you the responsive support you require should the unthinkable happen. Of course, cost is always a core factor. With industrial print devices, investigate initial cost and time to ramp, but also ongoing operational expenses such as ink cost, parts replacement cost and any add-on support charges. Finally, evaluate the onboarding process and training program and make sure that the company you buy from will not just deliver a printer, but provide the training and advice necessary to get the printer into full production in your operation. At the DPI Laboratory, we do more than manufacture and sell printers. We provide full customization solutions that allow our clients to expand their businesses efficiently and profitably. Please feel free to comment or message me directly for more information or if you have questions. #dpilab #printinnovation #uvprinting #ecommerce #automation