En ce mois de juin, nous avons eu la chance de poser quelques questions à Mathieu Lemarchand, gérant de l’entreprise Ker Créa, sur son expérience et plus précisément sur ses débuts sur la technique du DTF. Vous trouverez dans cet article quelques extraits de cette interview.
"You've been equipped with this technique for almost a year now, can you tell us more about your debut in DTF?"
On s’est équipé pour la première fois sur le DTF en août 2021. Donc on était vraiment aux débuts du DTF. A l’époque on avait pris une petite imprimante 30cm – 4 têtes et on avait beaucoup de maintenance et une faible productivité. Mais au final on a beaucoup appris sur cette machine.
A côté, on travaillait avec beaucoup d’associations et ça a été un vrai tremplin. Ca aide au départ d’avoir une base de clients potentiels.
En termes de commandes on devait être environ à 50% en Flockage et 50% en DTF. Aujourd’hui, on est à 70% de DTF et 30% de Flockage. C’est aussi pour ça que l’on a changé de machine et que l’on est passé sur une 60CM – 2 têtes. Maintenant qu’on a beaucoup de commandes, on se pose même plus la question et on fait du DTF.
"What made you want to start using the DTF technique? What did you finally miss with the other techniques?"
At the beginning we were mainly equipped with Flockage, on Embroidery. We tried DTG too. With flocking, we cut, weeded, we glued... but it takes time. We also had the constraint in Flockage to have only one colour or to have to do superposition. We couldn't reproduce a visual identically.
In Flocking, we have the constraint of a color or the superposition. You can't have gradients, you can't reproduce a visual identically.
Compared to the DTG technique, there are a lot of constraints, especially with white inks for example. And then we work directly on the textile so we have to wait for it to cool down and work one by one. With DTF, we print on a film so we can really gain in productivity.
The DTF offers a great deal of flexibility in terms of managing its work.
With the DTF we can print visuals in advance and it's not lost. Because we work with a lot of associations, especially sports associations, and their logos don't change every time, so we can reuse them.
Afterwards, DTF will not replace flocking of course, especially for all the creative effects. But DTF has enabled us to respond in a timely manner to certain clients that we would not have been able to reach with flocking. For example, in May, we had orders to be made urgently for large quantities and we were able to meet their expectations with DTF.
"Have you tested any other media?"
DTF is used on many different materials. We've tried it on Nylon and Polypropylene. So obviously on these materials, we are at 5 seconds of pressing and the result is really top.
We also tested on cardboard boxes. We were asked to make boxes and instead of ordering stickers or that kind of thing, we were able to use the DTF to make them.
Then we also had to do some large runs, for example 1500 t-shirts. The peeling on the DTF is normally done cold but for large quantities like that we don't have time to wait for it to cool down. So we did our tests and found that 140°C for 5 seconds with immediate peeling after pressing worked just as well. We systematically do a second pressing of the shirt with a protective paper and we are delighted with the result.
"For clients who would like to start with DTF, are there any constraints or points of vigilance? For someone who would be a complete novice for example?"
In itself, anyone can do DTF. But you have to ask yourself if you have enough orders to do it. If you have small needs, small quantities or one-off requests, it can be dangerous to equip yourself. Because in the end, you spend more time on maintenance than on productivity.
La machine elle doit travailler, elle doit être en permanence en train d'imprimer.
Si ce n'est pas le cas, tout ce temps où elle est au repos, vous allez le passer en maintenance derrière.
The technology itself is good, but you need the production to go with it.
Ce que je conseillerais aussi c’est de commencer par commander des transferts en DTF, les Prêt-à-Presser, pour voir le résultat. Et puis pour se lancer dans une technique, il faut lui consacrer du temps. Il faut être efficace le plus vite possible donc il faut y investir du temps.
Vous souhaitez écouter en intégralité le retour d’expérience de Mathieu ? Alors rendez-vous juste ici pour écouter l’interview en entier. Et retrouvez tous nos podcasts sur Spotify en tapant simplement « Créadhésif » !
Need more information on DTF? We offer free online training (webinars) and exclusive videos on Youtube :
- Webinar - The DTF Technique
- Webinar - DTF Ready-to-Press
- Créa'TV - What is the DTF transfer?
- Créa'TV - Presentation DTF Kit 4 heads 30cm format
- Créa'TV - Interview : The DTF in 13 questions
- Créa'Express - 1 min & 4 steps to personalise in DTF!
- Créa'Tuto - Making a DTF transfer marking
Please contact us if you have any questions about customisation in DTF on 01 34 33 01 55.
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See you soon,
The Team Créadhésif