The cost components of DTF ink printing solutions mainly include the following aspects:
1. Equipment cost
• Printer:
• Purchase cost: The prices of DTF printers of different brands, models and printing accuracy vary greatly. For example, an entry-level small DTF printer may cost several thousand yuan, while a medium-sized and large-sized device with more complete functions, faster printing speed and higher accuracy may cost tens of thousands of yuan or even higher.
• Maintenance cost: including the cost of regularly replacing nozzles, cleaning print head components, replacing ink pumps and other consumable parts. The nozzle is the core component of the printer, which is relatively expensive and may become clogged or worn after a certain period of use and needs to be replaced; components such as ink pumps may also age and be damaged after long-term use and need to be repaired or replaced.
• Auxiliary equipment:
• Powder sprinkler: used to evenly sprinkle hot melt powder on the printed film. The price varies depending on the performance of the equipment such as the degree of automation and powder spreading uniformity, and generally ranges from thousands of yuan to tens of thousands of yuan.
• Dryer: used to dry the powdered film to solidify the hot melt powder on it. The price varies according to the drying capacity and efficiency. A small dryer costs several thousand yuan, while a large industrial dryer may cost tens of thousands of yuan.
• Pressing machine: equipment that transfers patterned films to textiles or other materials. The price range is wide. An ordinary small press costs several thousand yuan, while a large, professional press may cost tens of thousands of yuan.
2. Ink cost
• The price of the ink itself: DTF ink has different colors, such as the common CMYK four colors, as well as special white (white ink is usually more expensive because of its pigment composition and usage), varnish, etc. The price of inks of different brands, qualities and performances varies. Generally, the price of each liter of ink on the market ranges from tens to hundreds of yuan.
• Ink consumption:
• Pattern factors: The richness of the pattern color, the depth of the color, the complexity of the image, etc. will affect the ink consumption. Designs with bright colors, high saturation and complex patterns require more ink to print. For example, a full-color high-definition image consumes more ink than a simple black and white line pattern.
• Printing setting factors: The higher the print resolution (such as DPI) and the more passes printed, the greater the amount of ink consumed per unit area. At the same time, the frequency of flash spraying and cleaning will also affect the consumption of ink. Frequent flash spraying and cleaning will increase the amount of ink used.
3. Consumables cost
• Transfer film: DTF printing requires the use of special coated PET film. The price of the film varies depending on factors such as material, thickness, and specifications. Generally speaking, the price of ordinary transfer film ranges from a few yuan to more than ten yuan per square meter. Different types of films, such as instant tear film, cold tear film, single-sided film, double-sided film, etc., also have different prices.
• Hot melt powder: used to firmly transfer the pattern printed on the film to the material. The price varies according to factors such as the quality, elasticity (high elasticity, medium elasticity, no elasticity, etc.) and brand of the powder. The price per kilogram is usually between tens of yuan and hundreds of yuan.
4. Labor costs
• Operator wages: If it is a large-scale production, it is necessary to recruit professional operators to operate DTF printing equipment and related auxiliary equipment. Their wage costs are part of the cost structure. The wage level will vary according to the region, experience and skill level.
• Training costs: New employees need to be trained to operate DTF printing equipment and processes proficiently. The training costs include training course fees, training material fees, and loss of working hours during training.
5. Site costs
• Rental costs: If the company does not have its own factory or office space, it needs to rent a site to place DTF printing equipment and carry out production. The rental costs will vary according to factors such as the area, geographical location and lease term of the site.
• Decoration costs: In order to meet the production environment requirements of DTF printing, it may be necessary to decorate the site, such as installing ventilation systems, lighting facilities, etc., which will incur certain decoration costs.
6. Energy costs
• Electricity costs: DTF printers, dryers, presses and other equipment consume a lot of electricity during operation. Factors such as equipment power, operating time and electricity prices will affect electricity costs. For example, large printing equipment has high power consumption and consumes more electricity when running for a long time.
• Other energy costs: If equipment such as dryers use gas or other energy, the corresponding energy procurement costs must also be considered.
7. Software costs
• Design software: used to create and edit patterns to be printed. Professional graphic design software such as Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop require the purchase of genuine licenses. The price of the software varies depending on the version and license type.
• Print control software: DTF printers require matching print control software to control printing parameters, color management, etc. Some printer manufacturers may provide free basic software, but advanced features or upgraded versions may require additional fees.