100th Unit The First 100 single-pass DTO systems are shipped. Six lessons from the first 100 — and what they mean for the next 100. Read the lessons →
Perspectives

Direct-to-Object Printing Equipment — It's What We Do

Drinkware to automotive trim, light bulbs to consumer packaging. DTO eliminates the label and shortens the supply chain.

Engineered Printing Solutions specializes in manufacturing equipment for decorating three-dimensional objects rather than paper. Our technology, known as direct-to-object (DTO) printing, applies branding and designs directly onto items ranging from drinkware to automotive parts to consumer packaging.

What DTO delivers

DTO printing offers significant advantages over traditional labeling methods. By eliminating dependency on third-party label suppliers, manufacturers can rapidly prototype designs and achieve faster market entry. The technology enables short production runs to become economically viable, opening possibilities for product personalization and customization based on regional or seasonal demand.

Lean inventory

Direct-to-object printing also supports leaner inventory management. Manufacturers can maintain stocks of semi-finished goods and mark them just-in-time according to market fluctuations, reducing waste and unsold inventory. The process uses solvent-free UV inks with drop-on-demand technology, minimizing ink waste while providing durable, scratch-resistant finishes.

The hard parts

Single-pass inkjet printing presents technical challenges. Applying all necessary ink in one pass while managing wind turbulence, ensuring precise drop placement, and maintaining consistent transport at high speeds requires carefully calibrated ink chemistry and surface preparation, often including inline plasma pretreatment.