Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS) has launched a new white paper, The Shift in Direct-to-Object Printing, demonstrating how single-pass UV inkjet technology is reshaping the economics of direct-to-object (DTO) decoration.
The report demonstrates that single-pass UV inkjet provides manufacturers and decorators with accelerated ROI, minimal setup expenses, substantial labor savings, production flexibility, and environmental benefits compared to conventional techniques including pad, screen, and offset printing.
Single-pass UV inkjet eliminates the plates, screens, and clichés required by traditional methods, enabling economical short runs, quick design iterations, and personalized output from the initial unit. The analysis and client case studies reveal break-even volumes and approximately $400,000 in yearly savings in one instance. An ROI calculator allows manufacturers to input their production specifics to determine which products should transition to digital formats.
The technology prints full-color, high-resolution images in a single pass, enabling variable data and instantaneous artwork modifications. Users report labor reductions of 80–90% and minimal training requirements.
“Single-pass UV inkjet isn’t just a more flexible print technology — it’s a cost-model breakthrough.”
— Kenneth Stack, Executive Chairman, EPS
Stack continued, explaining that the innovation “lets manufacturers turn short runs and customization into profitable opportunities, not cost burdens.”
The company reports that UV-curable inks produce zero VOC emissions and reduce hazardous waste, enabling cleaner, safer operations.