As personalized products continue to dominate e-commerce and on-demand manufacturing, Sub, a global supplier of DTF (Direct-to-Film), UV DTF, and flatbed UV printers, today announced a significant uptick in sales and customer inquiries across all three printer categories. The trend reflects a broader industry shift: print shops are no longer specializing in a single substrate but are instead building hybrid workflows that handle fabric, rigid objects, and curved surfaces with equal ease.
According to internal sales data from the past 30 days, orders for UV DTF printers have grown 37 percent compared to the previous quarter, while flatbed A3 and A4 printers continue to see steady adoption among small-batch manufacturers. Classic DTF systems for garment decoration remain the company’s best-selling category, particularly among first-time buyers transitioning from heat transfer vinyl and screen printing.
“We are seeing a clear pattern,” said “Customers no longer want to choose between printing on t-shirts or printing on bottles. They want both. That is why we have structured our product line to offer DTF for fabric, UV DTF for hard surfaces, and flatbed printers for direct object printing. Each technology serves a distinct purpose, and together they cover nearly every customization need.”
The strongest growth this quarter has come from UV DTF printing, a technology that allows users to print full-color designs onto AB film and then transfer them onto hard, uneven, or temperature-sensitive surfaces using a silicone pad. Unlike traditional UV direct printing, UV DTF does not require the object to be placed under a flatbed head, making it ideal for curved items such as tumblers, water bottles, phone cases, and automotive accessories.
Small business owners and promotional product suppliers are driving this demand. Many have reported material cost reductions of 50 to 70 percent compared to outsourcing stickers or pad printing. Setup time is also minimal, with no need for screens, molds, or die-cutting tools.
While UV DTF offers flexibility for transfer-based decoration, flatbed UV printers remain the preferred choice for customers who need to print directly onto rigid substrates. A4 and A3 flatbed models are especially popular among industrial training centers, electronics manufacturers, and awards engraving shops.
According to customer feedback collected this week, the key advantage of flatbed printing is speed for short runs. A batch of 50 custom nameplates or 100 acrylic keychains can be printed and cured in under 30 minutes, with no film peeling or alignment steps. For businesses that produce hundreds of unique designs per day, the elimination of transfer film simplifies quality control and reduces consumable costs.
Despite the excitement around UV DTF, classic DTF printing for fabric continues to generate the highest volume of repeat orders. The technology has become the standard for dark garment decoration, outperforming heat transfer vinyl in both durability and wash resistance. Sportswear brands, uniform suppliers, and on-demand t-shirt shops rely on DTF for its ability to print white ink and color layers simultaneously without the hand-feel issues associated with plastisol transfers.
SUB reports that powder shakers and infrared curing ovens are now among its fastest-moving accessories, indicating that new DTF users are setting up complete production lines rather than experimenting with partial solutions. One customer who switched from screen printing to DTF reported a 60 percent reduction in production time per order and a 40 percent decrease in material waste.
To support the growing user base, the company has released several product updates this week. These include an anti-static DTF film designed to reduce dust spots on PET film, an upgraded silicone transfer pad for UV DTF with twice the lifespan of standard pads, and an adjustable fixture kit for A3 flatbed printers that securely holds curved items such as wine bottles and cylindrical metal containers.
In addition, a firmware update for DTF printers introduces improved white ink recirculation scheduling, which reduces nozzle clogging during overnight idle periods. Users can download the update from the support section of the company website.
Recognizing that many prospective buyers remain confused about the differences between DTF, UV DTF, and flatbed UV printing, Sub will host a free 45-minute live webinar on May 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST.
The session, titled “Choosing Between DTF, UV DTF, and Flatbed UV Printers,” will cover cost per print, production speed, substrate compatibility, and real-world application examples. Attendees will receive a 5 percent discount code for their first order of film or ink.
As part of its ongoing customer support initiative, the company has released a maintenance tip applicable to both flatbed UV printers and DTF systems:
For flatbed printers, users should clean the glass platen daily with 99 percent isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Dust particles on the platen can cause incomplete UV curing on transparent materials such as acrylic and glass. For DTF printers, white ink bottles should be shaken for two minutes before each print session, and a nozzle check should always be performed before starting a production run.
Through May 20, 2026,SUB is offering free shipping on any A4 flatbed UV printer purchased with a UV DTF starter kit. Customers who purchase a complete DTF system — including printer, shaker, and oven — will receive a one-year VIP technical support package valued at $199.
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