The Profitable World of Sublimation Printing, in Practice: Running Bulk Orders from Approval to Delivery with AM.CO.ZA Equipment
This page started as a December 2023 sublimationinks.co.za post, "The Profitable World of Sublimation Printing!". The post named seven reasons sublimation pays: a wide product range, vivid long-lasting prints, demand for customisation, cost-effective production, quick turnaround, a low entry barrier and growing market trends. Those reasons are true in general, but profit is made or lost on the job itself: how an order moves from approval to delivery, how much paper and fabric it wastes, and whether the press is hot when the work is ready. This deepened version follows a bulk order through an AM.CO.ZA sublimation workshop, using AM.CO.ZA's own customer and how-to videos and product data, with every product linked. The original post is kept at the bottom.
Other sublimationinks pages cover other angles: what to buy first and the cost of each item on low-cost sublimation, every product family on the AM.CO.ZA sublimation range, mapped, which sublimation business to start on 5 ways sublimation printing can improve your business, getting the same result every time on sublimation on a low budget, done right first time, warranty and spares on affordable sublimation that lasts, and sportswear faults on sublimation sport garment branding.
Facts come from the AM.CO.ZA product data behind buythis.co.za (product JSON on am.im; dump dated up to 2026-10-20) and from AM.CO.ZA's YouTube videos, each named where it is used. Prices change, so check the current price on each linked Buythis page. Stock is not shown here.
Quick answer
- Profit comes from the workflow, not only the machine. A bulk job pays when the design is approved before printing, the artwork is nested to save paper, a test piece is right before the run, and the press stays hot while the work flows.
- Test the pattern and the colour first. AM.CO.ZA's clothing video prints pattern outlines and stitches a sample to check sizing before designing, and a customer making 5,000 masks got the black right "after some trials" before the run.
- Let printed paper settle for about an hour before pressing, and use sublimation paper of 100 g or more, printed on the coated side.
- Plan the roller press day around warm-up. The 12 kW oil roller press in AM.CO.ZA's power video uses about 15 kWh and roughly an hour to heat from 25 °C to 220 °C, then about 2 kW per hour to hold temperature. If you press in the morning and again in the afternoon, keep it on.
- Match the press to the order. Single and five-mug presses suit drinkware, twin-station flat presses let one item be prepared while another presses, and roller presses from 300 mm to 3,200 mm handle roll-fed fabric.
- Quote the whole job. Paper after nesting, ink, fabric or blanks, test pieces, warm-up energy, press time, cutting and sewing, and delivery all belong in the price.
Where the profit in a sublimation order is made
The 2023 post was right that sublimation fits many products and that personalised goods sell. AM.CO.ZA's customer videos show what that looks like at volume:
- Full Sublimation Masks by TC Branding in Edenvale with FastCOLOUR Printer and Roller Heat Press (2022-02-06) follows a signage and branding company printing an order of 5,000 full-sublimation masks. Once the design was approved, it was arranged "for maximum space saving", printed on sublimation paper on an AM.CO.ZA printer, pressed on an AM.CO.ZA roller press, then each piece was cut and soaked. "For this kind of job you need quality, you need speed, you need reliability," the owner says.
- How Roller Heat Press Works for GPL Branding in Johannesburg with Large Format Sublimation Printer (2022-02-06) shows a Johannesburg branding company whose work "typically comprises of large scale orders from schools and corporate companies", combining embroidery, sublimation and uniform sewing. Repeat business, they say, comes from pleasing the client.
- GAPP Award Winner In-house Branding Uses FastCOLOUR Sublimation Printer & Heatware Roller Heat Press (2022-05-01) shows a home décor business (blankets, towels, bedding) that bought an AM.CO.ZA printer and roller press so it no longer had to outsource, and went on to win awards in the large-format interior décor category.
- Start Your Own Clothing Factory with AM.CO.ZA Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Interviews (2022-09-24) makes the wider point: sublimation printers and heat presses let smaller businesses produce clothing that used to need a large factory budget.
In each case the margin depends on the same things: approving the artwork early, using paper and fabric efficiently, getting colour right before the run, and keeping the machines working.
The order-to-delivery workflow
These steps are drawn mainly from Must Watch Video of Sublimation Clothing Business, Print, Press, Cut and Material Selections (2024-09-26), which takes a garment job from pattern to finished product, and from the mask job above.
- Agree the design and sizes in writing. The mask run started only "once the design was approved". For garments, get the size breakdown at the same time.
- Test the pattern before designing on it. The clothing video buys a PDF garment pattern, separates the sizes in vector software, then prints just the outlines, presses them and stitches a sample to check the fit, so no design time is wasted on a pattern that does not fit.
- Nest the artwork. Arrange pieces to use as much of the paper width as possible, as the mask job did. On roll printers such as F1-1804/SUB, F2-1804/SUB (1,800 mm printing area) or F1-3204/SUB, F2-3204/SUB (3,200 mm printing area), nesting is where paper and ink savings come from.
- Print mirrored, on the right paper side. The clothing video mirrors once in the print software, uses coated sublimation paper of 100 g or more because of the heavy ink load, and warns that printing on the wrong side transfers nothing. AM.CO.ZA's rolls are H-PAPER/ROLL/1520, H-PAPER/ROLL/1600 (120 g, 100 m long).
- Let the paper settle for about an hour. The same video says pressing paper too soon after printing makes it go wavy in the heat, which leads to "failure after failure".
- Check the fabric. Buy fabric on a roll rather than folded by the metre, because folds leave crease lines. Press on the correct face, and cut panels so the stretch runs left to right on the body; on fabrics with a directional weave, press all panels the same way or the sleeves can look a different colour from the body.
- Calibrate the press with test pieces. In the video the roller press ran at 200 °C (higher was burning the items) at a speed setting of about 750, then drum pressure was adjusted in half-centimetre steps until a faint double print disappeared, and the position was marked so the press goes back to it every time. Feed paper first, at the same speed the drum turns, and cut the paper smaller than the fabric so no ink reaches the blanket.
- Get colour signed off on a sample. The mask customer says the black was very important and was right only after some trials. Colour also shifts between fabrics, so the clothing video colour-corrects artwork to the material.
- Run the order. Keep the settings you proved on the test and change one thing at a time if a fault appears. Roller faults such as creasing and streaks are covered in Remove Creasing and Streak Marks on Roller Heat Press With These Simple Tips (2025-11-18).
- Cut, make and trim. The garment video cuts panels with proper fabric scissors before sewing; the masks were cut and soaked. Count and inspect before packing.
Matching the equipment to the order
| Order type | AM.CO.ZA equipment | What the product record and videos say |
|---|---|---|
| Single personalised mugs | H-HOBBY/MUG, H-PRESS/MUG, H-HOBBY/MUG/AUTO | One mug at a time; the auto model opens and closes by itself |
| Corporate and event mugs in quantity | H-PRESS/MUG5, blanks such as H-PRESS/MUG/36 | Presses up to five mugs at the same time; the mug box holds 36 standard 320 ml mugs |
| T-shirts, panels and flat items in runs | H-PRESS/4060D, H-PRESS/6080D | Twin-station, air-lifting flat presses (400 x 600 mm, 3,000 W; 600 x 800 mm, 4,800 W) with crosshair lasers; one item is prepared while the other presses |
| Lanyards and ribbons | H-ROLLER/300/E4 | 300 mm working width, 210 mm drum, 4 kW, up to 260 °C |
| Roll-fed fabric, sportswear, flags | H-ROLLER/1600/E6, H-ROLLER/1600/E6P | 1,620 mm, about 6 kW electric heating on 220 V, with worktable; the E6P adds a third roller for liner-paper take-up, explained in Difference Between 1600mm Roller Heat Press E6 and E6P Model for Additional Linear Paper Brackets (2025-07-10) |
| Long production runs at 1.7 m | H-ROLLER/1700/OIL9, H-ROLLER/1700/OIL12 | Oil-heated 220 mm open drum for even heat over long runs; 9 kW on 220 V or 12 kW on 380 V three-phase |
| 3.2 m textiles, décor and banners | H-ROLLER/3200/OIL35, H-ROLLER/3200/OIL58 | Oil-heated 420 mm drum, 35 kW or 58 kW on 380 V, both needing 4 to 8 bar compressed air |
| High-volume ink | H2-INK/COMBO/CMYK, H2-INK/COMBO | Four 1 kg CMYK bottles; the second pack adds a 1 litre water-based cleaner |
The printers in the workflow above all use sealed Epson XP600 printheads, with one head on F1-1804/SUB and two on F1-1804D/SUB and the 3,200 mm models. For desktop work, the office-printer route with H-INK/COMBO/100 is covered on low-cost sublimation.
Planning a production day on a roller press
A roller press is the biggest energy user in a sublimation workshop, so when you press matters. Power Consumption Explained for 12kW Opendrum Oil Heating Roller Heat Press Machine (2026-03-02) measures a 12 kW open-drum oil roller press (the same heating rating as H-ROLLER/1700/OIL12):
| State | Power use stated in the video |
|---|---|
| Everything running at full speed | About 15 kW in total (12 kW heating, a 500 W compressor, a 1.5 kW blanket motor and smaller take-up motors) |
| Heating from 25 °C to 220 °C | About 15 kWh, taking roughly 1 hour |
| Holding 220 °C with no job running | About 2 kW per hour |
| Cooling-down mode (heat off, blanket turning slowly) | About 100 W per hour |
| Blanket stopped, compressor off | About 50 W |
The video's own advice: if you will press once in the morning and again in the afternoon, it is wiser to keep the machine on; switch off overnight when you are done. In practice that means batching roller work into one session where you can, rather than heating the drum for each small job.
Other videos add warm-up habits. Sublimation Mouse Pad Printing with Roller Heat Press, CO2 Laser Cutting Machine and Sewing Machine (2022-10-10) lets the press warm up for 45 minutes at its working temperature before any material goes in, so the blanket holds its heat, and Blanket Care and New Blanket Preparation for Roller Heat Press Machines (2025-05-01) checks every 10 minutes that temperature stays within about 5 °C. Speed settings are press-specific: the 1,620 mm walkthrough Roller Heat Press Review and Heatware 220V 1620mm Roller Heat Press Basic Functions Walkthrough (2022-09-26) starts its test around 70 on the speed dial, while the clothing video's press ran at about 750, so prove the setting on your own machine.
Before a roller press arrives, plan the electrical work. The product names state the supply each model needs, and cables are not included: H-ROLLER/1600/E6 asks for a 32 A, 6 mm² cable with a 32 A plug on a 40 A breaker, H-ROLLER/1700/OIL9 a 41 A, 10 mm² cable with a 63 A plug and breaker, H-ROLLER/1700/OIL12 a 32 A, 4 mm² cable on 380 V, H-ROLLER/3200/OIL35 a 61 A, 16 mm² cable with a 63 A plug and breaker, and H-ROLLER/3200/OIL58 a 110 A, 35 mm² cable with a 125 A plug and breaker. Have an electrician confirm your supply before you order.
Getting more out of flat and mug presses
On flat work, the press is often the bottleneck. The twin-station presses address that directly. 6040D Twin Station Heat Press Installation and Operation (2026-10-04) (narrated in Arabic) shows the 600 x 800 mm model: set temperature and time, press Auto and Start, and when the timer ends the head lifts and can be pulled across to the second station, where it lowers automatically; while it presses there, the next item is laid out on the first station. A counter records how many presses are completed, which is useful for tracking an order, and air pressure is set higher for thicker items. New Heatware Twin-Station Air-Lifting 400x600 Flat Press Heat Press Machine with Crosshair Laser (2025-10-06) introduces the 400 x 600 mm model with its crosshair lasers for lining up transfers.
For drinkware, H-PRESS/MUG5 presses five mugs at once, which suits corporate and event orders where every mug carries the same design.
A quote checklist for bulk orders
Prices change, so none are quoted here. Use this list so nothing is left out of a quote; current prices for each item are on the linked Buythis pages.
| Cost line | How to work it out for one order |
|---|---|
| Paper | Metres of roll used after nesting, plus test prints |
| Ink | Your printer's usage on similar jobs; denser designs (strong blacks) use more |
| Fabric or blanks | Metres off the roll or number of blanks, plus spares for rejects; buy fabric on a roll to avoid creased, unusable lengths |
| Samples and tests | Pattern sample, colour trials and press calibration pieces |
| Energy | Roller press warm-up (about 15 kWh on the 12 kW press in the video) shared across the whole batch, plus holding power while you work |
| Press and printer time | Hours the machines are tied up, including the hour paper needs to settle |
| Cut, make and trim | Cutting, sewing and finishing, in-house or outsourced |
| Wear parts | Blankets, heating elements and other spares that wear with use (see affordable sublimation that lasts) |
| Packing and delivery | Boxing, labels and courier or collection |
The two biggest levers are visible in the list: nesting reduces paper and ink, and batching reduces warm-up energy per item.
Outsourcing or pressing in-house
You do not need every machine on day one. MakersLAB.TV S2E2 - High Volume Sublimation Printing by Large Format Printer and Roller Heat Press (2020-07-18) converts a large-format printer to sublimation ink to print roll-to-roll up to 1.5 m wide, and says "there is nothing wrong with outsourcing" the pressing to a business with a big roller press, because the final product is what counts. The home décor business in GAPP Award Winner In-house Branding Uses FastCOLOUR Sublimation Printer & Heatware Roller Heat Press (2022-05-01) took the next step and bought its own printer and roller press so it no longer had to outsource. A common path is to print in-house first, outsource pressing while volumes are small, and add a roller press when the orders justify the power supply and floor space.
Jobs shown in AM.CO.ZA videos
- 5,000 full-sublimation masks on a FastCOLOUR printer and roller press: Full Sublimation Masks by TC Branding in Edenvale with FastCOLOUR Printer and Roller Heat Press (2022-02-06).
- Marathon T-shirts on a double-head sublimation printer and the 1,700 mm oil roller press: F-1800/D Double head sublimation Printer and a H-ROLLER/1700/OIL9 Oil roller heat presser printing marathon T-Shirts (2025-05-09).
- Ice cooling towels in mass production: Mass Production of Ice Cooling Towels By Large Format Printers and Roller Heat Press Machines (2021-01-06).
- A clothing factory setup in Johannesburg: Assemble Wide Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press for Johannesburg Clothing Factory (2022-01-25).
- Mouse pads from print to laser cutting and sewing: Sublimation Mouse Pad Printing with Roller Heat Press, CO2 Laser Cutting Machine and Sewing Machine (2022-10-10).
- Lanyards and ribbons on the 300 mm roller press: H-ROLLER/300/E4 300mm Roller Heat Press for Lanyard, Ribbon Heat Sublimation Transfer (2024-06-27).
The 2023 claims, checked
| 2023 claim | What AM.CO.ZA's data and videos show |
|---|---|
| Versatility in product range | Supported: the videos show garments, masks, towels, bedding, mouse pads, lanyards and mugs, using flat, mug and roller presses. |
| Vivid, long-lasting prints | Sublimation bonds to polyester and coated surfaces; the FAQ video Sublimation Printing FAQ, Large Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Usage Guide (2025-02-10) explains why cotton fades. No fade-test figures are published, so quote none. |
| Customisation drives demand | The customer videos describe school, corporate and event orders; demand is the customer's to judge in their market. |
| Cost-effective production | Depends on the workflow: nesting, test-first colour, settled paper and batched roller work keep waste and energy per item down. |
| Quick turnaround | Twin-station and five-mug presses raise flat and mug output, and roll printers and roller presses suit long runs. One 3,200 mm dual-head printer in 3200mm Dual Printhead Large Format Printer Supports UV Inks, ECO-Solvent Inks and Sublimation (2024-06-07) is quoted at 30 m per hour in 4-pass draft, 20 m on 6-pass and 16 m on 8-pass; ask for the figure for your exact model. Allow about an hour for printed paper to settle. |
| Low entry barrier | True for desktop work with an office printer and a small press; roller presses need serious power, as the electrical notes above show. |
| Growing market trends | A general claim that AM.CO.ZA's data neither proves nor disproves. |
FAQ
What is the single biggest saving on a bulk order? Getting it right before the run: approving the artwork, testing the pattern and colour on samples, and nesting the print. A wrong run wastes paper, ink, fabric and press time at once.
Should I switch my roller press off between jobs? According to AM.CO.ZA's power video, heating from cold takes about 15 kWh and an hour, while holding temperature takes about 2 kW per hour. If you will press again later the same day, keeping it on is usually wiser; switch off overnight.
Why does my roller press leave a faint double print? In the clothing video it was too much drum pressure. Back the drum off in half-centimetre steps, test after each step, and mark the position that works.
Can I press straight after printing? The clothing video recommends about an hour's gap so the paper settles; otherwise it can go wavy in the press.
Do I need a roller press to start? No. Flat and mug presses cover small runs, and pressing can be outsourced while volumes grow, as MakersLAB.TV S2E2 - High Volume Sublimation Printing by Large Format Printer and Roller Heat Press (2020-07-18) suggests.
Which flat press is fastest for T-shirt runs? The twin-station presses, H-PRESS/4060D and H-PRESS/6080D, let you prepare one item while the other station presses.
Where do I get help setting up? AM.CO.ZA publishes setup and fault videos on its YouTube channel, and later videos name showrooms in Sunnyrock (Johannesburg) and Montague Gardens (Cape Town).
Videos
- Full Sublimation Masks by TC Branding in Edenvale with FastCOLOUR Printer and Roller Heat Press (2022-02-06): a 5,000-piece mask order from design to cutting.
- How Roller Heat Press Works for GPL Branding in Johannesburg with Large Format Sublimation Printer (2022-02-06): large school and corporate orders.
- Start Your Own Clothing Factory with AM.CO.ZA Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Interviews (2022-09-24): starting a clothing business with a sublimation printer and roller press.
- GAPP Award Winner In-house Branding Uses FastCOLOUR Sublimation Printer & Heatware Roller Heat Press (2022-05-01): a home décor business that stopped outsourcing.
- Must Watch Video of Sublimation Clothing Business, Print, Press, Cut and Material Selections (2024-09-26): the full clothing workflow, from pattern and printing to roller calibration and cut-make-trim.
- MakersLAB.TV S2E2 - High Volume Sublimation Printing by Large Format Printer and Roller Heat Press (2020-07-18): moving to large-format sublimation and outsourcing pressing.
- Power Consumption Explained for 12kW Opendrum Oil Heating Roller Heat Press Machine (2026-03-02): roller press power consumption.
- Sublimation Mouse Pad Printing with Roller Heat Press, CO2 Laser Cutting Machine and Sewing Machine (2022-10-10) and Roller Heat Press Review and Heatware 220V 1620mm Roller Heat Press Basic Functions Walkthrough (2022-09-26): roller press warm-up, speed and temperature.
- Blanket Care and New Blanket Preparation for Roller Heat Press Machines (2025-05-01) and Remove Creasing and Streak Marks on Roller Heat Press With These Simple Tips (2025-11-18): blanket care, creasing and streaks.
- 6040D Twin Station Heat Press Installation and Operation (2026-10-04) and New Heatware Twin-Station Air-Lifting 400x600 Flat Press Heat Press Machine with Crosshair Laser (2025-10-06): twin-station flat presses.
- Difference Between 1600mm Roller Heat Press E6 and E6P Model for Additional Linear Paper Brackets (2025-07-10): the 1,620 mm E6 and E6P roller presses compared.
- H-ROLLER/300/E4 300mm Roller Heat Press for Lanyard, Ribbon Heat Sublimation Transfer (2024-06-27): the 300 mm lanyard roller press.
- 3200mm Dual Printhead Large Format Printer Supports UV Inks, ECO-Solvent Inks and Sublimation (2024-06-07): a 3,200 mm dual-printhead printer and its print speeds.
- Sublimation Printing FAQ, Large Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press Usage Guide (2025-02-10): sublimation FAQ and roller press usage guide.
- F-1800/D Double head sublimation Printer and a H-ROLLER/1700/OIL9 Oil roller heat presser printing marathon T-Shirts (2025-05-09), Mass Production of Ice Cooling Towels By Large Format Printers and Roller Heat Press Machines (2021-01-06) and Assemble Wide Format Sublimation Printer and Roller Heat Press for Johannesburg Clothing Factory (2022-01-25): production jobs and a factory setup.
Related pages
- Low-cost sublimation
- 5 ways sublimation printing can improve your business
- Start your own sublimation-printed fabric clothing business
- Sublimation on a low budget, done right first time
- Affordable sublimation that lasts: warranty, spares and upkeep
- The AM.CO.ZA sublimation range, mapped
- Sublimation sport garment branding
- Five sublimation projects
- sublimationinks.co.za site page
Original post (2023, sublimationinks.co.za)
Source: https://sublimationinks.co.za/profitable-world-sublimation-printing
- published: 2023-12-27 21:15:30
- modified: 2023-12-27 21:15:35
- youtube:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpYVYXLtGXY
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ELyhxSkBqo
In the dynamic landscape of the printing industry, sublimation printing has emerged as a profitable and versatile technique, offering businesses and individuals a host of advantages. From vibrant, high-quality prints to a diverse range of customizable products, the profitability of sublimation printing is rooted in several key factors.
Versatility in Product Range:
One of the primary reasons Sublimation printing using Sublimation Inks proves to be highly profitable is its versatility in terms of the products it can adorn. Unlike traditional printing methods, sublimation allows for the application of vibrant designs on a wide array of items, ranging from apparel and accessories to promotional products, home décor items, and more. This versatility opens up numerous market segments, catering to a diverse range of customer preferences.
https://youtu.be/EpYVYXLtGXY?si=rofLnbslsMbIzfZr
Vivid and Long-Lasting Prints:
Sublimation printing excels in producing prints with exceptional colour vibrancy and longevity. The dye-sublimation process involves transferring ink directly into the material, resulting in a seamless integration of the design. This not only ensures vibrant and sharp images but also contributes to the durability of the prints. Businesses can capitalize on the demand for high-quality, long-lasting products, establishing a reputation for delivering superior goods to customers.
Customization Drives Demand:
In an era where personalization is highly valued, sublimation printing offers an unparalleled level of customization. Whether it's personalized merchandise, corporate gifts, or promotional items, the ability to tailor designs to individual preferences creates a significant demand. This customization factor is particularly attractive to consumers seeking unique, one-of-a-kind products, driving sales and fostering customer loyalty.
Cost-Effective Production:
Sublimation printing presents a cost-effective production model for businesses. The technology allows for the efficient use of ink, minimizing waste and reducing overall production costs. Additionally, the ability to print in large quantities without compromising on print quality makes sublimation an economically viable choice for bulk production, further enhancing profit margins.
Quick Turnaround Time:
Time is often a critical factor in the printing industry, and sublimation excels in providing a quick turnaround. The process of sublimation printing is relatively fast, allowing businesses to fulfil orders promptly and meet tight deadlines. This efficiency is especially advantageous for businesses catering to time-sensitive markets, such as event merchandise or promotional campaigns.
Low Entry Barrier for Entrepreneurs:
Sublimation printing has a relatively low entry barrier, making it an attractive option for entrepreneurs and small businesses. The equipment required, such as sublimation printers and heat presses, is more affordable compared to some other printing technologies. This accessibility allows individuals to enter the market with minimal investment, paving the way for a diverse and competitive landscape.
https://youtu.be/4ELyhxSkBqo?si=AGikdJKkSbvYLCsz
Growing Market Trends:
The market trends in recent years have shown an increasing demand for personalized and customized products. Sublimation printing aligns perfectly with these trends, positioning businesses at the forefront of consumer preferences. Staying attuned to market demands and offering innovative, customizable solutions can result in sustained profitability.
In conclusion, the profitability of sublimation printing lies in its ability to deliver high-quality, customizable products efficiently and cost-effectively. As consumer preferences continue to evolve, businesses that harness the potential of sublimation printing are well-positioned to thrive in a competitive market, making it a lucrative investment for those seeking success in the printing industry.