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Understanding Today's Plastisol Ink Landscape

Understanding Today's Plastisol Ink Landscape

The plastisol ink market continues to evolve, and what SPSI is seeing across the industry is not a replacement of traditional systems, but an expansion of production strategies. Shops today are balancing production speed, garment sensitivity, energy usage, dye migration resistance, opacity, and automation compatibility more than ever before.

As polyester performance wear, blended fabrics, and lightweight garments continue to grow in popularity, many decorators are evaluating low cure and FlexCure style systems to help reduce dye migration risks and create more flexibility in production. At the same time, standard cure plastisol systems remain extremely popular because of their proven consistency, durability, and performance in high-volume environments.

At SPSI, the focus is not on pushing one ink technology over another. The goal is to help shops understand the strengths of different systems and identify the right fit for their workflow, equipment, garment types, and production goals.

01Key Plastisol Ink Categories

Ink Category
What It's Designed For
Key Advantages
Considerations
SPSI Product Lines
Standard Plastisol Inks
What It's Designed ForGeneral purpose production printing
Key AdvantagesProven consistency, excellent opacity, familiar workflows, durable prints
ConsiderationsHigher cure temperatures than low cure systems
SPSI Product LinesUnion Mixopake and Maxopake, Rutland Standard Systems
White Inks
What It's Designed ForBright white prints on cotton and blended garments
Key AdvantagesHigh opacity, smooth print characteristics, fast flash options available
ConsiderationsDifferent whites perform differently based on mesh, press speed, and garments
SPSI Product LinesIC 7022 V2, Rutland Premier Whites, Triangle Whites, Rutland SF2
Poly White Inks
What It's Designed ForPolyester and performance garments
Key AdvantagesHelps reduce dye migration and garment bleed
ConsiderationsCure settings and garment testing still important
SPSI Product LinesRutland LC9800 CHILL LB, IC Unicorn, Rutland Super Poly Plus
Low Cure Inks
What It's Designed ForLower temperature curing applications
Key AdvantagesReduced dye migration risk, lower dryer temps, more garment flexibility, potential energy savings
ConsiderationsRequires proper dryer verification and process control
SPSI Product LinesRutland LC M3, IC FlexCure systems, IC 7500 and 7600 series
FlexCure Ink Systems
What It's Designed ForShops running mixed garment types and varying production environments
Key AdvantagesWider cure window, production flexibility, adaptable across garment types
ConsiderationsStill requires proper testing for consistency
SPSI Product LinesInternational Coatings FlexCure products, Rutland LC systems
Wet-on-Wet Production Inks
What It's Designed ForHigh-speed automatic printing
Key AdvantagesImproved press efficiency, smoother wet-on-wet printing, strong opacity
ConsiderationsRequires good press setup and print technique
SPSI Product LinesInternational Coatings 7500 & 7600 Series, Rutland LC M3
Mixing Systems
What It's Designed ForCustom Pantone and color matching workflows
Key AdvantagesConsistent color control, scalable production, repeatability
ConsiderationsRequires disciplined ink management
SPSI Product LinesRutland M3 / LC M3, Rutland C3, Union Mixopake

Swipe horizontally to view full chart →

02What SPSI Is Seeing Across Production Shops

Low Cure & FlexCure Growth

Many shops are moving toward lower cure technologies because they offer additional flexibility when printing polyester, lightweight garments, and performance wear. Benefits can include:

01
Reduced dye migration risk
02
Lower dryer temperatures
03
Better compatibility with sensitive fabrics
04
Potential energy savings
05
Greater production flexibility

However, SPSI continues to see many high-production shops successfully operating with traditional cure plastisol systems every day. In many environments, standard cure systems still provide outstanding consistency and efficiency.

White Ink Selection Is Becoming More Specialized

One of the biggest trends SPSI sees is the increasing specialization of white inks. There is no single white ink that works best for every shop.

Different shops prioritize:

01
Faster flash times
02
Creamier viscosity
03
Wet-on-wet performance
04
Lower bleed resistance
05
Smooth hand feel
06
Higher opacity

Production speed, mesh counts, garment types, dryer settings, and press configuration all influence what white ink performs best in a given environment.

Automation Is Driving Ink Decisions

As more shops invest in automatic presses and higher production output, ink performance is increasingly tied to efficiency. Wet-on-wet capability, flash speed, print consistency, and wider cure windows are becoming major decision factors.

This is one reason SPSI continues to see strong demand for products like:

01
International Coatings 7500 Series
02
International Coatings 7600 Series
03
Rutland LC systems

These products help shops optimize production while maintaining print quality and consistency.

03SPSI's Approach to Plastisol Inks

Rather than narrowing offerings, SPSI continues expanding its plastisol portfolio to support a wider range of production environments and shop goals. SPSI currently carries plastisol solutions from:

01
Rutland
02
International Coatings
03
Triangle Ink
04
Avient Specialty Inks
05
QCM
06
Union Ink

The industry is becoming more production-focused and specialized. SPSI's role is to help shops understand the advantages, tradeoffs, and production considerations behind different ink systems so they can make informed decisions for long-term growth and consistency.

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