ATLAS manufactures a "sublimation" transfer suitable for decorating and colouring synthetic fabrics (and synthetic mixture fabrics). We make a decorative transfer paper which can give highly intricate designs in rich colours onto most narrow fabrics. Among the more common products that we decorate are: ribbons, labels, elastics, trimmings, sports trimmings, all of which are manufactured in polyester.

The sublimation dyes which we use turn into a gas when exposed to heat. In this gaseous form they pass into the fabric and harden when they cool giving a totally permanent image which is part of the fabric. The image is printed INTO the fabric which ensures its permanence. Our sublimation transfer dyes are specifically designed for synthetic fabrics and DO NOT work on natural fabrics.

With the Atlas transfer papers, our customers are able to achieve a whole spectrum of colours which are generally PANTONE matched to the required shade by our qualified printers. Our lesser known product is our UNI-PAPER transfer which is a colouring system used by manufacturers as a replacement for a dyeing process. Many manufacturers, especially those making woven labels, use this system as a cost effective alternative to stocking coloured yarns, operating a dye house and controlling colour beams.

Many of the products which our transfers now print have traditionally been printed by either surface silk screen printing or by weaving a design into the fabric. Silk screen printing is normally carried out on a sub contract basis where the manufacturer can lose production control. Silk screen printing is also a surface print which will degrade with friction.

THE ADVANTAGE OF HEAT TRANSFER PRINTING

• The heat transfer process is quick, efficient, clean and 'green'. It requires no specialist operator training and it allows all print production, fabric decoration and colouring to be carried out "in house".
• Narrow width elastics, for example, are produced by a weaving process which is traditionally a slow process to both set up and run. Although the weaving machines are operated 24 hours a day, quantity output is very restricted. When a manufacturer takes on an order for an elastic with a printed design it entails a long and laborious process setting up the various colours on the machine, followed by a period of tying up that machine specifically for that production.

• The heat transfer process allows the manufacturer to concentrate on the production of plain white elastics in bulk, thereby not changing machine set-ups. All decoration and printing can then be looked on as a secondary, high speed process (3 - 5 metres per width per minute, with many widths being printed at the same time). It is all carried out 'in-house' as and when required.
• As the transfer dyes are printed into the fabric, it means that, especially for stretch fabrics such as elastics, the design moves and stretches with the fabric. The transfer dyes also produce very brilliant vivid colours on satin finish fabrics.
• Our heat transfer process can both embellish and replace traditional dyeing processes. The installation of a transfer printing unit is @ US$ 20-25,000, the labour content is low, the skill level is low and the finished product is of a guaranteed high standard.