ImagesMagUK_February_2021

www.images-magazine.com 26 images FEBRUARY 2021 In the final part of his series on buying a secondhand DTG printer, Colin Marsh details what service and support you’ll need, as well as sharing must-have knowledge on software and pretreatment to make sure you know how to use your printer correctly and so will include training along with the installation – it’s just one advantage of buying it from an official distributor rather than via one of the many online selling platforms that used-DTG printers appear on. Most reputable DTG suppliers will insist on giving you training if you buy the printer from them, but don’t expect help for free if you have purchased elsewhere. Without training you will struggle and more often than not the printer gets the blame for what is, in fact, a lack of knowledge. A well-trained DTG operator will also save your business a lot of time and money. Another important consideration when choosing where to buy from is the service you can expect when things go wrong, and the cost to your business. This is because at some point, something will break down – and inevitably, it will be at 5pm on a Friday! Without good support you will struggle to diagnose relatively simple printing issues, and your wastage costs can spiral out of control. It is worth asking how much an on-site service call will cost in your location before buying. At Resolute we will inspect a secondhand printer and then advise if it can have a service contract after repair, if required. Some of the things to check before agreeing to a service contract are the following: ■ Are the engineers’ travel expenses included? ■ Will you have to pay for the engineers’ meals en route and on site? ■ Is the labour included? ■ How much is the hourly rate and are there minimums? ■ What parts are excluded? ■ Do any circumstances, like power cuts, void the service contract? ■ How many dedicated DTG engineers does the company have? ■ Do the engineers always travel from the office or home? Colin Marsh Industry experts provide insight and guidance in all areas of digital garment and textile printing Digital helpdesk N ow you have decided which secondhand DTG printer will suit your needs, it is time to work out how to use it. The DTG process is not a complicated one, but it can be challenging to teach yourself. In order to avoid a high number of support calls, a DTG company will want A typical area on a DTG printer where damage can be done without correct training