Finishing Equipment
Rotary Sublimation Heat Transfer Calender
A rotary sublimation heat transfer calender carries the printed transfer paper together with polyester fabric over a heated cylinder and transfers the print to the fabric. It performs the transfer step of the sublimation process in a continuous production flow.
01 / About the System
What is Rotary Sublimation Heat Transfer Calender
In the calender, printed paper and fabric run one over the other between a heated cylinder and a support surface. Under heat and pressure, the sublimation dye turns to gas and penetrates the polyester fibre.
Temperature, speed and pressure are the values that decide the transfer result. They are set by testing according to the fabric, the paper and the ink series.
For a smooth and continuous flow, paper and fabric must run at the same speed and at balanced tension. The feed and take-up arrangement of the paper and fabric rolls is assessed together when choosing a calender.
02 / Applications
Areas of use
- 01
Roll-based fabric transfer
Continuous transfer of the pattern onto polyester fabric on the roll.
- 02
Sportswear and activewear fabrics
The transfer step in producing polyester-based jersey and activewear fabric.
- 03
Flags and soft signage
Transfer of polyester flags and textile graphics.
- 04
Home textiles
Transfer on curtains, cushions and decorative polyester fabrics.
The transfer result is confirmed with a test transfer for each fabric and paper pairing.
03 / System Structure
Process flow
- 01Feeding
Feeding
Printed paper and fabric are fed to the calender from separate rolls.
- 02Contact
Contact
Paper and fabric are brought together and guided onto the heated cylinder.
- 03Heat Transfer
Heat transfer
Under heat and pressure the dye moves from the paper into the polyester fibre.
- 04Separation and Winding
Separation and winding
The paper is separated from the fabric; the fabric is wound into a roll.
Temperature, speed and pressure vary with the fabric, the paper and the ink series.
04 / Process
Supply and Commissioning Process
A calender is the transfer equipment that follows the printer in a sublimation line, so it is planned together with the paper and fabric flow. Once the production pattern and the fabric are clear, supply, installation and commissioning steps are addressed.
- 01
Needs assessment
The fabric types, the expected production pattern and the existing printer and paper rolls are identified.
- 02
System configuration
The cylinder and heating structure and the paper and fabric feed and take-up arrangement are defined according to the production pattern.
- 03
Supply
It is clarified whether the supply scope covers only the calender or also the paper and fabric feed and take-up equipment.
- 04
Installation
The energy need of the calender, its heat emission and the roll handling arrangement are addressed in the installation plan.
- 05
Commissioning
In transfer trials with fabric and paper, colour density, penetration and fabric smoothness are assessed together.
- 06
Technical support
After commissioning, a technical service request can be created for transfer results or issues with paper and fabric travel.
05 / Related Ink
Transfer and sublimation inks
A calender matters together with the inks and the transfer paper used in the sublimation transfer process. Which ink series is used with these transfer conditions is assessed together, according to the fabric and the paper.