If you’ve been following Colour Cartel for a while, you’ll know we’re not ones to sit still. Over the past few months, we’ve been busy behind the scenes making some major upgrades to our equipment and expanding our space. All designed to help us work smarter, move faster, and deliver an even slicker finish for our clients.
From new machinery to a whole new warehouse, here’s a peek at what’s been going on.
The Heat Press Carousel: The “Friendship Machine”
First up, meet the newest member of our production floor, a six-station heat press carousel.
This one is specifically for our Direct-to-Film (DTF) print method, where designs are printed onto film and then heat-pressed into garments. Whilst our dual platen auto presses still play a big role, this carousel changes everything.
With two heads working at once, it allows us to load, press, peel, and reload in overlapping cycles. The result? Jobs that used to take twice as long can now be done in half the time.
We’ve nicknamed it the “Friendship Machine” because while one person can run it solo, the real magic happens when two people work it together. It’s smoother, faster, and way more efficient. Exactly what we need as demand continues to grow.
Folding, Bagging and Ready to Sell
Next, let’s talk presentation. We’ve always been big believers that a custom garment should feel as polished as it looks, and our new Thermotron folding and bagging line makes sure of it.
This beast of a machine neatly folds garments, slides them into bags, and even seals them up, ready for dispatch. Compared to our old “by-hand” folding table, the consistency is unmatched. And it can push through up to 500 pieces an hour. Although let’s be real, you’d have to move at the speed of light to actually hit that number.
We tested it out with a fresh batch of garments from our mates at Wild Outback Co, and safe to say, Daniel was having the time of his life feeding the machine and watching it spit out perfectly bagged gear. It’s a serious upgrade, but it still manages to feel a bit like playtime.
Smarter Screens with the M&R I-Image
If you’ve ever wondered how screen printing starts, here’s the secret: before we can even lay down a single drop of ink, we first have to create the screens that hold the stencil of your design. Traditionally, that meant printing films, taping them to screens, and exposing them manually. Time-consuming, fiddly, and not always foolproof.
Enter the M&R I-Image system, our newest piece of tech and a genuine game-changer. It works like an oversized inkjet printer, laying the artwork directly onto the screen with pinpoint accuracy. Combine that with our tri-lock registration system, and it means setups that once took 15 to 20 minutes now take just a fraction of that.
When you’re setting up half a dozen jobs a day, those minutes add up fast. That gives us more time to focus on detail and ensures every print is spot-on.
A Whole New Warehouse for Finished Goods
Of course, with more production power comes one obvious challenge: where do we put it all?
That’s where our newest upgrade comes in, a dedicated warehouse for finished stock.
This space is now home to all of our printed apparel for drop-shipping clients like OnYa Apparel and beyond. Orders come off the press, move through folding and bagging, and are stored safely here until they’re shipped directly to customers.
It’s more than just storage. It’s a system that helps us keep stock organised, labelled, and moving quickly, giving our clients the peace of mind that their products are always retail-ready and ready to go.
Why These Upgrades Matter
At the end of the day, each of these investments ties back to the same goal: delivering faster turnaround, greater consistency, and a better experience for our clients.
Whether it’s a local brand building their first range, or an established label managing ongoing orders, our upgraded processes mean:
- Quicker production times
- Neater, retail-ready finishes
- More accurate prints, every run
- Streamlined fulfilment from print to post
What’s Next for The Colour Cartel?
These upgrades are just the beginning. With our new space and new gear, we’re building the foundation for even bigger projects and smoother client experiences.
It’s an exciting step in the journey, and as always, we’re stoked to have you along for the ride.
Want to see it all in action? Check out our YouTube channel, where we walk you through the machines, the setup, and all the behind-the-scenes fun happening at The Colour Cartel.
