UV on Tumblers

UV Printing on Tumblers

Tumblers are the single biggest UV gift market — powder-coated stainless takes ink well and sells for $25–$45.

Substrates: Powder-coated stainless tumblers

Settings that work

Temperature	No heat
Press time	3–6 minutes
Pressure	N/A
Peel	N/A
Wash care	Hand wash

Settings are a starting point, not gospel. Film batches, ink lots and press calibration all shift the ideal number — always pull-test a sample before a paid run.

What goes wrong, and how to fix it

Problem	Fix
Print peels at the curve	Tumblers need a rotary attachment. Flat printing on a curved body guarantees wrinkles.
Dishwasher kills the print	Standard UV ink is hand-wash only. Offer a clear coat for longer life.

Good fit

Custom tumblers
Bridesmaid gifts
Branded drinkware

Where it fails

Uncoated stainless
Dishwasher-only users

What to buy for tumblers

Weekly volume	Machine class	Why
Small items (cases, pens, keychains)	A5 / A4 flatbed	One object at a time. Enough for gift orders, too slow for batch retail.
Up to 30 × 45 cm (plaques, tumblers with jig)	A3 flatbed	The default size for gift and promo work. Add a rotary jig for cylinders.
Signs, panels, batch cases	4060 / 6090 flatbed	Bed size decides throughput. A 6090 prints a full panel in one pass.

Volume bands assume one operator and a standard 38 × 38 cm press. Verify with a sample before committing to a machine size.