Models D-100 and D-1000, the smallest conveyor dryers produced by Vastex International, are now available with powered exhaust to remove excess moisture and fumes from the infrared heating chamber. Available as an option on new units or as a retrofit kit on existing units, the exhaust hood vents from the top of the dryer for maximum flexibility in ducting to the shop's exterior, while reducing noise significantly.
"The powered exhaust hood pulls fumes and hot air away from the operator’s environment, making these compact dryers ideal for working in confined spaces, especially when curing direct-to-film adhesives," says Mark Vasilantone, president.
These entry-level dryers can cure up to 110 plastisol-printed garments/h, or 50 garments/h printed with water-based ink or discharge, as well as DTF adhesives at high rates.
Variable controls for both heat intensity and conveyor speed allow fine-tuning of the drying process according to ink type, ink coverage, desired cure temperature, and rate at which items are being screen printed, or coated with DTF adhesives.
The D-100 is equipped with an 18x46" (45.7 x 117 cm) conveyor belt and a 16" (40.6 cm) square, 1,625 watt infrared heater. The D-1000 comes with a 26 x 56 in. (66 x 142.2 cm) conveyor belt and a 20x16" (50.8 x 40.6 cm), 2,050 watt heater. The heaters can be raised, lowered or angled to accommodate bulky garments or irregularly shaped items, and carry the same 15-year warranty as the company's larger dryers.
Available in 120V or 240V models, the dryers can be placed on a tabletop or on utility carts for in-shop mobility. Their compact size and light weight also make them portable for onsite printing at fairs, concerts, trade shows and other events using a small generator or other power source.
Vastex also manufactures 16 larger models of conveyor dryers with capacities as high as 2,700 plastisol-printed garments/h, 900 garments/h printed with water-based inks or discharge, and 576 garments/h printed with DTG/digital white ink. DTF adhesives can be cured at correspondingly high rates.
All floor-standing units can be expanded by adding modular heating chambers and extending the conveyor belt, multiplying capacity (belt speed) in direction proportion to the number of chambers added.
The company is also a leading producer of manual screen printing presses, flash cure units, screen exposing units, screen drying cabinets, washout booths and complete screen printing shop systems, and offers a comprehensive range of training classes for entry level, intermediate and advanced screen printers.