Roboprint’ s T-TRANSFER technology reshapes plastics decoration for flexibility and sustainability
Decorating plastics with robotic precision
Roboprint’ s T-TRANSFER technology reshapes plastics decoration for flexibility and sustainability
Plastics decoration has long depended on pad and screen printing— reliable but hindered by solvents, labour-intensive changeovers and downtime for design changes. In fast-moving markets with shifting consumer expectations and shorter product lifecycles, these methods are under strain. Italian start-up Roboprint, in partnership with Shibaura Machine and European distributor TM Robotics, has developed T-TRANSFER, a system that combines pre-printed transfer reels with robotic automation to overcome many of these limitations.
Consumer interest in personalisation is reshaping manufacturing. A Deloitte survey in 2024 found that one in five consumers interested in personalised products or services are willing to pay a 20 per cent price premium. This demand has accelerated adoption of digital printing technologies, which allow shorter runs and customised designs.
However, pad and screen printing remain dominant in high-volume manufacturing. They are resourceintensive processes that depend on solvents and varnishes, require frequent operator intervention and can generate significant waste. At the same time, regulation and consumer sentiment are converging around sustainability.
The same Deloitte research reveals that nearly three-quarters of brands now promote circular economy principles, while 85 per cent of consumers globally say they have shifted towards greener purchasing in the past five years. These pressures are forcing companies to re-examine legacy decoration methods.
From concept to development
The origins of T-TRANSFER can be traced back to 2022, when Roboprint was presenting its T-ROBOT pad printing system at the MECSPE trade fair in Bologna, Italy. During the exhibition, Roboprint’ s founder, Valter Scolaro, and commercial manager, Martina Scolaro, met Nigel Smith, managing director of TM Robotics.
“ We were already looking at how to take pad printing further,” Scolaro recalls.“ The idea was to combine our printing expertise with robotic movement to achieve greater flexibility and consistency. When we spoke to Smith, he immediately encouraged us to push the concept forward.”
Smith agrees that the conversation stands out.“ It was clear that Roboprint was approaching
Roboprint’ s T-TRANSFER system combines pre-printed transfer reels with robotic precision to decorate complex 3D plastic surfaces sustainably.
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