中文Inkloft, a new specialist digital printing business founded by Gary Weyman and Andy Hancock, has announced its entry into the direct-to-film (DTF) market after being appointed as a distributor of DuPont Artistri DTF products, now available to purchase online through inkloft.co.uk. The launch represents a focused bet on a fast-growing decoration segment and on the value of genuine product knowledge in a market often crowded with undifferentiated consumables.
Inkloft has been established to provide customers with access to high-quality digital printing inks, backed by real industry knowledge and experience. The company’s launch offering will focus on the DuPont Artistri P1600 range, giving DTF printer owners and businesses access to a proven ink technology from a specialist supplier rather than a generalist reseller. The ambition is to build a specialist online destination for digital printing inks, combining convenient online purchasing with knowledgeable, industry-focused support.
Gary Weyman, co-founder of Inkloft, brings decades of experience working with DuPont and extensive knowledge of its digital printing ink portfolio. Andy Hancock brings a wealth of ink-specific experience as owner of Mexar Limited, a specialist inkjet development company operating since 2007. That combination of OEM heritage and formulation expertise is central to Inkloft’s pitch: not just a shop, but a source of credible advice for printers navigating a confusing consumables landscape.
Weyman said Inkloft was created because the founders believe there is an opportunity to offer an open approach to the DTF consumables market, with genuine product knowledge, straightforward advice and easy access to high-quality inks. Artistri is well known for delivering reliability, consistency and its Print Head Assurance Policy, he noted, and customers also choose DuPont Artistri because they expect innovation in a fast-moving sector, with the new JA1100 Jettable Adhesive the latest example of that lead-from-the-front commitment.
The DTF market has expanded rapidly as apparel decorators and promotional-product suppliers seek alternatives to traditional screen printing and direct-to-garment for short runs and complex artwork. Inks are the lifeblood of the process, yet many buyers struggle to distinguish marketing claims from performance. A distributor led by people with deep formulation backgrounds is positioned to translate technical detail into practical guidance, helping users match inks to print heads, films and powders for consistent results.
For DuPont, the appointment extends the reach of the Artistri brand through a channel built on specialization rather than volume. The Print Head Assurance Policy is a meaningful differentiator, addressing one of the biggest anxieties in DTF: the risk that an incompatible or inconsistent ink damages an expensive print head. By coupling a proven ink with an assurance policy and specialist support, Inkloft is targeting the more professional end of a market that has sometimes been dominated by bargain offerings.
The online-first model also reflects how the DTF buyer behaves. Purchasing through inkloft.co.uk gives decorators a direct, fast route to consumables without negotiating with broad-line distributors, while the founders’ reputations provide the trust that online transactions usually lack in this category. As the DTF segment matures, the winners are likely to be suppliers who combine credible product with credible advice.
Inkloft’s entry is a small but telling sign of a maturing market. When experienced industry figures choose to build a business around a single, well-regarded ink range and a promise of openness, it suggests DTF is moving past its Wild West phase toward a more professional, service-oriented supply chain.
The direct-to-film market has exploded over the past few years as decorators sought a flexible, low-setup route to full-colour garment and product printing, but its rapid growth has also attracted a flood of undifferentiated inks where claims outrun performance. A distributor led by people with deep formulation and OEM backgrounds directly answers that gap, offering buyers a trusted channel rather than a gamble.
Inkloft’s focus on the DuPont Artistri P1600 range, backed by a Print Head Assurance Policy, is a calculated play for the professional end of the market, where a damaged print head can erase months of margin. By pairing a proven ink with open advice and straightforward online purchasing, the founders are betting that credibility, not discounting, will win repeat business as DTF matures from a hobbyist favourite into a mainstay of commercial decoration. If the model lands, expect more specialist ink houses to follow the same service-led template.
The founders are candid that Inkloft is a long-game play rather than a quick entry. The DTF consumables market has attracted many generalist resellers, but few with the formulation pedigree Weyman and Hancock bring, and that gap is where Inkloft intends to compete. By anchoring the launch on DuPont Artistri’s proven P1600 range and its Print Head Assurance Policy, the company lowers the risk for decorators wary of unproven inks damaging expensive equipment. The online model keeps access simple, while the specialist advice keeps outcomes consistent. If the category continues its shift from bargain hunting toward professionalisation, a distributor defined by credibility rather than price could carve out a durable niche.
Source: Specialist Printing Worldwide (https://www.specialistprinting.com/news/n-1188-inkloft-launches-specialist-dtf-ink-offering-bringing-dupont-artistri-p1600-to-the-market/)
