中文Roland DG used Visual Impact to reveal a trio of machines aimed at decorators who want professional results without the complexity usually associated with smaller systems. Visitors saw the newly launched RC-300 direct-to-object printer, the VersaStudio BY2-20 compact direct-to-film (DTF) printer, and what Roland DG describes as the world’s first latex printer-cutter, the TrueVis AG-640.
The RC-300 prints on cylinders, parallel, tapered and irregular-shaped objects, with a load-print-unload cycle of between 45 and 90 seconds. It uses what Conrad Birkett of Roland DG calls “new generation hard inks” and ships with multiple flexible jigs. A helical printing method prints continuously around the object as it rotates, rather than building the image in separate strips — enabling seamless 360° printing on tapered and curved-profile products and helping businesses move beyond traditional cylindrical applications.
An RC-300c Clear Support Model extends direct-to-object decoration to transparent and liquid-filled bottles, relevant for premium beverage, wine, spirits and cosmetic applications where product visibility matters. Gloss ink adds tactile detail and premium surface effects to cylindrical products, while a printable primer expands what can be decorated — including demanding materials such as stainless steel — opening opportunities across packaging, drinkware, promotional products and specialist applications.
The VersaStudio BY2-20 is a compact DTF printer designed for consistent, high-quality apparel production. Roland DG positions it as a professional alternative in a market the company says “prioritises low upfront costs over long-term reliability,” bringing together “advanced print technology, integrated software, and a fully supported ecosystem” to remove much of the complexity associated with DTF printing.
As a CMYK + White DTF printer, the BY2-20 is built for sharp detail, vivid colour and repeatable results across apparel — from T-shirts and sportswear to workwear, décor and accessories. Refined ink flow, internal temperature control and large-capacity white ink cartridges support predictable, stable continuous printing, while automatic white underbase generation simplifies production in demanding environments.
The workflow is deliberately integrated. Connect Designer provides artwork tools, VersaWorks 7 prepares designs for print, and Roland DG Connect facilitates monitoring and maintenance — so users can focus on producing and selling finished products rather than managing technology. “With the BY2-20, we set out to redefine expectations for compact Direct-To-Film printing,” said Ryugo Nimura, executive officer of Roland DG’s Global Sales and Marketing Division. “This is a professional, production-ready solution delivering consistent quality, integrated simplicity, and dependable day-to-day performance.”
The BY2-20 suits small production spaces and newcomers to DTF, yet still delivers the reliability required in professional environments. Its standalone cutting capability lets users produce heat-transfer vinyl graphics alongside DTF transfers, supporting premium effects such as metallic, glitter and holographic finishes from a single device. Flexible, short-run and on-demand production helps businesses respond quickly to customer demand while protecting margins.
Roland DG also highlighted its responsible-production credentials, pointing to Oeko-Tex Eco Passport certified S-PG2 inks and S-Powder. For decorators weighing their next investment, the message is clear: professional output and a supported ecosystem can now come in a compact, approachable form factor. The RC-300’s helical method in particular addresses a longstanding frustration with direct-to-object printing — visible seams on curved surfaces — and could make in-house decorated drinkware and cosmetics packaging viable for shops that previously outsourced such work. Combined with the BY2-20’s turnkey workflow, Roland DG is clearly targeting the fast-growing base of small decorators who want to add apparel and promotional products without taking on the operational headaches that have historically kept them away from DTF.
Source: Print21 (Wayne Robinson), 31 August 2026.
The launch lands into one of the fastest-growing corners of the decoration market. DTF has surged among small and mid-sized shops because it lowers the barrier to apparel personalisation, but the segment has also been crowded with low-cost, variable-quality equipment that can undermine a decorators’s reputation through inconsistent output. Roland DG’s pitch — a professional, supported ecosystem rather than a cheap box — is a direct response to that fragmentation, and a bet that serious decorators will pay for reliability.
The RC-300’s helical method also addresses a longstanding frustration with direct-to-object printing: visible seams on curved surfaces, a defect that has historically marked entry-level decorated drinkware and undermined perceptions of quality. By printing continuously as the object rotates, it opens in-house decoration of drinkware, cosmetics and promotional products that shops previously outsourced. Combined with the BY2-20’s turnkey workflow, Roland DG is clearly targeting the expanding base of small decorators who want to add apparel and promotional products without absorbing the operational headaches that have historically kept them away from DTF. For the broader APAC market, where Visual Impact is a key showcase, the emphasis on compact footprint and Oeko-Tex-certified inks also signals that professional environmental credentials are now table stakes, not a premium option, for decorators selling into brand and retail supply chains, where demonstrable proof of responsible chemistry is fast becoming a condition of doing business rather than a mere differentiator.
