Deciding which dryer is best for your Stenter operation can be a challenging decision. Asking the right questions is the ideal first step in determining which dryer is best for your needs. Here are some questions to help you get started:

What are the electricity and gas utilities in your location?
Does your store have single-phase or three-phase power service? If you don’t know, please consult your electrician or landlord, as this will affect your decision on which dryer is right for you. Electric dryers are usually cheaper than gas dryers, so if you think an electric IR (infrared) dryer is best for you and can use a three-phase power supply, how should you configure the dryer. Compared with a single-phase dryer, the running cost of the dryer using a three-phase power supply is about half.

Do you have gas in your store? Compared to electric dryers, gas dryers can save up to 30% of energy costs, depending on where your store is located. Although the upfront cost of buying a gas dryer is higher, the energy costs you save during the first few years of operation will far exceed the additional costs.

How many printing presses do you need the dryer to handle?
If you plan to run multiple manual presses or automatic presses on the dryer, or a combination of the two, you may need to extend the feed inlet so that there is enough open belt space to place the clothes on both sides of the belt.

What are your dryer requirements in one or two years?
If you need a dryer now to handle your current workflow, but plan to add another printing press in the future, you may want to buy a dryer that is larger than now in order to grow.

Which ink systems will be used now and in the future?
Currently, water-based ink systems are undergoing a large number of developments. Although you can use some electric infrared dryers to obtain adequate results, a gas convection (hot air) dryer is a better choice because it increases airflow to help the evaporation of water-based ink. Do you know the curing requirements of the inks you use? Consult your ink supplier for the curing specifications of the ink. You really need to know this to make an informed decision about the best dryer.

What is your budget?
The upfront cost of electric IR dryers is usually lower, but the operating cost of gas dryers is lower. Due to the constant temperature monitoring, they are more effective on sportswear, and when curing water-based inks and discharging inks, gas dryers are more effective. More air movement is beneficial.

How many clothes do you want Flat Screen Printing Machine to process per hour?
By far, this is the most important information you need when buying a clothes dryer. Keep in mind that long-sleeved clothing, XXXL clothing, and hoodies will take up more space on the drying belt, so please consider how often these styles are printed. Don't let your dryer determine your profit! You want to buy a dryer with a little excess capacity so that when it runs faster on small prints, your dryer can keep up. If possible, waiting for the drying belt to be cleaned so that you can put down the next piece of clothing is something to avoid.