How Are Sublimated coated products produced?

[AJG]

Hi,

I've been buying pre coated sublimated mugs mats etc. But now wondering how these are made?
Are they just normal ceramic mugs/mats coated in a special coating (If so what is it and can this be applied to any object ?)

Thanks In advance

[Baldy]

You can coat items with products such as Subliglaze which you cure in an oven, although I haven't tried them myself although other members may have.
As far as I'm aware pre-coated items are done in a similar fashion...just on an industrial scale

[AJG]

Hey Baldy,

Thanks for that response, just what I was after.
Merry Christmas to you

[Justin]

Coating has to be done in a dust free environment and needs to be applied evenly. I've done it with mug bases but never heard of anyone managing to coat anything on a small level.

[cook_58]

Coating has to be done in a dust free environment and needs to be applied evenly. I've done it with mug bases but never heard of anyone managing to coat anything on a small level.

Justin, did you find it easy to do, and to press a design on to them?

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[Justin]

It's an absolute PITA lol. Getting an even coating on just a small area is hard work. Then you have to 'bake' the coating before you can apply the image to cook again. I managed to apply the design at the same time as cooking the subli coating and then re-pressed the base afterwards. Very time consuming and awkward. Same customer came back to me again and I didn't do it.

Are you looking to coat anything in particular?

[AJG]

I thought this may be the case.

It was when i was insuring my business i started to wonder about the supply chain and that most mugs come from china. I would love it if there were more UK company's that actually manufactured in the UK, to reduce carbon footprint and human rights issues. I would not mind paying more for that. I'm too small to do this inhouse as I'm stretched enough as it is.

But essentially my mind went for a wonder

[Justin]

We've discussed UK sourcing before and I completely agree. Many of our members will probably remember there was a 'go to' mug many years ago. Made in Staffs, not sure if it was coated there. Perfectly straight, no issues whatsoever, then they went out of business. What was it called...uhm, can't remember now. Anyway, funnily enough I was thinking last night, a mug made in UK, coated in UK, I'd be happy to pay for this. I did speak to a UK based company many years ago and they offered me the same quality mug but it would need coating. I'm sure somebody could jump onto this.

[Jimbo]

We've discussed UK sourcing before and I completely agree. Many of our members will probably remember there was a 'go to' mug many years ago. Made in Staffs, not sure if it was coated there. Perfectly straight, no issues whatsoever, then they went out of business. What was it called...uhm, can't remember now. Anyway, funnily enough I was thinking last night, a mug made in UK, coated in UK, I'd be happy to pay for this. I did speak to a UK based company many years ago and they offered me the same quality mug but it would need coating. I'm sure somebody could jump onto this.

Was it Tams? I believe they were in Stoke.

[Justin]

Ah that was then, Tams! Lol