Inside the Innovation: How the ROQ IMPRESS Became the Best New Transfer Technology

When the ROQ IMPRESS took home the award for Best New Transfer Technology, it wasn’t just a trophy—it was a moment. A moment that recognized the pain so many shops have felt in trying to keep up with rising demand, labor shortages, and the technical ceiling of manual heat transfer systems.

We caught up with Buck Premo, ROQ US Director of Product, to go behind the scenes of how the ROQ IMPRESS was born, what sets it apart, and where transfer tech is headed next. Spoiler: it’s fast, it’s smart, and it’s changing the game.

🏆 Let’s start with the big news. ROQ IMPRESS just won “Best New Transfer Technology.” What does that recognition mean to you and the ROQ team?

Buck: It’s a big deal for us. This award confirms that we understood the assignment, shops needed a better way to handle high-volume transfers without needing a whole crew. With the ROQ IMPRESS, we’ve taken what used to require five people and made it possible with just one operator, at over 500 pieces an hour.

That kind of leap isn’t just about speed, it’s about solving real business problems. Shops that had 50 employees standing at manual clamshell presses are now hitting bigger numbers with smaller teams. That’s a massive impact on cost, morale, and scalability.

💡 ROQ is all about innovation. How does the IMPRESS reflect ROQ’s broader mission to solve real shop problems?

Buck: IMPRESS is a perfect example of how we build, not just to innovate for innovation’s sake, but to solve actual pain points. We started incubating this system in early 2023, right as DTF was really heating up. The market was clearly shifting, and we already had the DNA: a carousel base from our screen presses, and proven heat press heads from our ROQ Now digital line.

We married the two and then layered on automation, starting with our ROQ FEED to handle transfer placement—no human hands needed. Then we engineered the ROQ PEEL, which automatically removes the film. We debuted the full system at Impressions Long Beach in 2025.

We’re still iterating based on real-world feedback. We’ve added dual-sleeve pallet options, made the feed tray more flexible for small or oddly shaped transfers, and we’re not slowing down. Our mission is to keep evolving alongside our customers.

🤝 What made this product development journey unique? How did ROQ Portugal, ROQ.US and our partners collaborate?

Buck: This was truly a cross-continent effort. ROQ Portugal started with the concept, and I was flying over regularly to review prototypes. We worked hand-in-hand—modifying hardware, testing heat press times, checking alignment tolerances—all of it.

One of the key partners who helped shape that early vision was Supacolor. They flew out to Portugal during the initial concept phase and were deeply involved in those foundational conversations—bringing insight from their experience at the forefront of DTF. Their input helped influence how we approached transfer handling, compatibility, and overall shop efficiency. That collaboration helped steer us toward something that wasn’t just functional, but future-proof.

Once we hit beta, we hand-picked shops we trusted to give us unfiltered feedback. Every tweak came from real-world testing. Portugal builds the core tech. We bring field data, customer needs, and use-case variability from the U.S. It’s this constant back-and-forth that makes the system what it is today.

🛠️ What was the toughest engineering or workflow challenge along the way?

Buck: The biggest challenge wasn’t technical—it was keeping up. This machine has taken off faster than any product we’ve launched. And with that comes the need to continuously adapt.

Shops use the IMPRESS differently. Some run tiny 2.5-inch logos, others run full fronts. Originally, we had an insert for small transfers. Now we’ve got an upgraded tray that handles a wide range of sizes, all with pinpoint accuracy. The pace of customer feedback has driven a constant state of improvement. That’s the challenge—and the beauty—of building in collaboration with our users.

🧠 What exactly is the ROQ IMPRESS—and what makes it so different from anything else out there?

Buck: At its core, the IMPRESS is the only fully automated post-press transfer system that can consistently hit 500+ pieces per hour with just one operator. That includes placement, pressing, and peeling, all handled by machine.

Other systems might have partial automation, but they top out around 250 pieces an hour and still require multiple operators. The ROQ IMPRESS doubles that output, simplifies training, and eliminates bottlenecks—all on a footprint that fits most shops.

And you’re not sacrificing quality. These are heat transfers with better feel, stronger wash fastness, and repeatable accuracy. It’s automation built on proven screen print engineering.

🔧 How does it solve the day-to-day headaches shops face?

Buck: Let’s break it down:

• Labor: You eliminate pods of heat presses. One IMPRESS system replaces multiple operators.

• Speed: Manual pre-press and post-press setups might get you to 100 pieces per hour—if you’re lucky. We’re doing 5x that, reliably.

• Consistency: Every transfer lands in the exact right spot. That means fewer misprints and better retail-quality output.

• Ease of Use: You don’t need years of training. Most operators are up and running solo within a day.

  
  

This is about unlocking high-volume production without the traditional staffing or skill barriers.

🧵 What kind of print shops is the ROQ IMPRESS best suited for?

Buck: If you’re doing more than 50 transfers a day, this machine makes sense. Especially if you’re running more than five clamshell heat presses. That’s when the ROI really kicks in.

It’s also a great fit for shops doing:

• High color-count jobs that are tough to screen print

• Polyester garments and synthetics, where screen printing can be tricky

• Bags, backpacks, and specialty items that benefit from transfer application

• Shops with limited space that want to eliminate dryers

  
  

Think of it like the leap from manual screen printing to auto. Same philosophy. More output, less burnout.

🔭 Where is transfer technology heading—and how is ROQ staying ahead?

Buck: We're going from automation to intelligent automation. Imagine stacks of shirts where each one needs a different transfer. Using cameras, the IMPRESS could soon match the right image to the right garment in real time—and alert you if something’s off.

That’s where we’re headed: on-demand personalization at speed, without the cost and complexity of DTG.

We’re also evolving the platform:

• Feed Plus for higher-capacity trays

• Peel Plus for smarter, faster operation

• ROQ IMPRESS XL for oversized and full-front transfers

  
  

We’re even seeing press times drop to 1 second with some transfer films. That pushes capacity over 700 pieces per hour. It’s wild.

🚀 Quick Stats: In Under 2 Years...

Since October 2023:

• 🔥 51+ installs in the U.S.

• 📦 80+ booked

• 🌍 160+ worldwide

  
  

It’s showing up in garages, high-volume shops, and everything in between. Some customers are even dropping screen printing altogether for transfer-based workflows using the IMPRESS.

💬 Final thoughts?

Buck: This isn’t just a product win, it’s a team win. ROQ Portugal, ROQ.US, and our partners all helped shape this machine. And the evolution is just beginning. We’re listening, innovating, and staying laser-focused on solving real problems in print shops.

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Ready to see how the ROQ IMPRESS can help you scale faster, cut labor costs, and deliver premium results at speed? To learn more about what this award-winning solution can do for your business, fill out the form below to talk with your Solutions Partner.