This is a new blanket. It is important to note that all roller heat press blankets will shrink when they are first used. Getting a blanket to shrink evenly is a process which has to be followed carefully to prevent shewing, bubbling and twisting which can result in a number of transfer issues.

To start, loosen the blanket by adjusting the tension wheels until the blanket stops rolling with the roller. Next, tighten the tension wheels together slowly until the point where the blanket starts to roll. At this point start the process of heating the blanket up to 200 degrees C. This temperature must be maintained for at least 100 hours and up to 200 hours, checking every 10 minutes to loosen and retighten the tension wheels, ensuring that the blanket is merely rolling with the roller. Please also change the rolling direction every half hour to avoid the blanket shrinking in one direction only.

If the machine is not in use, the process of preparing the blanket can be stopped until the next time the machine is being used. It is important to keep a log of the number of hours. The blanket must be allowed to continue to roll loosely while the machine is cooling down during the blanket preparation and production stages. If the preparation process – or later in production – is interrupted by load shedding, you must separate the blanket and keep it as far away from the heat drum as possible. If one spot becomes overheated, it will cause the blanket to burn and a new blanket will be required.

It is very important to keep checking the blanket tension every 10 minutes during the shrinking process; otherwise, the parts of the blanket which have been shrunk will continue to shrink even further due to increasing contact tension and trapped heat.

It’s also important to keep the blanket in the centre position related to the heating drum during the blanket preparation stage and product stage. This is achieved by providing equal tension from both sides of the tension wheel, you can keep increasing/decreasing either side when required to shift the blanket back to the centre by the continuous rolling motion. If the blanket shifts significantly to one side, you can loosen the blanket completely and drag it to the centre by hand. Allowing the blanket to rub against either side of the machine is going to damage the blanket and may also jam the machine.

Please download our easy-to-use reference HEATWARE™ Heat-Roller Blanket Preparation Guide_v1.PDF
The content is as follows:

Congratulations on your purchase of a new heat-roller blanket from HEATWARE™. To ensure optimal performance and avoid any transfer issues, it’s essential to prepare your blanket correctly before using it with your roller heat press machine.

Please follow these step-by-step instructions for a smooth and successful preparation process:

• Step 1: Loosen the Blanket Adjust the tension wheels to loosen the blanket until it stops rolling with the roller.
• Step 2: Gradual Tightening Slowly tighten the tension wheels together until the blanket starts to roll again.
• Step 3: Heating Process Heat the blanket up to 200 degrees C and maintain this temperature for at least 100 hours (up to 200 hours). Check every 10 minutes during this period to ensure the blanket is rolling with the roller. To prevent uneven shrinking, change the rolling direction every half hour.
• Step 4: Keep a Log Keep a log of the number of hours during the preparation process. You can pause the process when the machine is not in use and resume it the next time you use the machine.

Important Notes:

• If the preparation process is interrupted due to load shedding, separate the blanket from the heat drum to avoid overheating and potential damage.
• Regularly check the blanket tension every 10 minutes during the shrinking process to avoid excessive shrinking caused by increased contact tension and trapped heat.

Maintaining the Blanket Position:

• Keep the blanket in the center position related to the heating drum. Ensure equal tension from both sides of the tension wheel to achieve this.
• If the blanket shifts significantly to one side, loosen it completely and reposition it to the center by hand. Avoid letting the blanket rub against the machine’s sides, as this may damage the blanket and cause machine jams.

Should you have any further questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our team of consultants. Thank you for choosing AM.CO.ZA HEATWARE™ Heat Roller blanket, and we wish you successful heat-pressing with your new blanket!