EPS Strengthens Industrial Pad Printing and DTO Portfolio Through Comec Italia Partnership
Key Takeaways for the Promo Market
- Expanded direct-to-object capabilities: EPS’s reaffirmed exclusive partnership with Comec Italia strengthens access to industrial pad printing systems across North America — reinforcing pad printing as a viable solution alongside digital DTO technologies.
- Process-neutral approach to ROI: By offering both analog pad printing and digital inkjet, EPS can evaluate production volumes, substrates, and long-term operating costs before recommending a solution — a key consideration for promotional products suppliers weighing scalability and automation.
- High-volume, industrial applications remain strong: While digital continues to grow in short runs and variable data, pad printing maintains advantages for multi-color decoration on irregular surfaces and high-volume production — relevant for hard goods, drinkware, electronics, sporting goods, and specialty promo items.
Engineered Printing Solutions (EPS), a provider of direct-to-object (DTO) industrial printing solutions, reaffirms its exclusive distribution partnership with Comec Italia S.r.l., an Italy-based manufacturer of industrial pad printing systems.
The agreement formalizes EPS’s continued representation of Comec’s pad printing portfolio in North America, allowing the business to provide both analog pad and digital DTO printing technologies. By supporting both process types, EPS can run detailed ROI models against a customer’s actual production volumes, substrate requirements, and long-term operating economics before recommending a solution.
“EPS has represented Comec in North America for many years and understands both our equipment and the industrial environments in which it operates," says Manuele Baggini, owner of Comec Italia S.r.l. "We are pleased to reaffirm this exclusive partnership and continue supporting manufacturers across the United States and Canada.”
Pad printing continues to serve applications requiring high-volume, multi-color decoration on irregular surfaces with proven process stability. Digital inkjet technologies provide advantages where variable data, short runs, SKU proliferation, and automation-ready workflows are required. By offering both technologies at production scale, EPS can compare process performance and long-term cost structures under real operating conditions.
“Many suppliers specialize in a single print process," says Ken Stack, executive chairman of Engineered Printing Solutions. "EPS has taken a different approach by maintaining expertise in both analog pad printing and digital inkjet. Our continued partnership with Comec Italia allows us to support customers whose applications remain well-suited to pad printing, while also serving those transitioning toward digital production. The decision is driven by the application and production economics.”
Through its agreement, EPS will continue to provide installation, operator training, consumables supply, and field service support for Comec systems throughout North America. The company will also integrate pad printing platforms into broader automation and production line solutions where required.
The reaffirmed partnership reflects ongoing demand for industrial pad printing alongside digital decoration technologies, particularly in production environments requiring repeatability, durability, and validated marking processes.
Editor's Note: This article was written for Promo Impressions. For more content on promotional products decoration, subscribe at PromoImpressions.com.
