At our company, we specialize in creating custom stainless steel drinkware using a refined method that combines screen printing on water-transfer decals with high-temperature heat curing. This process allows us to produce vivid, long-lasting, and food-safe designs that elevate the look and feel of bottles, tumblers, mugs, and other stainless steel items.
Whether you’re looking for eye-catching branding, retail-ready graphics, or unique promotional products, our water-transfer decal technique ensures a beautiful finish with professional-grade durability.
What Is Water-Transfer Decal Printing?
Water-transfer decal printing is a process where a printed design is transferred from a specially prepared decal sheet onto the surface of the product using water and pressure. The decals are first screen printed with your custom design onto water-soluble film. Once printed and dried, the decal is soaked in water, releasing the ink layer from its backing.
The freed decal is then carefully positioned onto the stainless steel drinkware. After ensuring a smooth, bubble-free finish, the item is heat-cured at around 200°C to permanently fuse the design to the surface. This final step enhances the durability, gloss, and resistance of the printed design.
Why Use This Method on Stainless Steel Drinkware?
Stainless steel is a durable, hygienic, and eco-friendly material — making it a popular choice for drinkware. But decorating stainless steel comes with challenges, especially when trying to achieve colorful or complex graphics. Water-transfer decals offer the perfect solution:
🎨 Rich, Full-Color Designs
Unlike direct printing methods, this technique allows for sharp lines, color gradients, and detailed images using screen printing inks.🌀 Smooth Application on Curved Surfaces
Decals can wrap around bottles, mugs, and tumblers — providing nearly seamless results even on challenging shapes.🔥 Excellent Durability After Heat Curing
The 200°C curing process bonds the ink and protective layer to the surface, making the design resistant to scratches, fading, and everyday handling.
Food-Safe and Safe to Use
One of the most important aspects of our printing process is safety — especially when producing drinkware intended for everyday use. We follow strict precautions to ensure that:
✅ All designs are applied only to the exterior surface of the stainless steel item.
✅ No printing ever touches the inner lining or mouth-contact areas, keeping the drink-contact zones completely untouched.
✅ Inks used in screen printing are carefully selected for non-toxic, non-leaching properties and cured at high temperatures to ensure chemical stability.
Because our decals are heat-cured at 200°C, the resulting finish is not only visually appealing but also inert, durable, and safe for repeated use.
Advantages of Our Method
Our water-transfer decal and heat curing process offer several advantages over other printing techniques:
✔️ High Resolution & Detail: Ideal for logos, illustrations, product labels, and decorative elements.
✔️ Cost-Effective for Medium to Large Batches: More efficient than hand-painting or laser etching for colorful designs.
✔️ Durable Finish: Once cured, the design resists moisture, handling, and mild abrasions.
✔️ Customizable: Great for branding, personalization, limited edition runs, or corporate gifts.
✔️ Premium Look: The smooth, glossy finish creates a high-end appearance that adds value to the product.
Ideal for a Wide Range of Products
This printing technique is versatile and works well on:
Double-walled stainless steel tumblers
Water bottles and sports flasks
Travel mugs
Thermal bottles
Promotional drinkware
Gift sets and branded merchandise
With the ability to wrap around both flat and slightly curved surfaces, our process brings your brand’s message or design to life in a visually stunning way.
Our Process at a Glance
Design Approval
You send us your artwork or work with our design team to prepare the layout.Screen Printing on Decal Film
Your design is printed onto special water-transfer film using high-quality, food-safe inks.Decal Activation & Application
The printed film is soaked in water, releasing the design, which is then manually or mechanically transferred onto the stainless steel surface.Positioning & Drying
The decal is carefully aligned, smoothed out, and allowed to dry.Heat Curing at 200°C
The item is baked to permanently bond the design to the surface, hardening the ink and giving it a professional finish.Quality Check & Packaging
Every item is inspected for quality and consistency before being carefully packed and shipped.
Partner with Us for Premium Custom Drinkware
Our water-transfer decal printing service provides the ideal balance of creativity, quality, and safety for stainless steel drinkware. Whether you’re a retailer, a promotional brand, or a creative entrepreneur, we’re here to bring your designs to life with precision and care.
Contact us today to get started on your next project — and discover how beautiful and practical your drinkware can be.
