West Fest Open House — Saturday, August 15, 2026
Free to attend. Saturday, August 15, 9 AM to 1 PM. West Fest is our two-day open house at the Santa Fe Springs showroom — Friday and Saturday, both free. Walk the floor, watch the machines run, and ask the techs anything you want.
No pitch, no seat to buy. Come see DTG, DTF, embroidery, chenille, cording and UV work being made on the machines we run every day, and talk to the people who run them.
Who it is for
Anyone weighing up whether this is a business they want to be in, or which technology fits the work they already take. If you are still deciding, this is the day to come.
Coming both days?
Friday, August 14 is the same open house, also free. RSVP for each day you plan to come so we know how many to expect.
11933 Los Nietos Rd, Santa Fe Springs, CA. Free on-site parking.
What's included
- Hands on production DTG, DTF + hybrid machines
- Lunch included
- Samples to take home
- Leave with a print path for your product
What the day looks like
One thesis runs through the whole morning: hybrid is the advantage. DTG is the premium print for cotton; DTF reaches everything cotton can't. Knowing how to run them together is the edge single-method shops don't have. Every demo below is a piece of that.
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1
Hybrid is the story
The spine of the day. DTG = premium hand-feel on cotton. DTF = strategic print for polyester, hard substrates, neck labels. The combo we innovated is the competitive advantage.
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2
Hybrid applications, live
Walk the demos we patented and pioneered — printing shoes (high-tops, skaters, even the tongues) on our AccuLine system, under-the-bill on hats, framed canvas, and skateboards with the right sanding + pretreat.
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3
DTF deep-dive + strategy
The Kern DTF lineup, the platen systems (including the shoe platen we built and the vacuum platen), and the real difference between a basic bin-and-oven setup and a professional Schultz powder/dryer/pretreat workflow.
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4
Pretreat, dialed in
Live calibration — grams per LMS by shirt color and weight, sanding grits for decks, and the do's and don'ts of DTF on leather. You leave with the cheat sheets.
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5
The shop ecosystem
Not maintenance — leverage. How we build a contained, climate-controlled environment (Corplast, the right humidifier) so your prints stay consistent batch after batch.
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6
What you take home
Clear DTG / DTF / Hybrid definitions, the tools and systems for each, printed cheat sheets, pre-printed Kern DTF samples in your swag bag, and a direct line for follow-up.
Before you come
Who is this for?
Anyone decorating apparel — from people just getting started to shop owners who want the hybrid DTG + DTF edge. You tell us your experience level when you reserve, and we pitch the room accordingly.
Do I need to bring anything?
Just yourself. Everything you need is on the floor. If there's a specific garment or substrate you want to try a print path on, bring it — we'll work it into the demos. Full details land in your confirmation email.
Is lunch really included?
Yes — lunch is on us, and you tell us about any dietary needs when you reserve so there's something good for everyone.
Where do I park?
We're at our Santa Fe Springs showroom. Parking and arrival directions are sent in your confirmation email a few days before the workshop.
What if I can't make it?
Reach out and we'll sort out a transfer to a future date. Refund and transfer terms are confirmed at checkout and in your confirmation email.