What Size Conveyor Dryer Do I Need?
Size your dryer to the press output you will have in 1-2 years, not just today. The two numbers that matter are belt width (how many shirts across) and chamber length/heaters (how fast the belt can run).
| Your setup | Typical output | Vastex example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 manual press, 1 printer | 50-150 shirts/hr | LittleRed X1-54 (up to 260 plastisol/hr) |
| 2 manual presses or 6-color manual | 200-500 shirts/hr | LittleRed X2-54 (up to 520/hr) or EconoRed ER-II-30 |
| Small automatic | 500-900 shirts/hr | EconoRed ER-II-54 (up to 600/hr; 1,200/hr with 2nd chamber) |
| Automatic + water-based or DTG | High volume | BigRed 4D V54 (950 plastisol/hr) |
All capacities are Vastex ratings and depend on ink, image size and humidity. Water-based and discharge need roughly 3x the dwell of plastisol, so size up if you print them.
Compare lines: LittleRed vs EconoRed vs BigRed. Running an automatic? See gas vs electric conveyor dryers and ROQ Sahara dryers.
Tell us your press output - we will size your dryer
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Frequently asked questions
Is a wider belt better?
A 54 in. belt runs two rows of standard prints or one row of oversize/all-over prints, effectively doubling output at the same belt speed.
Can I start small and grow?
Yes - Vastex dryers take add-on heat chambers and belt extensions later.
Does a dryer need 240V?
Most production dryers do; only small LittleRed X1 models come in 120V. Check each product page.
More Vastex guides
- Vastex conveyor dryers
- Vastex manual screen printing presses
- Vastex flash cure units
- Vastex pallets & attachments
- Vastex V-2000HD setup guide
- Conveyor dryer belt speed & heater height
- What size conveyor dryer do I need?
- LittleRed vs EconoRed vs BigRed
- Vastex V-1000 vs V-2000HD
- Rear clamp vs side clamp presses
All Vastex equipment: Vastex at Buckets of Ink - authorized dealer, Tempe AZ showroom (906 S Priest Dr, Suite 101).
