What Stahls' Transfer Express does

Transfer Express, Inc., operating as Stahls' Transfer Express, is a U.S. custom heat-applied transfer manufacturer founded in 1990 and headquartered in Mentor, Ohio. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio spanning screen printed transfers (Goof Proof, Hot Split Retro, Elasti Prints), specialty-ink transfers (Puff, Glow-in-the-Dark, Reflective, AquaTru, Silicone), DTF (Direct to Film) digital transfers (UltraColor Max), and hybrid transfers (UltraColor Pro, UltraColor Stretch). The business also distributes premium emblems and patches, heat transfer vinyl from Siser and CAD-CUT, heat press equipment under the Stahls' MerchMaker, MAXX, and Hotronix lines, and wholesale blank apparel. Manufacturing leverages both traditional screen printing and DTF digital printing, with proprietary tooling including the Easy View Online Designer (250+ fonts, 77 ink colors, 5,000+ layouts, 8,000+ clip art items) and the 2024-launched AI Assist that automates artwork preparation for DTF orders.

The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of GroupeSTAHL since 2004, tracing its heritage to Stahls', Inc. (founded 1932) and Weaver Screen Print (founded 1978). It serves primarily SMB apparel decorators, t-shirt businesses, schools, sports teams, event organizers, and small-to-mid businesses needing fast-turnaround custom branded apparel in North America. Channels are product-led and self-serve: customers design via Easy View, upload or select art, and order through transferexpress.com with next-day shipping for many products. Revenue streams include one-time transfer sales, hardware sales (heat presses, apparel, vinyl), and an Awin-routed affiliate commission program (15% per sale). Four facilities support operations: Mentor, OH (headquarters and manufacturing), Masontown, PA (shipping/F.O.B. point), and St. Clair Shores and Sterling Heights, MI (corporate and legal).

Transfer Express has grown to nearly 350 employees and reports more than one million creators served since 1990. Recognition includes Inc. 500, 14-time NorthCoast 99 (Best Places to Work), and 23-time SGIA Safety Recognition awards. No external funding, M&A beyond the 2004 parent-subsidiary consolidation, or public listing is present in the data; the business is privately held within the GroupeSTAHL group.

Name

Stahls' Transfer Express

Legal name

Transfer Express, Inc.

Website

https://transferexpress.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Stahls' Transfer Express is a U.S. manufacturer of custom heat-applied screen printed and DTF transfers, equipment, and blank apparel serving apparel decorators, schools, sports teams, and small businesses across North America through a self-serve e-commerce platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Heat Transfers & Apparel Decoration Supplies

NAICS

Commercial Screen Printing (323113), Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) (323111), Converted Paper Product Manufacturing (3222)

SIC

Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555), Wholesale-Apparel, Piece Goods & Notions (5130), Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110)

akta.pro primary industry

Large-Format & Specialty Printing (Signage, Posters, Displays) (MPAJALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Prepress, Plate-Making & Artwork Services (IMALAKAM), Sportswear Customization & Printing Retail (CRAMACAK), Finishing, Converting & Die-Cutting Services (IMALAKAN)

Keywords

• Custom heat transfers
• Screen printed transfers
• DTF printing
• Apparel decoration supplies
• Heat press equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mentor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Heat Transfer Sales: Manufacture and sale of custom heat applied transfers including screen printed transfers (Goof Proof, Hot Split Retro, Elasti Prints), specialty inks (Puff, Glow-in-the-Dark, Reflective, AquaTru, Silicone), DTF transfers (UltraColor Max), and hybrid transfers (UltraColor Pro, UltraColor Stretch). One-time purchase per order based on quantity and customization.
2. Blank Apparel Sales: Sale of blank apparel including Champion, Port Authority, Port & Company, Sport-Tek brands for t-shirts, sweatshirts, sportswear, caps, bags, activewear, youth, women's, polos, outerwear, workwear, and accessories
3. Heat Press Equipment Sales: Sale of heat press machines and accessories including Stahls' MerchMaker, MAXX 250, Hotronix Auto Open Clam, Hotronix 360 IQ Hat Press, Craft Heat Press, A2Z Swing Away, and related accessories
4. Affiliate Program: 15% commission per sale through affiliate marketing partnerships

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Transfer Express manufactures and sells custom heat-applied transfers — including screen printed, DTF (Direct to Film), and hybrid digital transfers — along with emblems, patches, heat transfer vinyl, heat press equipment, and wholesale blank apparel. Its products enable apparel decorators, t-shirt businesses, sports teams, schools, and small/mid-market brands to produce custom decorated apparel without owning screen printing equipment. Customers design orders through the Easy View® Online Designer with AI Assist artwork processing and receive products via direct-to-business e-commerce shipping across North America.

Product overview

Transfer Express is a custom heat-applied transfer manufacturer and supplier operating since 1990, offering a comprehensive product portfolio organized into several categories: (1) Screen Printed Transfers including Goof Proof®, Goof Proof Premium, Hot Split Retro, and Elasti Prints® for one-to-two color designs using plastisol inks; (2) Full Color Transfers including UltraColor MAX™ DTF (Direct to Film) transfers with AI Assist technology for automated artwork preparation, and hybrid options like UltraColor Pro™ and UltraColor Stretch™ combining digital and screen printing; (3) Specialty Transfers including Puff, Glow-in-the-Dark, Reflective, AquaTru®, and Silicone for premium finishes; (4) Names, Numbers & Stock including Express Names™ and Stock Screen Printed Numbers; (5) Emblems & Patches including Embroidered, Print Stitch, Leather, PVC, 3D Embroidered, and FlexStyle® emblems; (6) Heat Transfer Vinyl from Siser® and CAD-CUT® brands; (7) Heat Presses and Equipment including Stahls' MerchMaker™, MAXX®, and Hotronix® lines; (8) Design Tools including Easy View® Online Designer with 5,000+ layouts and 8,000 clip art options; and (9) Wholesale Blank Apparel. The company provides everything needed for custom apparel decoration through a heat press workflow.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Goof Proof® Screen Printed Transfers One- and two-color screen printed transfers using real plastisol inks; ships next day and applies in as little as 4 seconds with a heat press. Designed for apparel decorators, t-shirt businesses, and sports teams.
• Goof Proof® Premium Screen Printed Transfers Premium version of Goof Proof transfers offering superior quality and durability for professional screen printed results.
• Hot Split Retro Screen Printed Transfers Screen printed transfers providing vintage style and a soft-hand feel, ideal for retro-inspired apparel designs.
• Elasti Prints® Screen Printed Transfers Screen printed transfers designed for reliable prints on stretchable polyester performance wear, preventing scorching on stretchable fabrics.
• UltraColor MAX™ DTF Transfers Direct to film (DTF) heat transfers for low quantities with no minimums; full-color digitally printed transfers ready to apply with a heat press. Features AI Assist for one-click automated artwork preparation.
• UltraColor Pro™ Hybrid Digital Transfers Hybrid transfers combining digital and screen printing to deliver full-color designs at more affordable prices for larger runs.
• UltraColor Stretch™ Hybrid Digital Transfers Hybrid digital transfers specifically designed for stretchable fabrics, combining digital and screen printing techniques.
• Puff Screen Printed Transfers Specialty screen printed transfers that create raised, 3D designs that can be seen and felt, adding dimension to apparel.
• Glow-in-the-Dark Screen Printed Transfers Specialty transfers that glow in darkness, designed for safety gear, fashion apparel, and novelty items.
• Reflective Screen Printed Transfers Specialty transfers creating high-visibility prints for safety gear and fashion apparel, reflecting light for visibility.
• AquaTru® Screen Printed Transfers Specialty transfers designed for decorating nylon, spandex, and sublimated fabrics with excellent adhesion.
• Silicone Screen Printed Transfers Specialty transfers for decorating sublimated polyester and stretch fabrics, providing a premium silicone finish.
• Express Names™ Screen printed name transfers for personalizing sports uniforms and custom apparel, applying names in a single easy application step.
• Stock Screen Printed Numbers Pre-made screen printed number transfers for sports uniforms and team apparel, available in standard sizes.
• Embroidered Patches Premium embroidered patches offering upscale branding for apparel, headwear, and hard goods with a professional look.
• Print Stitch Patches Patches combining printed and embroidered elements for unique branding applications.
• Genuine Leather Patches Premium genuine leather patches for upscale branding and premium apparel finishing.
• PVC Patches Durable PVC patches for outdoor and athletic apparel, offering weather-resistant branding.
• 3D Embroidered Patches Three-dimensional embroidered patches with raised design elements for distinctive branding.
• FlexStyle® Emblems Flexible emblem transfers that provide a premium look with the convenience of heat application.
• Siser® EasyWeed® Heat Transfer Vinyl Heat transfer vinyl (HTV) for custom apparel decoration using a heat press or iron.
• Siser® Glitter Heat Transfer Vinyl Glitter-finish heat transfer vinyl for adding sparkle and bling to apparel designs.
• CAD-CUT® Metallic Heat Transfer Vinyl Metallic-finish heat transfer vinyl for creating shiny, metallic effects on apparel.
• Stahls' MerchMaker™ Heat Press Entry-level heat press for starting a custom apparel business, providing reliable heat transfer application.
• MAXX® 250 Clam Heat Press Professional-grade clam-style heat press for high-volume heat printing operations.
• Hotronix® Auto Open Clam Heat Press Auto-open clam heat press featuring automatic opening after the pressing cycle, reducing operator fatigue and improving throughput.
• Hotronix® 360 IQ Hat Press Specialized heat press for applying transfers to hats and headwear with 360-degree rotation capability.
• Hotronix® Fusion IQ® Heat Press Combination heat press offering both swing-away and draw press motion in one unit, providing versatility for various applications.
• Wholesale Blank Apparel Wholesale blank apparel including T-shirts, sweatshirts, sportswear, caps, bags, activewear, youth wear, women's apparel, polos, outerwear, and workwear from brands like Champion, Port Authority, and District.
• Easy View® Online Designer Online design tool providing access to over 5,000+ custom layouts, 8,000 clip art options, and 250 fonts for creating custom transfer designs; available to registered users at no charge.

Quantifiable outcome

• Apply in as little as 4 seconds with heat press
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GroupeSTAHLcoreOthers · 1 January 2004Transfer Express became a wholly-owned subsidiary of GroupeSTAHL in 2004. GroupeSTAHL is the parent company overseeing Transfer Express and related entities including Stahls'.
• AwinminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwin is the affiliate marketing platform used by Transfer Express for their affiliate program. Affiliates earn 15% commission per sale through the Awin platform.
• ChampioncoreOthersTransfer Express is an authorized seller of Champion blank apparel products. Champion products must be sold only with embellishment and not shipped outside North America.
• Port Authority, Port & Company, Sport-Tek, and other Private Label BrandscoreOthersTransfer Express is an authorized seller of Port Authority, Port & Company, Sport-Tek, CornerStone, District, Volunteer Knitwear, Mercer+Mettle, Red House, and Allmade apparel and accessories as private label products.
• Rakuten AdvertisingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRakuten Advertising collects personal information for targeted advertising and marketing purposes on Transfer Express's digital properties.
• Stahls'coreOthersStahls' was founded in 1932 as Commercial Art Products. One of the founding partners of Transfer Express along with Weaver Screen Print. Known as a major leader in pre-cut and custom athletic numbers, letters, and logos for sports and custom apparel.
• Weaver Screen PrintcoreOthersFounded by Mark and Helen Weaver in 1978 in Mentor, Ohio. One of the founding partners of Transfer Express along with Stahls'. Fully transitioned to custom transfer products by 1988.
• HotronixcoreOthersHotronix is a brand of heat presses sold through Transfer Express, including Hotronix Auto Open Clam, Hotronix 360 IQ Hat Press, and Hotronix Fusion IQ. Stahls' Hotronix features swing-away and draw press motion.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CustomInk: CustomInk is a large direct-to-consumer custom apparel platform serving groups, businesses, and events with screen printed, embroidered, and DTG products. It overlaps with Transfer Express on the end-customer use case (custom decorated apparel) but operates a broader consumer-facing model.
• HIX Corporation: HIX Corporation manufactures heat press equipment and accessories for the apparel decoration industry, directly comparable to Transfer Express's Hotronix, MAXX, and Stahls' MerchMaker equipment lines. It serves the same decorator customer base.
• Stahls': Stahls' is the parent GroupeSTAHL brand and co-founding partner of Transfer Express, focused on pre-cut numbers, letters, logos, and full-service custom decoration for athletic and apparel customers. It addresses the same end market through a more enterprise/decorator-services motion.

Direct peers

• Condé Systems: Condé Systems is a long-standing supplier of dye sublimation, heat transfer, and digital decoration products to apparel decorators and personalization businesses. It is comparable in product range, customer profile, and direct-to-SMB e-commerce model.
• RushOrderTees: RushOrderTees is a custom t-shirt printing company specializing in fast-turnaround screen printing, embroidery, and digital decoration for groups, events, and businesses. It competes for the same SMB and event-driven custom apparel demand.
• Siser: Siser is a leading manufacturer of heat transfer vinyl (HTV) such as EasyWeed, sold through the same apparel decorator channel and even co-distributed via Transfer Express. It competes on the vinyl and craft customization side of the same workflow.
• Heat Transfer Warehouse: Heat Transfer Warehouse is a direct competitor selling custom screen printed and DTF heat transfers online to apparel decorators. It overlaps closely with Transfer Express on product mix, SMB customer base, and self-serve e-commerce model.
• Coastal Business Supplies: Coastal Business Supplies distributes custom transfers, sublimation supplies, blanks, and heat press equipment to apparel decoration businesses. Its product breadth and target SMB customer base closely mirror Transfer Express.
• Imprintables Warehouse: Imprintables Warehouse sells custom heat transfers, heat transfer vinyl, blanks, and heat press equipment to apparel decorators. It competes head-to-head with Transfer Express across product category, channel, and SMB target customer.

Emerging players

• Printful: Printful is a print-on-demand and drop-shipping platform for custom apparel, accessories, and home goods. It targets creators and small businesses with a different production model (DTG/digital) but intersects with Transfer Express's 1M+ creator customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/transferexpress
• Facebookfacebook.com/stahlstransferexpress

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stahls' Transfer Express