What Secabo does

Secabo is a German manufacturer and distributor of heat transfer presses, vinyl and DTF cutting plotters, and digital finishing equipment, sold under the Secabo brand by NEPATA Vertrieb GmbH, a private limited company headquartered in Wolnzach, Bavaria. The portfolio is organized around two core hardware lines — modular transfer presses (swing-away, clamshell, double-plate, cap, ball, mug, and pneumatic variants) and cutting plotters (entry-level T60 II, mid-range T60 III, dual-head BladeX2, sheet-fed SC30 II label cutter, and the DTF-focused MultiTrim Pro) — supported by a software ecosystem (DrawCut LITE/PRO, SignCut Productivity Pro Secabo Edition, the Smart Transfer App, and the newer Secabo Opus DTF gang-sheet builder) and a modular accessory range (Thermobase, membrane base plates, quick-change systems, switching plates, PTFE films, silicone mats).

The technology base rests on proprietary mechanical and electromechanical features: closed-loop servo motors, CCD-camera-based registration that works on transparent and reflective carriers, dual-head asynchronous cutting (kiss-cut plus through-cut in one pass), and a modular press architecture in which the heating plate, base plate, and controller can be swapped or upgraded over the life of the machine. Software integration with CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, and major RIP suites (Caldera, Colorgate, Ergosoft, Flexi, Digital Factory) is a core design choice.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales (€873 to €6,190 per machine), accessories and consumables (€11 to €648), and software licenses (DrawCut, mostly bundled). Go-to-market combines direct e-commerce on secabo.com (multilingual DE/EN/ES/FR/IT, shipping to ~45 countries via DHL/UPS/GLS/Dachser) with a global specialist-dealer (Fachhändler) network. Customers are predominantly SMB textile decorators, sign makers, advertising-technology shops, promotional-product producers, and an emerging base of DTF transfer producers.

Name

Secabo

Legal name

NEPATA Vertrieb GmbH

Website

https://secabo.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Secabo is a German manufacturer of heat transfer presses, cutting plotters, and DTF finishing systems, serving SMB textile decorators, sign makers, and promotional-product producers across roughly 45 countries via its own e-commerce store and a specialist dealer network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wohnbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Primary revenue stream from sale of transfer presses, cutting plotters, DTF cutters, label production systems, and related machinery. Products are sold directly through company website and through dealer network globally.
2. Software Licenses: DrawCut software sold in three editions: LITE (included with CIV and S series plotters), PRO (included with T series plotters, upgrade from LITE), and EXPERT. Voucher codes provided with hardware for license activation.
3. Accessories and Consumables: Wide range of accessories including switching plates, quick-change systems, silicone mats, PTFE protective films, membrane base plates, Thermobase heated plates, spare parts, and other consumables.
4. Spare Parts: Dedicated spare parts shop (spareparts.secabo.com) for replacement components and maintenance supplies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Secabo manufactures and sells transfer presses (clamp, swing, cap, ball, dual-plate, and large-format variants), cutting plotters (entry-level to dual-head professional systems), DTF cutters (MultiTrim Pro, MultiCut Pro), automatic label cutters (SC30 II), and mug/button production equipment. The portfolio is supported by proprietary software including DrawCut PRO, the Smart Transfer App, and the Secabo Opus production suite, plus a modular accessory ecosystem (Thermobase, quick-change plates, membrane base plates, PTFE films, silicone mats). Products are engineered in Germany and sold via a worldwide Fachhändler dealer network and direct e-commerce.

Product overview

Secabo is a German manufacturer of transfer presses and cutting plotters for textile decoration and sign making. The product portfolio is organized around two core hardware lines: (1) Transfer presses — including swing-away presses (TS7 SMART), clamshell presses (TC5/TC7 SMART and MEMBRAN variants), cap presses (TCC SMART), ball presses (TCB SMART), and double-plate presses (TD7 LITE); and (2) Cutting plotters — ranging from entry-level (T60 II with LAPOS Q) through professional (T60 III with Qaptur) to dual-head high-volume systems (BladeX2). Supporting product lines include DTF cutters (MultiTrim Pro, MultiCut Pro), label cutting (SC30 II), mug production (MugPro, MugWrap Station), and button manufacturing equipment. Secabo's software ecosystem includes DrawCut LITE (free, CIV/S series), DrawCut PRO (bundled, T-series), SignCut Productivity Pro Secabo Edition plugin, and the Secabo Smart Transfer App for SMART press control. Secabo Opus is a DTF gang sheet builder and production suite. Accessories include heated bases (TB7 Thermobase), membrane base plates, quick-change systems, exchangeable plates in multiple sizes, PTFE protection films, and silicone mats.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Secabo Opus: DTF Gang Sheet Builder & Print Production Suite - production software for textile decorators and advertising technology professionals.

Products and services

• Secabo TS7 SMART (Swing-Away Transfer Press) A swing-away transfer press with 40x50cm work area, automatic swing mechanism, up to 225°C, Bluetooth-enabled SMART controller for app-based operation, and a modular design supporting the quick-change and slide system. Designed for professional textile decorators and customization businesses requiring efficient swing-away workflow.
• Secabo TC7 SMART (Clamshell Transfer Press) A clamshell (Kniehebel) modular transfer press with 40x50cm work area and Bluetooth SMART controller for app-based control. Designed for professional textile decoration with quick-change plate compatibility.
• Secabo TC7 SMART MEMBRAN (Clamshell Press with Membrane Base Plate) A clamshell press equipped with the passive membrane base plate that distributes pressure evenly on uneven surfaces (seams, buttons, zippers) and prevents heat marks on sensitive fabrics. Includes both membrane and conventional base plates with Bluetooth SMART connectivity.
• Secabo TC5 SMART (Compact Clamshell Press) A compact clamshell (Kniehebel) transfer press with a 38x38cm work area and Bluetooth SMART controller for app-based operation. Designed for smaller textile decoration studios where compact footprint is important.
• Secabo TCC SMART (Automatic Cap Press) An automatic cap press with 15x8cm work area designed specifically for decorating baseball caps, hats, and similar headwear. Features auto-open mechanism, max 225°C, and Bluetooth SMART controller connectivity.
• Secabo TCB SMART (Ball Press) A ball heat press with 5x8cm work area designed for applying names, numbers, and logos onto sports balls (football, handball, basketball, American football). Features auto-open, max 220°C, and Bluetooth SMART connectivity.
• Secabo TD7 LITE (Semi-Automatic Dual-Plate Press) An entry-level semi-automatic dual-plate press with two 40x50cm work areas, modular Lite controller, max 250°C, and the Secabo modular upgrade path. Enables simultaneous press-and-prepare workflow that boosts throughput for small to mid-volume textile decoration producers.
• Secabo BladeX2 (Dual-Head Cutting Plotter) A professional dual-head cutting plotter that performs simultaneous kiss-cut (partial) and through-cut (full) operations in a single pass, eliminating tool changes. Equipped with CCD camera mark recognition for transparent media, closed-loop servo motors reaching 1,200 mm/s, and WiFi/LAN/USB connectivity. Reduces cycle time by up to 50% versus single-head plotters.
• Secabo T60 II with LAPOS Q (Entry-Level Professional Cutting Plotter) An entry-level professional cutting plotter with LAPOS Q sequential mark recognition, servo motor up to 960 mm/s, max 61cm cutting width, 720mm media width, USB connectivity, and DrawCut PRO software bundled. Targets signage businesses requiring reliable contour cutting.
• Secabo T60 III (Professional Cutting Plotter) A professional cutting plotter with Qaptur registration mark recognition and QR-code automatic job detection that enables serial production switching without operator intervention. The T60 III delivers 40% higher cutting speeds than its T60 II predecessor and includes bundled DrawCut PRO software.
• Secabo MultiTrim Pro (DTF Film Trimming System) A high-speed DTF film trimming system for DTF rolls, sublimation transfers, and label rolls. Uses intelligent film tracking with real-time cut path correction to reduce material waste by up to 95%. Supports widths up to 880mm and is compatible with Fotoba and Saga cut-mark systems.
• Secabo SC30 II (Automatic Sheet-Fed Label Cutting Plotter) An automatic sheet-fed cutting plotter designed for label and card production. Features ARMS camera for mark recognition, QR code-based automatic job assignment, servo motors for quiet high-speed operation, perforation mode for tear lines, and USB/Ethernet/WLAN connectivity.
• Secabo MugPro (Mug Press) A dedicated mug press for applying sublimation transfers onto ceramic mugs. Targeted at promotional product specialists and personalization businesses serving the corporate gifts and merchandise market.
• Secabo MugWrap Station (Mug Wrap Station) A wrap-around transfer station for continuous sublimation transfer onto cylindrical objects such as mugs and bottles. Designed for higher-throughput personalized mug production in promotional product workshops.
• Secabo Button Machines Button (badge) manufacturing machines and matching cutting dies for producing custom badges and buttons. Served by a dedicated product category on secabo.com and supported through the same dealer network and direct e-commerce channel.
• DrawCut Software (LITE / PRO / EXPERT Editions) A professional cutting software family offered in three editions: DrawCut LITE (bundled free with CIV and S series plotters), DrawCut PRO (bundled with T series plotters, upgrade from LITE), and DrawCut EXPERT (standalone purchase). Features LAPOS XPT multi-registration mark recognition, text on path, shadow effects, font merging, bitmap vectorization, and direct plugin integration with CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. Sold via one-time and subscription licensing with voucher codes included with hardware.
• Secabo Smart Transfer App (Mobile Control App) A free mobile app available on iOS and Android for controlling Secabo SMART transfer presses over Bluetooth. Includes a transfer parameter database of pre-tested fabric and material combinations, manual and comfort operating modes, job saving/management, and multi-press control. Replaces traditional controller interfaces with a tablet/smartphone-driven workflow.
• Secabo Opus (DTF Gang Sheet Builder and Print Production Suite) A web-based production suite and DTF Gang Sheet Builder that integrates job management through to print-ready output for textile decorators and advertising technology professionals. Available as a sub-brand at opus.secabo.com.
• SignCut Productivity Pro Secabo Edition (Plugin) A cut-optimization plugin extension for Adobe Illustrator on Mac (from OS 10.3) and for CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator, and Inkscape on Windows. Supports 19 languages and provides cut optimization, blade offset correction, and cut preview for Secabo plotters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 95% waste reduction with MultiTrim Pro through intelligent film tracking
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DrawCutcoreTechnology or IntegrationDrawCut is the included software solution for Secabo cutting plotters. Available in three editions (LITE, PRO, EXPERT) with voucher codes included with plotter purchases. Provides registration mark detection, vectorization, and direct plugin integration with CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator.
• CorelDRAWcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecabo plotters include plugins for CorelDRAW, enabling direct workflow integration for design and cutting operations.
• Adobe IllustratorcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecabo plotters include plugins for Adobe Illustrator, enabling direct workflow integration for design and cutting operations.
• Shopware AGcoreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform provider for secabo.com online shop. Joint responsibility for analytics and customer data processing.
• DTF-SchmiedeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLinked as partner for DTF Transfers, offering complementary products/services for DTF (Direct to Film) printing workflow.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HIX Corporation: HIX designs and manufactures heat-transfer presses for the apparel and promotional-products industry. Its swing-away and clamshell presses are a direct competitive alternative to Secabo's modular transfer press line.
• HeatPress Nation: HeatPress Nation is a major US-based retailer and distributor of heat presses, vinyl cutters, DTF and sublimation equipment, competing with Secabo across heat presses (including against its SMART and TD7 LITE lines) and finishing consumables.
• Graphtec: Graphtec manufactures professional cutting plotters (CE series) widely used in sign-making and apparel decoration. Its high-end cutting plotters compete head-to-head with Secabo's T60 III and BladeX2 in advertising-technology shops.
• Hotronix: Hotronix manufactures heat-transfer presses widely used by apparel decorators; its clamshell, swing-away and cap presses compete directly with Secabo's TC, TS, TCC and TCB SMART product families in textile decoration shops.
• Stahls' (GroupeSTAHL): Stahls' is a US-based leading manufacturer and distributor of heat-transfer equipment, materials and supplies, with a comparable product line of heat presses, cutting systems, vinyl, and custom apparel finishing tools — directly competing with Secabo across both hardware and consumables.

Emerging players

• Siser: Siser is a global heat-transfer vinyl (HTV) manufacturer whose material ecosystem is consumed on heat presses including Secabo machines. While primarily a materials supplier, Siser increasingly offers cutting/finishing tools that partially overlap with Secabo's plotter and accessory business.
• Vevor: Vevor is a large Chinese-origin low-cost retailer of industrial and finishing equipment (heat presses, vinyl cutters, DTF equipment) that competes directly with Secabo at the lower end of the market, putting pricing pressure on Secabo's entry-tier products.
• Silhouette America: Silhouette America makes consumer/prosumer cutting machines (Cameo, Portrait) used by craft and small-business decorators. It overlaps with Secabo's entry-level T60 II plotter segment, though Silhouette targets a lighter hobbyist and prosumer user than Secabo's professional core.

Broad incumbents

• Brother (ScanNCut): Brother's ScanNCut product line competes in the entry-level craft and small-business cutting machine category. While primarily consumer-focused, it represents alternative demand for small-format cutting that Secabo addresses at the prosumer/professional boundary.
• Roland DG: Roland DG is a global incumbent in cutting plotters and digital printing, offering vinyl cutters (CAMM-1 series) that overlap with Secabo's T60 and BladeX2 plotters in the signage and graphics market, alongside a much broader print hardware portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/secabo
• Facebookfacebook.com/secabo.signmaking
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/secabo-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Secabo