Livingston Systems
Livingston Systems is a Denver-based, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1989 that designs patented platens, hold-down systems, and the TagBot automated tagging system for screen printing, DTG, heat press, and DTF garment decoration shops worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersDenver, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Livingston Systems does
Livingston Systems is a Denver, Colorado-based manufacturer founded in 1989 that designs and builds specialized holding equipment and platens for the garment decoration industry. The company's core technology centers on patented garment-holding solutions that eliminate the need for adhesives, hoops, or rings during printing. Its product portfolio spans four decoration processes - screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG), heat press, and direct-to-film (DTF) - and includes the TucLoc system, the TagBot automated tagging system, Hat Champ, Sports Champ, Pocket Champ, Sleevie Wonder, Hipster, NeckSys, and the 2024-launched 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen. Products are engineered to be compatible with virtually every major press brand on the market, including M&R, ROQ, MHM, Riley Hopkins, Workhorse, Anatol, Hotronix, Geo Knight, Epson, Brother, OmniPrint, and DTG Brand.
The business model is predominantly hardware sales of equipment, platens, and replacement consumables such as TucLoc rubber and Hat Champ foam pads. Revenue is split across three channels: direct e-commerce via the company website, an authorized dealer network covering the US and UK (including Grimco, Ryonet, Nazdar, ColDesi, Lawson Screen Products, and Kornit Digital), and OEM/embedded partnerships where platens are bundled with printer manufacturers' sales. Pricing ranges from roughly $13 in consumables up to $14,000 for a TagBot base system plus $600 per pallet, with the bulk of units priced between $108 and $862.
Ownership transitioned from founders John and Carol Livingston to their son Darren Livingston, a Purdue-trained engineer who has added six patents to the portfolio and driven expansion from screen printing into DTG, heat press, and DTF categories. The company remains a private LLC operating with between one and ten employees, with the 2021 Pinnacle InterTech Award from Printing United Alliance standing as its highest-profile industry recognition. Geographic reach is concentrated in the US and UK, with no funding events or institutional investment disclosed.
Livingston Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Livingston Systems
- Legal name
- Livingston Systems, LLC
- Website
- https://livingstonsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Livingston Systems is a Denver-based, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1989 that designs patented platens, hold-down systems, and the TagBot automated tagging system for screen printing, DTG, heat press, and DTF garment decoration shops worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Livingston Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Garment Printing Equipment
- SIC
- Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE)
Keywords
Where Livingston Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Denver
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Livingston Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Equipment and Platens Sales: Livingston Systems generates revenue primarily from the sale of garment printing equipment and accessories including TagBot systems, TucLoc platens, Hat Champ products, and other specialized platens for screen printing, DTG, heat press, and DTF applications. Products are sold through direct e-commerce, authorized dealers, and distributor networks.
- Replacement Parts and Accessories: Sale of replacement parts including TucLoc rubber replacements, foam pads, brackets, and other consumables and accessories for their equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TagBot System - Base Cost |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | TucLoc Platen Bundles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hat Champ Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Tag Along Pallets (Manual Press) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Heat Press Products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | DTF Products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Livingston Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Livingston Systems designs, patents and manufactures specialty platens and garment holding systems for the decorated apparel industry. Its products are used by screen printing, direct to garment (DTG), heat press and direct to film (DTF) shops to speed production, eliminate adhesives, and enable simultaneous multi-location printing on a single press rotation. The lineup includes the automated TagBot system, the patented TucLoc DTG holding system, and a family of specialty platens such as Hat Champ, Sports Champ, Pocket Champ, Sleevie Wonder, Hipster, NeckSys and the 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen.
Product overview
Livingston Systems is a manufacturer of garment decorating equipment specializing in innovative holding solutions for the decorated apparel industry. The company operates as a single unified product line focused on time-saving platens and hold-down equipment for screen printing, direct to garment (DTG), heat press, and direct to film (DTF) printing processes. The core products include: the TagBot automated neck tagging system for automatic screen presses, Tag Along manual pallets for manual screen presses and heat presses, TucLoc garment holding system for DTG printers, and specialized printing platens (Hat Champ, Sports Champ, Pocket Champ, Sleevie Wonder, Hipster). The company also offers NeckSys for combined neck tag and chest printing, and 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen for DTF printing. Products are designed to integrate with major press manufacturers including M&R, ROQ, MHM, Riley Hopkins, Workhorse, Anatol, Hotronix, Geo Knight, Epson, Brother, OmniPrint, DTG Brand, and Direct Color Systems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- TagBot® Automated System Patented automated 3-part system (Tag Along pallets, print head adapter, and auto loader/unloader) for automatic screen presses that enables neck tag printing concurrently with the main chest graphic in one press rotation. Reduces neck tag production time by 50% and supports up to 100 shirts per minute for automatic screen printing shops.
- Tag Along® Pallet Manual version of the TagBot pallet for manual screen presses. Patented dual printing surfaces enable printing neck tags and chest graphics simultaneously. Available in Universal (Riley Hopkins) and Slide-Style (M&R, Workhorse, Anatol) brackets for decorated apparel screen printers.
- Tag Along® HP Platen Patented heat press platen for Hotronix (Maxx Clam, Auto Clam, Hover Press, Fusion IQ, Air Fusion IQ, Dual Air Fusion IQ) and post-2015 Geo Knight 16x20 inch threadable heat presses, enabling simultaneous front graphic and tagless label application in one step. Sold exclusively through Hotronix and Geo Knight dealer networks.
- Sleevie Wonder™ Platen Patent pending platen enabling simultaneous left and right sleeve printing while printing the front or back of a garment. Available in Universal and Slide-Style brackets, with or without Tag Along, for up to four print locations per press load on manual screen presses.
- Hipster™ Platen Patent pending platen for printing hip graphics while printing the front or back of a garment. Available in Universal and Slide-Style brackets in multiple sizes (12x17, 14x17, 16x17, 18x17 short and 12x20, 14x20, 16x20, 18x20 long) for screen printing operations.
- Hat Champ® SP Series Hat printing system for screen printing presses featuring interchangeable platens with a pull-and-lock mechanism that holds caps securely for multi-color printing without adhesive. Includes removable foam pads (standard and grooved for seamed caps) and fits most screen printing presses without special screens.
- Hat Champ® DTG Hat printing platen for Direct to Garment printers with pull-and-lock system that holds caps flat for printing. Interchangeable platens for various cap types, compatible with Epson and OmniPrint DTG printers.
- Sports Champ® Screen printing system for mesh shorts, umbrellas, and odd-shaped or multi-layered substrates. Features replaceable aluminum platens and an adjustable tension latching system, available in Large (7.5x7.5 in) and Small (4x4 in) platen sizes.
- Pocket Champ® Screen printing attachment for pockets and koozies that slides onto an existing platen with a thumb screw, providing a 4x4 inch printing area for printing on garment pockets and koozies.
- TucLoc® System Patented garment holding system for Direct to Garment printers. Eliminates the need for adhesives, rings, or hoops by tucking the garment between two rubber pads that accommodate thick or thin materials. Provides a secure hold that removes wrinkles and gives printing heads an unobstructed path.
- NeckSys™ DTG Platen DTG platen enabling simultaneous front chest graphic and inside neck tag printing on the same platen. Features a self-centering neck guide and rotating tag platen built on the patented TucLoc holding system. Compatible with Epson SureColor F2000, F2100, F2270, F3070 and Brother GTX-422, GTXpro, GTXproB, and GTX600 Series.
- TucLoc® Gripper Kit for Brother GT Garment holding accessory kit for Brother GT printers. Includes two 15 inch channels, two 9 inch channels, and industrial strength adhesive; fits the 14x16 inch Adult Platen for printing on long and short sleeves on Brother GT DTG hardware.
- 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen Patent pending multi-size vacuum platen for direct to film printing. Offers frustration-free single sheet DTF printing with three size options (A3, 14x16, 16x20) selected by the slide of a lever, eliminating tape, accidental film slips and curling. Compatible with Epson SureColor F2100, F2270, F3070 and Brother GTXpro and GTX600.
- M&R Pallet Adapter Adapter that enables use of M&R-style slide pallets on Riley Hopkins manual presses. Low-profile design prevents pallet and press arm damage; available in 1 inch and 3/4 inch offsets, sold in sets of 1, 2, 4 or 6.
- DTG T-Grip® Platens Custom platens for DTG printers built on TucLoc technology. Multiple configurations available upon request for quote, designed for custom DTG printer installations.
- M&R Maverick TucLoc® Platens TucLoc garment holding platens designed specifically for M&R Maverick DTG printers. Available in multiple size options including 10x12 in, 14x12 in, 14x16 in, 16x20 in, and extension platens.
- Replacement TucLoc Rubber Replacement rubber components for TucLoc pallets, available in Ribbed, Round, or Both types. Sold by length in feet for ongoing maintenance of installed TucLoc systems.
- Hat Champ® Foam Pads Replacement foam pads for Hat Champ platens, including standard foam and grooved foam for seamed six panel caps. Used for ongoing maintenance of installed Hat Champ systems.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50% reduction in tag print production time with TagBot
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Livingston Systems
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Livingston Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration21 records
Feature5 records
Livingston Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered major, exclusive, minor and notable.
- GrimcomajorNational screen printing dealer offering Livingston Systems products across the US and UK markets.
- Ryonet CorporationmajorMajor screen printing supply dealer based in Washington state offering Livingston Systems products.
- NazdarmajorScreen printing supplies dealer operating in CA, FL, GA, IL, KS, OH offering Livingston products.
- Hotronix/StahlsexclusiveExclusive distribution partnership for Tag Along HP platen for Hotronix and Geo Knight heat presses. Products sold exclusively through Hotronix dealer network.
- BrothermajorBrother GTXpro and GTX600 compatible products including NeckSys and 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen. Products available through Brother partner portal.
- EpsonmajorSureColor F2000, F2100, F2270, F3070 compatible TucLoc platens, NeckSys, Hat Champ DTG, and DTF products. Strong product line for Epson DTG printers.
- OmniPrintmajorFreeJet 330TX, 500TX, and 700TX compatible TucLoc platens. Products sold exclusively through OmniPrint distributors.
- Kornit DigitalminorDTG dealer offering Livingston Systems products in their distribution network.
- ColDesimajorDTG Brand dealer offering DTG Brand M Series compatible TucLoc platens.
- Printing United AlliancenotableAwarding body for the Pinnacle InterTech Award that Livingston Systems received in 2021.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Livingston Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vastex: Vastex manufactures screen printing equipment, platens, and hold-down accessories for the same SMB decorated apparel customers as Livingston Systems, including manual and automatic presses, dryers, and exposure units — making it a direct competitor in hold-down and platen equipment.
- ROQ International: ROQ makes automatic screen printing presses and accessories used by many of the same shops that buy Livingston TagBot products. Compatibility with ROQ presses is explicitly listed in Livingston's product integrations, making ROQ a close peer in the decorated apparel equipment category.
- Workhorse Products: Workhorse manufactures manual screen printing presses and accessories, including Riley Hopkins, and competes directly with Livingston for SMB shop budgets. Livingston's Tag Along pallets are sold in a Slide-Style bracket version explicitly for Workhorse manual presses.
- M&R Companies: M&R is the leading manufacturer of automatic screen printing presses and offers its own ecosystem of platens, pallets, and hold-down accessories — directly overlapping with Livingston's TagBot, Tag Along, Sleevie Wonder, Hipster, Hat Champ, and Pocket Champ product range on the same M&R press platforms.
- Riley Hopkins: Riley Hopkins (a Workhorse Products brand) sells manual screen printing presses used by the same entry-level decorated apparel shops that adopt Livingston Tag Along universal brackets. Riley Hopkins is an overlapping channel and product ecosystem for SMB print shops.
- ColDesi: ColDesi sells DTG Brand printers and distributes Livingston Systems products to the same DTG shop customer base. ColDesi is comparable as both a sales channel and as a competing supplier of DTG platens and DTF equipment for SMB apparel decoration shops.
- MHM (Siebdruck): MHM is a European manufacturer of automatic screen printing presses and accessories that compete with Livingston on hold-down solutions and specialty platens for the same high-volume print shop end market.
- Anatol Equipment: Anatol produces automatic and manual screen printing presses for the same decorated apparel shop customer base. Livingston's Slide-Style bracket pallets are designed for Anatol manual presses, indicating Anatol competes for shop capex and complementary accessory wallet share.
Broad incumbents
- Kornit Digital: Kornit is a DTG printer OEM that distributes Livingston accessories through its dealer network while also selling its own integrated platen and print solutions. The company is comparable as a DTG platform incumbent serving the same decorated apparel shop customer.
- Hotronix (Stahls'): Hotronix, the heat press brand of Stahls', is both an exclusive distribution partner for Livingston's Tag Along HP platen and a broader equipment OEM in the apparel decoration category. Hotronix competes with complementary heat-press accessory offerings and serves the same heat press shop customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Livingston Systems social profiles
Digital presenceLivingston Systems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Livingston Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Livingston Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Livingston Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Livingston Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Livingston Systems
What does Livingston Systems do?
Livingston Systems designs, patents and manufactures specialty platens and garment holding systems for the decorated apparel industry. Its products are used by screen printing, direct to garment (DTG), heat press and direct to film (DTF) shops to speed production, eliminate adhesives, and enable simultaneous multi-location printing on a single press rotation. The lineup includes the automated TagBot system, the patented TucLoc DTG holding system, and a family of specialty platens such as Hat Champ, Sports Champ, Pocket Champ, Sleevie Wonder, Hipster, NeckSys and the 3-in-1 DTF Vacuum Platen.
Is Livingston Systems a public or private company?
Livingston Systems is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Livingston Systems founded?
Livingston Systems was founded in 1989. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Livingston Systems based?
Livingston Systems is headquartered in Denver, United States, in the North America region.
How does Livingston Systems make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Equipment and Platens Sales are the primary driver. The others are replacement Parts and Accessories.
Who are Livingston Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vastex, ROQ International, Workhorse Products, M&R Companies, Riley Hopkins, ColDesi, MHM (Siebdruck) and Anatol Equipment. Broad incumbents are Kornit Digital and Hotronix (Stahls').
Does Livingston Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for Livingston Systems.
What industry is Livingston Systems in?
Livingston Systems's product category is Garment Printing Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAOAE, Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems. Its SIC code is 3555.