GJS sells Australia’s first ROQ IMPRESS DTF printer

The Ministry of Shirts, based in Queensland, has secured Australia’s first ROQ IMPRESS automatic DTF heat transfer press, alongside the complementary ROQ FEED module.

The sale was announced from the GJS stand on the show floor at PacPrint on day three.

The ROQ IMPRESS is the latest innovation in ROQ’s growing portfolio of digital, automated solutions explicitly developed for direct-to-film (DTF) heat transfer processes. The system secured by The Ministry of Shirts also includes the ROQ FEED, an automatic loading device that efficiently positions DTF transfers onto garments. Together, these offer a high-speed, high-production, highly automated workflow, reducing manual labour requirements and improving quality control.

“Australian garment decorators are increasingly recognising the importance of automation to maintain competitiveness and ensure consistent product quality,” says Greg Stone, managing director, GJS. “By securing the first ROQ IMPRESS system in Australia, complete with ROQ FEED, The Ministry of Shirts will be future proofing its operations and setting a new benchmark for what’s possible in high-volume DTF production,” Stone adds.

With costs in Australia rising, apparel decorators are re-evaluating their production workflows. Printers need to find smarter, more scalable ways to meet client demand. In this environment, GJS says, automation is no longer a luxury; it’s a strategic necessity. Technologies like the ROQ IMPRESS, coupled with the ROQ FEED, allow businesses to maintain output and quality while reducing manual touchpoints and improving operational efficiency.

The Ministry of Shirts has quickly built a national reputation for delivering sustainable, high-quality custom apparel to customers across Australia. The company specialises in screen printing and embroidery and caters to a diverse range of clients, from corporate organisations and local businesses to schools, breweries, sports apparel, churches, and community groups.
“In addition to screen printing, we have had DTF for a while now and have found it to be a complementary option for our customers with varying colour requirements and order sizes. The problem has always been how to press fast enough to make it a sustainable option in a high-end commercial environment.

“The ROQ IMPRESS solves that problem in one go. To acquire a DTF press that can keep up with our traditional inked automatics is a dream for any print shop, and means we can offer our customers faster turnaround and best value colour prints on smaller runs,” says Sam Austin-Miner, co-founder and Director at The Ministry of Shirts.
With its new ROQ IMPRESS, The Ministry of Shirts will be positioned to increase production capabilities dramatically. The 8-platten ROQ IMPRESS can press up to 500 garments per hour, with precise control over heat, time, and pressure parameters. The addition of the ROQ FEED automates a labour-intensive stage of the DTF process, placing the printed DTF film on each garment, creating a faster and more consistent production workflow and output.

“Adding another auto to a print shop is always a daunting process. Not least because it means training up a new team to run a new press, and that takes time as well as increases the cost of overhead in personnel; but what excites me most about the ROQ IMPRESS is that it means we can add a complimentary technology that can match the speed of our automatics. This means we can keep our key screen printers happy with their skillset being used on what they do best,” Austin-Miner says. The Ministry of Shirts' investment indicates Australia's continued appetite for ROQ technology.

Since becoming the brand's exclusive distributor in Australia and New Zealand in late 2023, GJS has seen strong, consistent growth in interest in ROQ, with several major installation sites around the country.
“The decision by The Ministry of Shirts to embrace this full suite of ROQ automation speaks volumes about the direction of DTF printing in Australia. Automation is no longer an optional extra; it’s an imperative for businesses that want to thrive in today’s competitive garment decoration market,” adds Stone.

Visitors to PacPrint 2025 can see ROQ IMPRESS in action on the GJS stand until the show closes on Friday, May 23. The printer and automation units will move to their new home at The Ministry of Shirts on Monday, June 26. Austin-Miner says the machine will be “hitting the ground running”, as there is plenty of work lined up and ready to go.