DANVERS, Mass. — Inkcups is celebrating its 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of advancements in pad printing, digital inkjet technology and direct-to-object decoration.
The company commemorated the milestone with a late-summer employee boat cruise in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and industry activities showcasing its latest equipment. The anniversary also coincides with two awards for its recently introduced Helix High Throw UV cylindrical inkjet printer.
Founded by Benjamin Adner, Inkcups began with the sale of a patented universal ink cup and ceramic rings. The company has since expanded into an international equipment manufacturer with 29 offices worldwide, serving industries ranging from apparel and promotional products to packaging and industrial manufacturing.
From Pad Printing to Direct-to-Object Technology
Throughout its history, Inkcups has introduced technologies designed to improve printing efficiency and expand decoration capabilities.
Among its early milestones was the 2006 introduction of the Cobalt 1000, the company’s first laser platemaker for pad printing applications.
In 2008, Inkcups introduced the B100 single-color pad printer, which helped advance tagless garment labeling. The company followed with its first inkjet printer for promotional products in 2010 and the XJET conveyorized industrial inkjet printer in 2012.
Another major milestone came in 2016 with the introduction of the Helix cylindrical direct-to-object inkjet printer, expanding opportunities for digital decoration on drinkware and other cylindrical products.
The Helix product family has since grown to include the Double Helix, Helix+, Helix ONE and Helix High Throw. According to Inkcups, Helix printers now operate in 20 countries across five continents.
Helix High Throw Earns Industry Recognition
The company’s anniversary year also marks a decade since the original Helix printer launched.
In 2026, Inkcups introduced the Helix High Throw UV cylindrical inkjet printer, designed to accommodate variations in height and irregular shapes on cylindrical and conical products.
The new system received two industry honors this year: a Pinnacle Technology Award in the United States and a Print Industry Award in the United Kingdom.
The recognition follows several earlier awards for Inkcups technologies, including its XJET Switch flatbed UV printer, Nano Pin Curing technology and Lustre Effect printing technique.
“When I started Inkcups 25 years ago, I believed that the best way to build a lasting company was to listen closely to our customers and solve the production challenges others overlooked,” said Adner, Inkcups’ founder.
He added that the company’s experience in pad printing and adhesion technology helped drive its expansion into direct-to-object digital printing.
“Twenty-five years later, the entrepreneurial spirit that founded Inkcups still drives us and continues to make me excited about the future of direct-to-object printing,” Adner said.
