The Queensland T-shirt Company (QTCo) is a leading name in Australia’s promotional merchandise industry. Based in Brisbane and backed by more than 30 years of experience, the business has evolved from a fashion agency into a dynamic print-on-demand powerhouse. Today, QTCo serves both corporate and consumer markets across Asia-Pacific, producing everything from custom apparel and mugs to posters, magnets, and stickers — all from one centralised location.
A major catalyst for this transformation has been Canon’s Colorado M-series printer, powered by UVgel technology.
The Challenge
As QTCo looked to diversify its offerings and explore new revenue streams, the team identified a growing demand for personalised, non-textile products — such as stickers, magnets, and posters. This wasn’t a refinement of an existing process, but rather a bold step into a completely new product category.
The challenge was to find a solution that could support this new direction: one that offered high-quality output, fast turnaround, and the flexibility to handle a wide range of media — all while enabling large-scale fulfilment from a single location.
The Solution
After evaluating several technologies, the Canon Colorado stood out for its speed, print quality, and media versatility. The team was particularly impressed by its ability to deliver both gloss and matte finishes in a single pass, without complex setup.
Installation and onboarding were seamless. Canon’s technical team had the machine fully operational in two days, and training was delivered smoothly. Ongoing support has further reinforced QTCo’s confidence in the investment.
The Results
Canon’s UVgel technology has empowered QTCo to launch an entirely new product line — expanding their business beyond textiles and into high-volume, personalised merchandise. Key benefits include:
- New business opportunities: Entry into the sticker, magnet, and poster market with in-house production
- Faster turnaround: Rapid fulfilment capabilities for short-run and high-volume jobs
- Exceptional output quality: Vivid colours, sharp detail, and consistent finishes
- Creative flexibility: Gloss and matte effects in a single print job
- Operational reliability: A robust platform built for deadline-driven environments
The team is also exploring advanced features like spot colour and custom profiling to further enhance their creative offerings.
The Canon Partnership
Canon’s support extended well beyond installation. From transparent pre-sale conversations to post-installation check-ins, QTCo values the ongoing relationship and reliability of the Canon team.
As QTCo continues to grow, Canon’s Colorado is proving to be more than just a printer — it’s a strategic enabler of their expansion into new markets and product categories.
“QTCo is a great example of how the right technology, paired with a future-focused mindset, can completely transform a business model. We’re proud to support their journey.” Steven Badger, Head of Sales & Professional Services at Canon Production Printing
Looking Ahead
With a new facility in development and an expanding customer base, QTCo is well-positioned to scale further — powered by Canon’s technology and a strong commitment to innovation, flexibility, and service excellence.
