A kaleidoscope of opportunity

Since the invention of digital printing it has continued to steadily increase in dominance, offering users on-demand printing with short turnaround times. However, it is wise not to forget more traditional methods of printing, such as screen printing, not only because it is interesting to look back at how printing was done before digital came along, but also because these methods still offer a whole host of benefits that might make you think twice about digital printing.

Despite major growth in exciting sectors such as textile printing and vehicle wrapping, screen printing still stakes its place in the market. Two exhibitions in particular see its relevance in the form of FESPA and the InPrint Show. The former runs its ‘Screen Printing Now’ conference, which celebrates screen printing and allows delegates to see how the process is developing. The latter is a mecca for industrial applications of screen printing, which are one of its key growth areas due to the need for ultra-high quality and durable products.
 
Taking a closer look at the advantages of screen printing, a technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink onto a substrate rather than printing from a digital image, a handful of experts in the field have their own thoughts.

Robin McMillan, product manager, industrial and graphics Europe, screen division at Sun Chemical, comments: “The screen printing process itself may not offer any distinct advantages over digital print, although it is a very adaptable process, which can print directly onto almost anything, including very large 3D objects.

“What perhaps sets screen printing apart is its adaptability and the vast number of inks and fluids that can be deposited during the process, through largely existing equipment. Screen printing offers the ability to print hugely variable film weights from high to low, using multiple ink particle sizes. Also, there are a huge number of inks at your disposal that demonstrate high chemical and mechanical durability, allow for the creation of functional materials, and offer very wide ranging adhesion, various flow and rheology characteristics. Finally these inks can be dried by a wide variety of methods and all at, usually, a relatively low initial investment.”

Sun Chemical produces printing inks and pigments, as well as materials. The company has a wide range of inks and screen consumables that can be used for POS, display, and graphics applications, including universal inks for screen graphic applications.



McMillan notes that its inks and consumables are also popular in other industries: “At Sun Chemical we also offer inks and other consumables to a multitude of functional, industrial, and speciality markets ranging from automotive applications to printed electronic materials, and glass decorative coatings to inks for credit and debit cards.”



Forgotten technology

Jo Bentley, new product development at Contra Vision, describes screen printing as a ‘forgotten technology’, and notes the benefits of screen printing see-through graphics and printing with white ink.

Bentley says: “Changes in technology mean that inkjet printing has taken over much of the projects that would once have been delivered by screen printing, which means it can sometimes feel like a forgotten technology.
 
However, screen printing has many advantages over inkjet printing, especially when white ink is used.

“Window graphics are an important element in the marketing mix, and whether producing see-through or solid graphics, the back-up of a white ink layer is essential to ensure the desired image has impact when applied inside. In the rush to embrace the newest technology, printers can forget that, even with advances in kit printing white, the modern UV inkjet printer is typically slow and expensive in this area.”


Bentley advises companies looking to increase profit and speed up the print process to offer screen printing of backing layers for window graphics, typically white or white and black over inkjet printed images, as part of their service offering.

Sometimes, digital and screen can even work in harmony. Bentley continues: “Increasingly we are seeing examples where an image is printed digitally, and then the white and black layers are screen printed over the top. There is no registration involved, as the backing layers are simply ‘flood coated’ over the image.”

Contra Vision’s clear perforated window film is ideal for see-through window graphics and Bentley ensures ‘printability, visual performance, durability, excellent window adhesion, and also ease of removal’ from the film.

She adds: “Such simple solutions are part of the consultancy service Contra Vision offers to clients to enable them to offer innovative and best practice solutions to their customers, screen printing can often lose out to newer digital technology, but clearly, there are benefits in using this technology which accrue to both printer and their customers.”

Joining forces

We have discussed mostly screen and digital print as opposing forces and techniques that are in competition with each other. However, Sovereign Print is both a screen and digital print specialist, suggesting that both print techniques have their place in the market, despite being used in very different jobs.

Director of Sovereign Print, Graham Davis, explains more about the company: “The bulk of our business is screen printing onto PVC and self-adhesive vinyl. Our main products are signs, labels and window stickers to the trade and the industry, but we also offer print finishes to the litho trade such as spot UV varnish, silver latex, and remoist gum. Spot UV varnish being the most common finish asked for.”



Sovereign specialises in high gloss spot UV onto uncoated stock, although it can also deliver gloss or matt spot UV varnishing onto coated or laminated stock to produce interesting effects on print products such as brochures and leaflets.

Davis continues: “One of the main advantages of screen printing is the speed. It’s a catch 22 situation really, with screen print we mainly run ‘block colours’ as the fine detail and tones aren’t really achievable. However, if you’re printing single colour or spot colour, it becomes a lot more economically-viable to screen print them. Digital would lend itself to a higher quality print but in smaller volumes.”

With extensive knowledge of both screen printing and digital printing, Sovereign Print prides itself on its ability to find the best technique for each individual job instead of applying the same technique to a broad spectrum of jobs.

Sovereign Print has also recently launched a new durable label product, ‘SUPA TUFF’. Davis notes that the labels have a “scratch-resistant finish, using an aggressive adhesive, with the print encapsulated in between”. The product comes to the market after there were high levels of demand within the hire industry for super-strength labels that will remain durable in all environments, with good resistance to fuel, dirt, and water.



Screen presence

Having spoken to experts in the screen printing sector, many benefits of the traditional technique have been revealed. However, with digital technology taking over in so many aspects of our lives with no sign of slowing down, will screen printing really stand the test of time?

Davis of Sovereign Print says: “We look for work that satisfies our capabilities and capacity, within a few niche markets. We are aware that digital is taking over from the screen print process and has made rapid progress in recent times, but we feel there will always be a need for screen print, as it’s more economical on the higher run lengths when printing spot colours.

McMillan of Sun Chemical similarly says: “Screen printing continues to offer some advantages over digital printing and therefore will maintain a presence in the POS, display and graphics markets for the foreseeable future.

O Factoid: Mimaki’s direct-to-object UJF-7151plus industrial small-format LED UV inkjet flatbed printer was designed as a cost-effective solution for the screen printing, sign-making, and wide-format graphics sectors. It can print direct onto substrates up to 153mm thick. O

 
“Areas where screen printing offers an advantage over other processes include spot colour or line colour printing where stronger, bolder images can be reproduced accurately in any specified colour, as well as special effects such as fluorescent colours, metallics, very dense blacks, opaque whites, multi-substrate adhesion and print flexibility.

All of these may be possible with digital print, but depending on the circumstances, it could be uneconomic to do so, or simply easier or more economic to do so with screen printing.



“As a rule, screen printing can use inks with a much greater outdoor durability and lightfastness, therefore for longer-term displays, screen printing would be the process of choice to ensure long term outdoor suitability.”

Although there is a lot of hype around digital printing and it may have many benefits, here, we have discovered there are more than just a few reasons to consider screen printing instead. Screen printing is adaptable and flexible, with the ability to print onto practically everything. Screen printing also fits into the window graphics sector nicely, which I know from a previous feature is certainly an area of growth. Ultimately, screen printing is more economical when printing high run lengths of spot colours, and the resulting durability is excellent, making it a good area for sign-makers and printers to get into.


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