Think before you inkSome things in life are constant, including, it seems, the presence of ink. Despite its ubiquity, however, ink technology is constantly changing resulting in more choice for the print professional - By Peter KiddellPublished: 02 February, 2010Two major changes have influenced ink development in recent times: the abolition of heavy metal pigments such as lead, cadmium and chromium and the need to diminish solvent use. Both changes have been driven by the imperative to reduce Health and Safety and Environmental hazards.
Don't gamble with process controlGambling is good for you if you are a supplier to the fruit machine industry, but printing on substrates that will be backlit necessitates a clean and accurate process. Perhaps that's no bad thing at a time when quality is the byword for survival - By Peter KiddellPublished: 29 December, 2009Modern society surrounds us with opportunities to gamble including lotteries, casinos, scratch cards and on-line poker. One sector that remains prevalent is fruit machines and with an increase in jackpot values, their popularity continues to grow.
Display your individualitySo many products are totally dependant on brand recognition for their success - using innovative print techniques can provide the edge over competitors - By Peter KiddellPublished: 23 November, 2009Thank goodness we are all different in how we look, live, and run our businesses. There are times, of course, when replicating a look or product offering can be appealing and beneficial to our industry, but the power of product differentiation is also key.
Screen, an illuminating processWith the introduction of chip-and-pin payment cards the cry of ‘sign here please' is something we hear far less. Conversely, physical signs providing both instructions and information are on the rise day-by-day. We have the EU to thank for most of the growth - By Peter KiddellPublished: 27 October, 2009Somewhere in Brussels is a mole with contacts in the sign and print industry who is insisting on warning labels, posters and displays being produced for every conceivable human activity. These explain whether you can do it, can't do it or the consequences of same. Be aware that many of these will have to be specific colour matches and lightfast for seven years. So where do we turn to but screen printing where the inks we can use are more stable that those used of other processes.
Welding the world of printProducing advertising plastics, such as binders and place mats, provides a melting pot for printing techniques. Combining processes provides attractive effects, including a healthy order book - By Peter KiddellPublished: 28 September, 2009A steady business with satisfied clients and a growing order book is something to be proud of in today's economic climate. One company with a healthy order book is Stevensons Advertising Plastics, a supplier of screen printing services for ultrasonic welded plastic products.
Closer to homeScreen printing is everywhere in the domestic environment, but manufacturers need to focus on quality and innovation to sustain and grow the work in this area - by Peter KiddellPublished: 28 August, 2009A trip to India visiting graphics screen printing organisations revealed a host of sophisticated printing facilities. Fully air-conditioned and clean room environments were equipped with kit, inks and chemistry from Europe, US and Japan. The management were highly educated, with several having doctorates and CEOs determined to win the Best Place to Work competition for manufacturing companies.
Precision printing drives the digital revolutionMost electronic products rely on screen printing in their production. As circuits become smaller and the range of applications increases, so screen printing takes a stronger hold in the world of electronics production - by Peter KiddellPublished: 06 July, 2009It is unfortunate that screen printing is sometimes overlooked when in fact most advanced technologies are dependent on the process. This dependency is at the core of advances in electronics. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are largely produced using screen printing technology and as circuits have become smaller, and the range of applications increased, so screen printing has strengthened its position in electronics production.
Precision cures print problemsStencil quality and drying and curing equipment both have a major impact on the accuracy of industrial screen printing. As ever, precision and consistency are key to achieving the desired result - by Peter KiddellPublished: 21 May, 2009What makes screen printing so attractive to production process engineers is the ability to apply a controlled film thickness over large areas relatively quickly and yet with precise positioning. In the graphics industry the material printed is an ink with a coloured pigment or dye that that can be adhered to a range of substrates for visual effect. Being able to control the ink film thickness and the precise position and shape of the image is crucial to the final appearance.
Wage war on wasteWaste is the destroyer of profits, yet unfortunately it is often accepted as inevitable in the screen printing environment. Challenging this attitude requires guts, but it's a sure fire way to increase profitability - by Peter KiddellPublished: 05 May, 2009One of the main reasons why screen printing is under pressure is that waste has become part of the culture. Waste can be defined as rejects, both on-line and off-line, unused materials, inefficient use of materials and consumables, wasted manpower, machine downtime and excessive set up time. Any reduction in waste goes straight to profits.
Finding hidden treasurePrinting is involved in every aspect of life. Not just printing on sheet materials, but in countless applications that we take for granted: speedometer dials in the car, mobile phone fascias and even electronic circuits and sensors. Here we take a look at the printing technology that makes these 'hidden' applications a reality - by Peter KiddellPublished: 09 April, 2009THE CAR is in a treasure trove of printing applications. The speedometer dials, the indicator arms, the air conditioning controls, the windscreen, most of the front facia and the side windows all feature printing of some kind. Open the bonnet and printed electronic circuits are a major feature with dozens of printed sensors sending signals to help the suspension, for example, sense mistimed braking on a corner. Printing is present in almost every modern environment and it allows our technological world to operate.
Promoting the power of screenPrinting promotional products can be a real pain - you have to be highly competent to do it well. That's why UK printers are increasingly being asked to accurately produce logos and branding on products manufactured in the Far East - by Peter KiddellPublished: 05 March, 2009PRINTING ON fabrics and promotional products encompasses a host of applications and substrates from textiles to titanium. Although this market segment is in fact huge, it can seem almost invisible to outsiders. Not only this, those who do become involved often overlook the skills required to produce quality output, thinking that any printing is just printing. This attitude is a double edged sword. The ignorant think it is easy and fail, and the experts pick up the pieces and make money.
Understanding substratesPeter Kiddell takes a close look at surface tension and surface energy, illustrating how their relationship delivers either an exceptionally good, or disastrously bad, printing outcome - by Peter KiddellPublished: 02 February, 2009WHAT DO we mean by substrate? The substrate is the surface onto which you can apply a printed image. Some people call it material and others media. To your average general printer substrate is paper or board and the main differentiator is whether the finish is gloss or matte. To a screen printer a substrate is virtually any stable material that can be supported and make contact with the print side of a stencil. As screen printing breaks into more industrial applications, so the range of exotic substrates increases. The substrate can be horizontal, vertical or any angle in between. In reality 99 per cent of all print surfaces are horizontal. It is generally in some forms of container decoration that vertical printing is used. However, there is a UK-based specialist who can screen print onto walls and other vertical surfaces.
When the going gets tough the tough turn to screenDifficult times make us concentrate on being better at what we do, rather than assuming things are great because the print shop is bursting with work. So what have we learnt from 2008 and what's in store for 2009? by Peter KiddellPublished: 18 November, 2008NEXT YEAR is likely to be the year that sorts the wheat from the chaff with challenging times ahead. That said, it is often easier to make more profit on a reduced turnover. Hard times make printers concentrate on being better at what they do, with the time to make improvements in systems and methods. It is also an opportunity to reassess sales and marketing by talking to existing customers, making sure, in the process, that they are financially secure.
Made to measure serviceIn-house converting facilities and next day delivery on stock items ensure that SilverScreen, the new UK distributor for Intercoat vinyls, is able to supply exactly what customers need, just when they need itPublished: 18 November, 2008PROVIDING CUSTOMERS with both product range and service flexibility is no mean feat. It relies on combining the right stock in the warehouse with appropriate technical expertise and equipment.
Textile printing wear it with prideThe credit crunch is driving textile printing back to its original homeland, with digital imaging providing a quick turn and screen adding further value - by Peter KiddellPublished: 30 October, 2008So the UK was going to be a service based economy with banking and insurance leading the way to future prosperity. Our vibrant economy riding on a wave of surging house prices was going to carry the nation forward. Small fortunes lent to people who would never be able to repay the debt. Millions in bonuses being made by sharp-witted dealers.
Cylinder or flatbed: re-evaluate your choicesInnovation in both flatbed and cylinder screen printing suggest it is time to revisit the choices between the two technologies. General manager of Systec, Reinhard Zimmermann, presents some factors to considerPublished: 30 October, 2008Choosing between flatbed or cylinder configurations is often a case of company tradition rather than analysis. Some prefer to use higher-priced cylinder screen printing systems for all applications, while others consider this overkill. Whatever the rationale for choosing between flatbed or cylinder configurations in the past, innovation in both systems mean it is timely to re-evaluate the choices.
Screen printing cleans upScreen printing is a controllable, measurable and predictable printing process. Applying engineering accuracy standards eliminates unnecessary flaws in the process. The result: a highly profitable image creation system.Published: 03 October, 2008All too often screen printing is considered the poor performer of print technologies. This is often the case in graphics applications, particularly point of sale (POS), however, operating a culture of excellence could change the perception of this process. The aim has to be to delight the client with a product offering that exceeds their expectations.
A positive investment in screenScreen printing in point of sale (POS) is buoyant, effective and profitable. That's the evidence presented by Signum Siebdruck, an Austrian printer using screen to produce high volumes and large prints that are unsuitable for both digital and wide format lithoPublished: 28 August, 2008This family run firm operates successfully in the POS market, competing on quality, delivery and price, using screen printing technology. How is this achieved? Managing director, Dieter Jernej, believes it is down to investment in the best equipment, backed by sound research and regular upgrades, at least every five years.
Safety sign bonanzaSafety signs call for accurate colour control and tough, stable images. Perfect for screen printing processes - by Peter KiddellPublished: 26 July, 2008As small business people we are being subsumed in a torrent of regulations, guidance and opportunities to become criminals in the blink of a camera or missed signature. There are some advantages in this bureaucratic onslaught: one is they all need print. In our sector it takes the form of safety signs, warning labels and illuminated displays. Think of the number of ‘No Smoking' signs printed for 1 October 2007.
You're fired: printing on glassThis month's screen feature focuses on printing onto ceramics and glass so prepare yourself for some unusual terms including frit, lehr, radiation cure, flux, reducing, fire and mediumPublished: 26 June, 2008The starting point for printing onto ceramics and glass is the range of inks that can be used. Inks fall into categories: inks or enamels containing finely powdered glass or frit, inorganic pigments and fired in a lehr at a temperature exceeding 600°C; inks containing organic pigments and resins heated to 200°C; and inks containing organic pigments and resins cured by UV radiation.
Using real-time verification faulty prints can be automatically identified
Billions of squeegee strokes into the futureScreen printing remains the process of choice for manufacturing some of today's most advanced electronic products. This article explores the present and future, by Peter KiddellPublished: 29 May, 2008When preparing to write a feature, it's amazing how white an empty page or screen can be to a dyslexic like me. It's difficult to believe how liberating the keyboard is. When writing by hand the pen just won't go where the brain wants it to, while reading is sometimes like a slow motion landslide of words. So why the revelations?
Thailand holds its royalty in high esteem
Screen printing, Thai styleIn this article, Peter Kiddell explores the Thai screen printing industry and details the structure and operation of one of the country's leading playersPublished: 01 May, 2008In recent months I have travelled the world working with a range of printers and printing companies. East, west, north, south the problems are the same. Low margins, competition and the environment. There are some advantages as printers in some of the more welcoming nations provide excellent cultural exchanges, as can be seen on this page, where the new PDS Consulting representative for Asia is seen demonstrating our new company uniform. Notice the wool swatches for testing light fastness of colours and the excellent textile printing.
Output from a Rolt machine
Screen printing for the massesBy Peter KiddellPublished: 03 April, 2008It seems like I have been writing these articles since Noah's dad was a lad. In truth it's probably ten years. Haven't things changed in that time? Back then the squeeze and squirt process was in its infancy and many companies saw multicolour screen printing lines as the way forward. Then came the digital technology revolution. However, in the PoS industry (superwide format and large flatbed) this revolution is turning into more of a small disturbance, with some equipment even appearing on E-Bay. There is the Onset but that is for the deep-pocketed few.
Some retail environments are driven by volume, some by quality, some by both. PoS printing processes must deliver the right balance at the right price
Screen stands its ground in PoSLitho and digital innovations have been battering screen in the PoS market. Fear not. Recent stencil production innovations, coupled with the process' extreme versatility, herald a healthy future; By Peter KiddellPublished: 01 March, 2008For a process that was supposed to be dead and buried in PoS applications, there are an awful lot of machines producing vast amounts of printed materials. One of the reasons has to be that the industry has realised that digital printing technology is simply not up to the mark. With the exception of Inca's Onset machine (which costs a stonking £1.5m), flatbed and many roll fed digital machines are just too slow.
Plasma arc blown onto the surface with compressed air
Stuck on the idea of direct-to-glassIn the first of a new series of articles looking at the unique benefits of screen printing, Peter Kiddell explores the process of printing containersPublished: 13 December, 2007We are in a world where buying decisions are lifestyle choices. Customers purchase because it makes them feel good. A product’s looks and perceived value are crucial factors. Just look at a supermarket’s ‘bargain’ shelf to see bottles of wine reduced because the label is torn or twisted. This demonstrates how fickle customers can be.
How many of your customers have asked about the carbon footprint of your printing service?


