By Till Barth


Diag. 1: A modern screen-printing factory. On the left at the front a so-called drying tunnel, at the front to the right a printing carousel for textiles.

Screen-printing is one of the most versatile printing techniques. Combined with the right ink screen-printing is suitable for almost any material: textiles, plastics, paper products, ceramics and glass, wood or metal. In addition to the promotional, media and art sectors, the screen-printing technique is also implemented in the industrial sector, not only for labelling components, but also in the production of circuit boards, printed circuit boards and keyboard foils.


Diag. 2: A special glass imprinting machine.

This printing method is also one of the most important methods used in the promotional products branch. For instance when it comes down to high-quality, durable textile imprints that are also flexible in terms of the colours used, screen-printing is the first choice and together with pad-printing it is the most frequently used method of individualising other promotional products too. Since the set-up costs are relatively low compared to other printing techniques, screen-printing is also cost-effective for small volumes – an extremely important factor in the promotional products area. Screen-printing enables a deep, large surface, high opacity colour application as well as enabling print images several metres in size, if necessary. The prints are light-fast, weather and sweat-resistant and washable. Whereas based on its functional principle screen-printing is initially only suitable for flat surfaces, round surfaces can also be imprinted using special machines (diag. 2 and 3) – i.e. writing instruments or glasses. The advantage compared to the pad-printing method that is usually implemented for non-flat products, is the deeper application of colour.