How to Use Screen Printing Technology Flexiblely and Efficiently

In combination printing. Cigarette packs can be said to be a good example. You should not underestimate this small cigarette pack. It combines a variety of printing processes, multi-processing processes and a variety of unique effects in one. It can be said that it is a masterpiece of modern packaging and printing technology. It is worth mentioning that. In cigarette pack printing. Screen printing can be said to be ubiquitous, even an indispensable printing method. We visited several successful companies in the industry based on cigarette packets printing. Let us see how they can use screen printing technology flexibly and efficiently.

Equipment selection is the basis

Proper investment is the first step toward success. It is also one of the powerful guarantees for enterprises to win in the fierce market competition. Faced with the various screen printing equipment on the market, we must not blindly purchase. This can be very learned. Or let us listen to the experience of successful companies.

According to Mr. He Yisong, Deputy General Manager of Dongguan Hu Cai Printing Co., Ltd. Packaging and printing companies generally consider the following factors when selecting and purchasing screen printing equipment.

1. Product structure and positioning

Due to considering the order status of their products. Some companies may purchase more than 10 semi-automatic screen printers. Some companies may buy one or two fully automatic ones. This depends on the size of the product, the type of product, etc.

consider. Some companies may have many types of screen printing products. But the amount is not great. under these circumstances. Semi-automatic screen printing equipment may have certain advantages. However, some companies have relatively simple varieties. However, six or seven kinds of products. Can consider automatic screen printing equipment. The speed is faster.

Different products have different requirements for printing equipment. High-grade fine products such as cigarette packs. The requirements for quality are relatively high. The equipment requirements are also higher. Automatic roller screen printing machine has fast speed, high precision, reliable performance and high efficiency. Suitable for high-volume printing and other outstanding features. It is widely used in high-end packaging printing in China. among them. Imported equipment has higher performance and reliability. Such as Japan's Sakurai automatic roller screen printing machine. The quality performance of domestic screen printing equipment has also been greatly improved and improved in recent years. Such as Shanghai - _-EP machine fully automatic roller screen printing machine is also called first class.

2. Supporting existing equipment

Since screen printing is generally combined with other printing methods. therefore. In the selection of screen printing equipment must be considered with the existing printing equipment such as offset press matching problem. Such as format specifications, printing speed and so on.

3. Optional drying equipment

Finally, we must also consider the problem of screen printing drying. Some screen printing machines are equipped with a very long drying area, can also be equipped with a very simple drying belt. This depends on the actual needs of the packaging and printing company. For example only use uV screen printing. Can only be equipped with uV curing device; if you also use other types of screen printing inks such as solvent screen printing ink for printing. Then consider the uV curing and infrared drying devices. Process control is the key

Combination printing is the combination of different printing methods, which seems very simple. However, there is a certain degree of difficulty in achieving it, and the requirements for equipment, materials, and processes are all high.

1. Quality cost. Overall consideration

The printing materials used in packaging and printing are quite extensive. There are paper, cardboard, cardboard. Plastic film and so on. Different printing materials have different requirements for different printing processes and inks. Therefore, when printing companies design products. Must be based on the original design style and characteristics of the customer's specific requirements. And combine the characteristics of various printing processes and the specific situation of the company. Choose the best combination of printing processes.

In addition. Since the cost of screen printing is generally slightly higher than other printing processes. therefore. The cost must also be considered when designing the product. Avoid high costs due to one-sided pursuit of results.

In actual production. Because of the different circumstances of each company. There are also different styles in the use and display of screen printing features. For example, in the cigarette package printing process design. The principle of tiger color is that screen printing is generally only applied to high-end cigarette pack products. And only consider the screen printing process once in the design. Meinung is based on screen printing. Most of the printed cigarette packs must be screen printed. And may also arrange two or more screen printing.

2. Production Process. Reasonable arrangement

The more types of processing involved in the product. The entire production process will go through various types of INN machines and processing equipment. At this point we must arrange the production process of the product reasonably. In order to meet the product design requirements. The main concern here is the quality and accuracy of various printing and processing processes. Offset and gravure products are of good quality. High accuracy, therefore. General arrangement of offset and gravure. Then arrange the screen printing process. Also consider the performance of the ink. This is very important for color arrangement. Because of the different inks used in different printing processes, there may be great differences in performance. Therefore, this should be taken into account in the combination printing. For example, the opacity of screen printing inks is often much larger than that of offset printing inks. If you design to offset. Then overprint with screen printing. Screen printing inks with high hiding power will cover off part of the offset printing graphics.

Zhejiang Meinong Wire Mesh INN Co., Ltd. Mr. Nie Xiaoan gave a typical example: when Meinung printed the fine “Lushan” cigarette pack. First use offset printing fine patterns. Next, make indentation marks. Then use screen printing technology to achieve a large area of ​​pearlescent fission effect.

3. Precautions

(1) overprint problems between printing processes. In particular, overprint processing between screen printing and other printing processes deserves more attention. In this regard, the principles and strategies adopted by various printing companies are basically the same. That is: Overprinting can be superimposed. Avoid overprinting as much as possible; if overprinting is inevitable. Try not to design very fine overprints.

(2) Control points for screen printing process. The tension of the stretch net and the pressure of the scraper should be appropriate, otherwise the net version is easily deformed, resulting in inaccurate overprinting of the graphic and text. Affect product quality.

(3) Pay attention to the problem of paper deformation after various printing processes and processing procedures. In combination printing. After the paper has passed through multiple machines and dried many times. Larger deformations may occur, which not only adversely affect overprinting. It may also increase the difficulty of the process. In this regard, the production cycle should be shortened as much as possible, and screen printing should be performed as soon as possible after offset printing or gravure printing. The longer the time spent. The greater the deformation. The worse it is for overprinting.

(4) workshop temperature. Humidity control. Workshop temperature. Humidity controls the properties of printing materials and controls the printing process. Overprint accuracy and product quality have a certain influence. The workshop is closed as far as possible, and a constant temperature and humidity system is installed. Keep the temperature and humidity of the printing shop constant.

Sharing the joy of success

In the screen printing process adoption and application. Although the various printing companies have different strategies and styles. Reaching the same goal, each one has experienced all the advantages brought by screen printing. Experienced the joy of harvesting success.

Screen printing process can achieve a variety of special effects. Such as ice flowers. Refraction. Frosted. Pearl and so on. The use of various effects makes the product novel and unique. Greatly enhance the product quality. The use of a variety of unique screen printing process. Has become a major feature of Mino. And for Mino won more customers and a broader market space. For example, when Mino was printing a certain brand of cigarette packets. Using a special water change security screen printing ink. This makes Mino stand out in the fierce competition.

In recent years, Tiger Color has made remarkable developments. In terms of cigarette pack printing. Most of the current key customers are annual output of 30 million boxes of cigarette factories. Screen printing contributed. And last year the company developed several new cigarette packs. The rapid rise of traffic. The existing 4 fully automatic roller screen printers can no longer meet the demand for such a large amount of traffic. therefore. The company recently ordered an automatic roller screen printer from Japan Sakurai.

In a nutshell. Application of screen printing process. Not only greatly improved product quality. Has also played a positive role in the development of the company's business. It will help establish the image of a first-class company. It is believed that with the improvement of equipment and materials and the improvement of process technology in the future. Screen printing in the tobacco package field will certainly achieve greater breakthroughs and development. let us wait and see!

Reprinted from Printing Technology