Screen printing is a relatively old printing method. With the continuous development of printing technology, digital prepress technology, digital computer plate making, and electronic imaging technology have been widely used in screen printing. Screen printing presses have also entered the field of precision printing, and their structure is developing in the direction of high precision and automation. Due to its own unique advantages, screen printing has played an important role in many fields, especially in the electronics, textile industry, large-scale advertising and other printing advantages that other printing methods cannot match. In addition, due to the extensiveness of screen printing materials and the research and development of printing machinery, inks and other consumables, together with the advantages of other printing combinations can overcome some of their own deficiencies, the screen printing market has become more extensive.
1. Combination printing of screen printing and offset printing
Offset printing occupies an important position in the traditional printing technology. Combining offset printing and screen printing to give full play to the advantages of the two printing methods is the first choice for many packaging companies, especially high-end packaging and decoration companies. The design of high-end packaging and decoration prints is mostly large-area spot colors, rich in color layers, and high printing quality requirements. Make full use of the thickness and evenness of the screen printing ink layer, printing large-area solid color blocks, and other surface decoration effects, and use offset printing to print four-color and complex lines. Through the combined printing of offset printing and screen printing, the printing requirements for upscale packaging and decorating printed matter are achieved.
For example, packaging and printing of high-end fine cigarettes, medicines, and other products can be screen-printed, using a combination of offset printing and screen printing. Part of field printing relies on screen printing, and some uses offset printing machines to print two times. Pearlescent ink and spot color inks are mainly printed using screen printing. At the same time, special effects such as frosting, ice flower and crystal are also achieved through screen printing. The use of screen printing presses for large-area on-site printing and pearlescent printing aims to obtain the thick ink color required for fine packs and ensure uniform and consistent ink color. In addition to some professional screen printing companies, many domestic packaging printing plants that have offset presses are also equipped with screen printing equipment. There is no doubt that the combination of offset printing and screen printing can create high added value for the product.
2. Combination printing of screen printing and flexo printing
At present, the rotary screen printing unit with extremely high printing precision is printed with a flexographic printing press, and the use of screen printing has excellent hiding power, etc., and the flexographic printing itself has advantages such as fast printing speed and high definition to achieve the advantages of both. Complementary. It is used for delicate packaging and decorating printing, such as printing with gold and silver metal effect or showing special effects such as embossing, frosting, etc.; with the use of light change, temperature change screen printing ink, it can also increase the security function of valuable tickets and high-grade trademarks; This printing method can also print hinting signs for specific groups (such as the blind).
Screen printing companies and ink manufacturers are aware of the many advantages of rotary screen printing and their ability to process the connections in flexo printing. They have increased their research efforts in this area, and now they combine the technology of screen printing and flexo printing. Has reached a fairly high level. Especially in the printing of UV inks, the quality and stability of UV inks are quite good, and they are easy to use. Due to the instant curing characteristics of UV inks, many problems related to ink drying are solved, together with the opening of modern flexographic printing presses. The design also allows rotary screen printing units to be easily embedded into the production process, which has boosted the market's increased demand for screen printing and flexo printing. As another development direction, electron beam (EB) curing inks have potential advantages. EB inks not only combine the advantages of UV technology but also have high hiding power. The cost of equipment for EB ink curing in combination printing today is still too expensive. Once this technology is adopted, the cost will be reduced and EB-cured ink will be the driving force for the next leap. It will greatly increase the hiding power of the ink layer. And the speed of the press, adapting to good and fast processing requirements.