SCREEN PRINTING: PRINCIPLES, PROCESS, AND APPLICATIONS

Screen printing has long played a vital role in our lives and has captured the market’s attention. But what makes this industry so important? Why is this market so attractive?

To gain a deeper understanding of the industry’s appeal and significance, let’s explore screen printing, its principles, process, and applications with Thuận Hưng Long An (THLA).

1. What is Screen Printing?

Screen printing is a printing technique that utilizes a stencil-based screen to transfer ink onto a substrate. The ink is forced through the screen’s open areas, creating an image or design on the underlying material. The term “screen printing” originated from the traditional use of silk screens, but with advancements, screens can now be made from various materials like cotton, polyester, or metal mesh.

Illustration 1: Screen Printing Technique

This printing method is commonly used to print backpacks, bags, clothing, and more. The term “screen printing” originated from the use of silk screens for the stencil-based printing process. However, with the rapid development of the market, the screens have gradually been replaced by other materials such as cotton, polyester, or metal mesh. Therefore, screen printing is also known as mesh printing (Source: Wikipedia).

2. Working Principle of Screen Printing:

The principle behind screen printing is straightforward. First, the screen is coated with a layer of ink. Then, a squeegee is used to spread the ink evenly across the screen. Under the pressure of the squeegee, the ink partially passes through the open areas of the screen, adhering to the substrate below. This process transfers the desired image or design onto the material.

Illustration 2: Working Principle of Screen Printing Technique

3. Screen Printing Process:

Screen printing technology undergoes rigorous processes and strict supervision at each stage to ensure the quality of the printed products. The screen printing process consists of 6 steps as follows:

Step 1: Film Preparation

The design is created according to technical specifications or artwork provided by the customer.

Step 2: Screen Creation

The screen is created using the prepared film, a wooden or aluminum frame, and a mesh. The mesh is coated with a photosensitive emulsion, which is then exposed to light through the film. The unexposed areas harden, while the exposed areas wash away, creating the stencil.

Step 3: Ink Mixing

The ink is mixed according to a specific formula or ratio to ensure it meets the standards and is suitable for the material being printed.

Step 4: Test Printing

A test print is created to evaluate the quality of the print. Once the test print is satisfactory, full-scale printing commences.

Step 5: Product Quality Inspection

The printed products are inspected for quality and then moved to the delivery stage.

Step 6: Screen Cleaning and Storage

After completion, the screen is thoroughly cleaned and stored for future use.

4. Applications in Various Industries

Screen printing has a wide range of applications, including:

• Printing on backpacks, fashion bags, and sports bags
• Printing on garments (various fabrics, including cotton and polyester)
• Printing on leather and faux leather
• Printing on business cards, wedding invitations, and calendars
• Printing on fabric bags and nylon bags
• Printing on various other materials, such as boxes, packaging, bottles, electronics, metals, plastics, tiles, stones, scratch cards, and partial UV coating,…

These days, sccreen printing has become a prevalent technique in the fashion industry, particularly for sportswear brands like PUMA, RUFWEAR, ADIDAS, VANS, LEVI’S, and ARMY 101, 511. However, achieving successful screen printing relies heavily on the expertise and skill of the technical team and printers. With the increasing demand for screen printing services to meet market needs, finding the right provider for fashion products like backpacks, bags, T-shirts, and footwear is becoming a growing concern for many businesses.

Backed by 20 years of experience and specialization in screen printing, Thuận Hưng Long An boasts a team of Korean technical and business experts working directly in Vietnam. This ensures high-quality products, high production capacity (130,000 products/day), and diverse printing lines: Manual printing lines (19 lines), automatic printing lines (8 lines), and robotic printing lines (3 lines).

Illustration 3: Thuận Hưng Long An’s Production Lines

Thuận Hưng Long An offers a variety of screen printing lines:

+ OVAL Automatic Printing Line (8 lines, capacity: 500 products/hour): The printing process is fully automated, with workers only supporting tasks like setting the printing line speed, adjusting ink application, adding ink, attaching fabrics, and removing fabrics after printing. The OVAL automatic printing line is suitable for large-volume printing, exceeding 2,000 units/printed details.

+ Robot Automatic Printing Line (3 lines, capacity: 300 products/hour): The printing process is fully automated, with workers only supporting tasks like setting the printing line speed, adjusting ink application, adding ink, attaching fabrics, and removing fabrics after printing. The Robot automatic printing line is suitable for printing volumes of 500 units or more/printed details.

+ Manual Printing Line (19 lines, capacity: 200 products/hour): The printing process is carried out by skilled printers, from taking ink, printing, attaching fabrics, and removing fabrics after printing. The manual printing line is suitable for small-volume printing, up to 300 units/printed details.

Besides, Thuận Hưng Long An is proud to hold various certifications, including: VF International Certification, WRAP Certification, ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management System Certification, ISO 14000:2015 Environmental Management System Certification

Illustration 4: Thuận Hưng Long An’s Certifications and Achievements

For your screen printing needs in the fashion industry, especially for sportswear like backpacks, bags, and footwear, please contact Thuận Hưng Long An directly for expert advice and high-quality, affordable screen printing services.

Contact Information:

Phone: (+84)90 378 7615

Email: order@inthuanhung.com.vn