Development status and trend of screen printing machines at home and abroad

1. Development Status and Trends of Screen Printing Machines Abroad

Since the early 1940s, the global screen printing industry has experienced rapid growth, largely due to advancements in photosensitive plate-making technology. The 1960s saw the rise of high-end industries, which further accelerated the development of screen printing technology and related equipment and materials. By the 1970s, improvements in photosensitive plate-making and screen materials pushed the industry forward significantly.

From the 1980s onward, the international screen printing industry exhibited several key trends:

1. The application range of screen printing expanded considerably.
2. The proportion of screen printing within the overall printing industry increased.
3. Computer technology became widely integrated into printing processes and screen printing plate-making.
4. Screen printing materials and machinery moved towards higher quality and automation.

Today, the screen printing industry in Europe, the United States, and Japan is highly developed. In the late 1980s, the U.S. screen printing industry grew rapidly, with approximately 5,000 manufacturers and an annual output value exceeding $3 billion, accounting for about 10% of the total U.S. printing industry output.

Notable manufacturers of automatic screen printing machines include:

• Japan: Sakurai, Minuo, Tohai Commercial
• Germany: SPS
• Italy: Sayles
• Sweden: Sylvia
• United States: Merbec

Among these, Germany's SPS leads with high-precision, high-speed automatic rolling screen printing machines. Similarly, Japan, the U.S., Sweden, and Italy have several top-tier suppliers, setting benchmarks for screen printing machine design globally.

Over the past decade, the speed of technological advancements in screen printing has surpassed expectations. In Japan, the production and development of electronic circuit boards are managed by computer technology. In Europe, large rotary screen printing equipment and various high-end materials, including computer-controlled multi-color screen printing machines, have become widespread.

2. Development Status and Trends of Domestic Screen Printing Machines

Since the 1980s, following China's reform and opening-up policies, the country's screen printing industry has emerged rapidly. Beijing 706 Factory and Guangdong Shengjiang were among the first influential manufacturers, producing semi-automatic screen printing machines that broke the foreign monopoly. By the 1980s, more manufacturers joined the industry, leading to rapid technological development and product diversification. Despite progress, many designs were still relatively simple, with insufficient precision compared to international standards.

Currently, approximately 200 companies are engaged in screen printing in China, with around 40 having significant production capacity and influence, employing over 6,000 people. In 1999, excluding manual platforms, about 5,000 units were produced, generating sales of approximately 200 million yuan.

However, China's screen printing industry still lags behind developed countries. The domestic market primarily uses flat plate printing with low technical and equipment levels. Advanced equipment such as automatic plate-making and large automatic multi-color screen printing machines are still underdeveloped, and the rolling screen printing machine market is dominated by Europe and America.

Key shortcomings include:

1. Lagging quality in screen printing machines, screens, inks, emulsions, and auxiliary materials compared to developed countries.
2. Inability to meet high-speed digital and complete screen printing turbine equipment production.
3. Limited production of sophisticated, high-quality products despite a broad variety.
4. Insufficient investment in technical research, incomplete equipment for research, and lack of quality testing and supervisory institutions.
5. Widely dispersed screen production enterprises hinder technology exchange, leading to inconsistent product quality and inadequate testing means.

Despite these challenges, domestic screen printing equipment remains popular due to its low cost. For instance, the new fully automatic screen-printing machine developed by Nanjing Panda Hitachi Technology Co., Ltd. breaks China's reliance on imports. This joint venture between Nanjing Panda Electronics and Japan's Hitachi specializes in high-precision NP04XP screen printing machines for fine-spacing electronic components, offering high-precision, high-rigidity, and stable fine-spacing printing.

Countries with advanced screen printing technology, now facing saturated markets, are seeking partnerships in China. This presents an opportunity for China's screen printing industry to expand.

Future Trends in Domestic Screen Printing Equipment

1. Declining Manual Equipment: The proportion of manual screen printing equipment is decreasing due to technological advancements and market competition, gradually being replaced by automated systems.
2. High-Quality Automation: There is a trend towards high-quality, high-precision, large-surface automation, driven by increasing process requirements and market competition. Innovations like CCD vision systems and LCD control panels are becoming standard.
3. Rising Automated Production Lines: Automatic screen printing machines and production lines are gaining popularity due to their strong three-dimensional effects and thick oil films, becoming a preferred choice for manufacturers.

In the coming years, China's screen printing equipment market will likely see a decline in manual printing equipment, increased demand for semi-automatic machines with higher technological content, and a rise in fully automatic screen printing production lines. Since joining the WTO, China has faced intense competition, necessitating alignment with international standards. High-end automatic screen printing machines are expected to capture a larger domestic market share.