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Screen Printing – Where is it Going ?. Analog to Digital. Printing - History. Screen printing was invented in China at 960, and adapted by other Asian countries It was largely introduced to Europe and US from Asia in the late 18th century
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Printing - History • Screen printing was invented in China at 960, and adapted by other Asian countries • It was largely introduced to Europe and US from Asia in the late 18th century • Digital printing was introduced in the 1990’s and since then it has been adapted by many production houses • Among digital printing technologies: • Thermal transfer • Inkjet
SGIA Report • SGIA, Specialty Graphic Imaging Association, is the leading printers’ association in the US • Majority of the US production house are members of SGIA • SGIA provides reports & surveys based on information from its members • SGIA conducted reports in 2006 and in 2011 reviewing the technologies that production houses use.
SGIA Report: 2006 to 2011 Print Technologies • In 2006 screen printing dominated with 38.9% production houses using only screen printing • In 2011 screen printing has shrunk to only 1% of production houses that use only screen printing • In 2006 only 13% used booth screen & digital, while in 2011 45.3% were using screen & digital • In 5 years the penetration CAGR of digital to screen is 128% !!
Why Production houses shift from Screen Printing to Digital? • In the last few years screen printing is being cannibalized, mainly by digital printing • Today the majority of production houses prefer to use digital printers instead of screen printers: • Customization capabilities • Printing size • Setup costs • Short runs • Simple process
Screen Printing • Screen printing was
So, when do production houses use Screen Printing? • In some cases screen printing is still being used • Example: • 1,000 billboards with 1 message/image Screen Printing • 1,000 billboards with 5 or more messages /images Digital • The more messages per campaign (languages, images etc.) the more efficient it digital is vs. screen printing • The faster the digital printer is, the more cost effective it would be vs. screen printing!
Summary • Screen printing is used where the equipment already exists and is still usable • Today there are rarely any new investments in screen printing lines • Digital Printing Advantages: • Cost effective in short runs - cost of production • Enables to print 1 of a kind • No set up costs • Easier management of process - no screen stocks, no finished goods stocks etc • Format – no limitations (screen is usually ~1x2m) • High print quality • Supports new materials • Opens new business opportunities
Benny Landa -Founder of HP Indigo and Landa Labs "Everything that can become digital will become digital. Printing is no exception."
Presentation Sources & Credits • SGIA Report by Dan Marx • Wikipedia • Benny Landa interview Drupa 2012
Screen Printing Applications & Characteristics • Bill Boards: High volumes, Low margin – low cost materials, medium printing quality • Fleet Graphics: High volumes, durable media, higher printing quality than Billboards • Bus Shelters: High volumes, Backlit media, high printing quality • POP: High volumes, high margin, highest printing quality • Backlit: High volumes, high margin, highest printing quality