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 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 % 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

Building Covers

Backlit and Double-sided

Billboards & Banners

Window Graphics

Vehicle Graphics

Industrial Safety Signs & Decals

Traffic Signs & License Plates

Screen Printing Screen printing was

Screen Printing Vs Digital Printing CharacterScreen PrinterDigital Printer Throughput>600 sqm/hr sqm/hr Machine Price (4 colors)~ $1,500k~$ K Training requiredLowMedium Setup CostsHighLow Time to marketLongShort

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

"Everything that can become digital will become digital. Printing is no exception." Benny Landa -Founder of HP Indigo and Landa Labs

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

Digital Printing Application Enabler

Screen Printing Vs Digital Printing CharacterScreen PrinterIndustrial Digital Printer Throughput>600 sqm/hr sqm/hr Machine Price (4 colors)~ $1,500k~$ K Ink Price per sqm$0.2$0.45 Media Price per sqm$0.3$0.4 Maintenance costsLow Training requiredLowMedium Setup CostsHighLow Time to marketLongShort