The first important difference is pace, directly influenced by continuity. Flatbed screen printing is practically done in 2 strokes. In rotary screen printing, these same steps are combined in a continuous process. Rotary screen printing can use lower squeegee speeds, but achieve the same or even faster output, with a more constant printing result.

For some applications - such as printed circuit boards - Printed Electronics are required to be mass-produced. Rotary screen printing is a rotary process that can run longer than other screen printing techniques. This ensures that the print line can continuously reproduce products at higher volumes.

For screen printing techniques, downtime and clogging of holes are the main deal-breakers. Because the rotary screen printing process is a continuous process the printing result is much more consistent than other screen printing techniques.

A frequently mentioned advantage of rotary screen printing is that the lifespan of screens is relatively high. Although the equipment investment for a rotary screen printing process is higher, less downtime and lower start-up costs result in a much higher lifespan of screens and thus lower costs.

Finally, integration with your existing print line is an important topic for many companies. The integrated implementation of rotary screen printing is fairly easy when compared to flatbed screen printing.

PaaS lets companies interested in high-throughput machines for industrial-scale printed electronics run small batches. SPGPrints recently launched this service to give customers a risk-free way to trial new print technologies and explore benefits before investing. Discover more >>