"Although the process itself has changed very little the levels of automation are getting higher," confirms Sakurai UK sales manager for screen David Hamilton. "As with litho machines, automatic registration is also filtering down."

Rotation and cylinder machines are driving the technology forward in this market with presses becoming faster and more reliable, according to Hamilton. "There is a move on from old DC motors and heavy gear drives," he adds.

Although presses with swing cylinders are still used and are up to tackling most jobs, they are slow and most people are moving toward stop cylinder technology. And if they’re not, the chances are that they’re embracing digital, which has massively eaten into screen’s market share. Despite digital’s many charms, there are still some things that can only be achieved on a screen printing press, argues Hamilton.

"Make no mistake graphic printing has been hit hard by digital," he explains. "But an inkjet printer cannot put down textures or special effects with the depth of colour that a screen press can."

Cutting-edge applications
Screen processes are even being used for the most modern marketing techniques. One example is Wired magazine, printed by St Ives Web, which recently ran a special cover using latex varnish where readers were challenged ‘Do Not Remove’ as part of a "trust" feature by publisher Condé Naste. The campaign proved to be a massive hit. It was picked up by new media channels such as Twitter and YouTube – with those readers who did remove the thick strip directed to features online. A screen process was used to ensure it was not easy to remove.

If further evidence were needed to prove that screen isn’t dead, at Ipex Sakurai sold three screen presses plus drying equipment. The company, which is one of the few screen press manufacturers that has launched a new machine in recent years, also unveiled a new stop cylinder press at Drupa, which it says caught the market’s attention due to the high levels of quality it offers.

The company has seen some "copies" come to the UK from South East Asia, but says the feedback from agents and printers at Ipex confirmed that the quality of these was not high. Quality, Hamilton says, is an area that cannot be compromised on when it comes to screen printing.

• Optronix chose Fespa in June to launch iScreen, a screen quality and consistency management tool.
• The product combines an X-Rite i1 spectrophotometer fitted with a magnetic light for measuring films and screens. The package costs £5,000
• Fujifilm launched a new product this year to ensure colour control across its screen and digital print output. Pro-file, which also made its debut at Fespa, enables printers to comply with the Fogra 39 database or ISO 12647-2 whether they are using a screen process press or Fujifilm’s Acuity flatbed printer range
• Fespa also played host to the launch of Natgraph’s new UV system, which it says will help screen remain competitive against digital processes. The Electronic UV System slashes curing costs by improving lamp efficiency and life span and cutting energy consumption by up to 30%. An electronic power supply also allows step-less selection of output and has a sensor which shuts off an idle lamp. All this cuts power usage by up to 20%