Boxmeer, Netherlands - SPGPrints will showcase its high-performance, electroformed-nickel rotary and flatbed screen printing solutions for cost-effective, precise production of electronic devices at the LOPEC 2017 fair, (Hall B0, Stand 500, Messe München convention centre, Munich, March 29-30^th, 2017). Applications include photo and organic voltaics, electronic and bio-sensors, touch panels, LEDs and multiple-layer flexible circuit boards.

SPGPrints’ non-woven nickel meshes, with hexagonal holes, offer high strength to endure handling, and provide stable, uninterrupted printing by roll or sheet. They also offer aspect ratios of 0.3 and higher for obtaining fine patterns. These qualities enable printers to exploit the unique ability of the screen process to lay down thick ink or coating layers in one pass, and achieve vital functionalities such as connectivity and product protection. 

PlanoMesh, for flat-bed printing, is made from 100 per cent nickel sheets and is available in 1200mm-wide rolls.  Its extreme shape stability gives a significant advantage in quality and lifetime, compared with woven meshes. PlanoMesh achieves exceptinal registration and resolutions of below 50µm.

For roll-fed printing situations such as seamless / endless production, or where higher speeds are required, SPGPrints’ nickel RotaMesh® rotary screens offer productivity and long-term low cost of ownership. The screens can be both re-used and re-engraved for different jobs, several times. Additionally, for RotaMesh users, SPGPrints offers a comprehensive workflow, comprising printing units, robust re-engraveble nickel mesh screens, lacquers and screen-imaging equipment.

On account of their ability to achieve reliable, precise coverage, SPGPrints’ PlanoMesh and RotaMesh screens are increasingly chosen for printing circuits with carbon and silver-based inks, facilitating the production of cheaper and lighter electronic devices; as well as low-power organic solar panels on PET film. 

Ben Robesin, application specialist, SPGPrints, comments: “SPGPrints’ unique technology, based on electroformed nickel screens, has been adopted and recognised by the printed electronics industry for many years now. Our ongoing collaboration with leading substrate and functional ink suppliers has resulted in well-balanced meshes for rotary screen printing as well as for flat-bed printing. The nickel material, with its superb performance in terms of dimension stability, flow dynamics, easy handling and long life, brings significant advantages over woven meshes.”