Tom Overgoor | SPGPrints: What is driving SPGPrints' expansion into printed electronics?

Can continuous rotary printing match flatbed accuracy for long-form printed electronics?

Rotary screen printing adapts the classic flatbed squeegee mechanics into a continuous round system. By running the process inside a seamless rotating screen, manufacturers can print continuous patterns of any length. This is particularly advantageous for long-form printed sensors that can be fabricated continuously and cut to size.

The shift to rotary dramatically accelerates production throughput. While traditional flatbed printing operates on a start-stop cycle, rotary systems handle label printing up to 80 meters per minute. For complex functional inks and printed electronics, practical speeds range between 10 to 20 meters per minute.

This transition from batch flatbed to roll-to-roll continuous processing is critical for commercializing high-volume electronics. Understanding how the squeegee forces and paste dynamics behave within a rotating cylinder is the first step in successful technology scaling.

In this short video, you can learn:
* How rotary screen printing transitions flatbed mechanics into continuous, round-format processing.
* The manufacturing advantage of seamless screens for fabricating ultra-long printed sensors.
* Typical throughput speeds for functional electronics compared to conventional label printing.

📋 **Clip Abstract** Discover how rotary screen printing converts batch flatbed steps into a continuous roll-to-roll process. Learn why this seamless technology enables high-speed printed sensor fabrication at speeds up to 20 meters per minute.

Is it possible to bridge the gap between flatbed R&D and high-speed multi-layer production?

Ramping up from flatbed lab-scale printing to full roll-to-roll production requires specialized machinery designed for advanced materials. Rotary printing platforms like the Basalt line solve this by maintaining high accuracy at speeds of 20 meters per minute. For simpler UV-curable inks, speeds can reach up to 80 meters per minute.

A major challenge in printed electronics is fabricating multi-layer devices like heaters, sensors, or batteries. To address this, advanced rotary systems feature full reversibility. This function allows substrates to pass through multiple times for precise registration and multi-layer deposition.

This approach offers a straightforward learning curve for operators moving from static lab presses to continuous lines. Implementing automated web-handling and precise ink delivery systems makes the high-volume transition feasible for next-generation electronic components.

In this short video, you can learn:
* How to scale printed electronics production from slow flatbed lab-scale trials to rapid roll-to-roll lines.
* The impact of ink chemistry on line speeds, highlighting the differences between UV-curable and thermal functional inks.
* How reversible web paths enable the printing of complex, multi-layered electronic devices.

📋 **Clip Abstract** Learn how modern rotary printing lines bridge the gap between low-volume R&D and automated roll-to-roll manufacturing. Discover how reversible systems allow precise multi-layer printing for complex electronic designs.

How far can we push the physical resolution limits of rotary screen printing?

The resolution of printed electronics relies heavily on the mesh characteristics and emulsion quality of the screen. Standard high-quality rotary screens easily achieve clean 70-micron lines with a matching 70-micron pitch. These dimensions run reliably at full production speeds of up to 20 meters per minute.

Pushing the boundaries of the technology reveals its physical limits, where lines and pitches are compressed to 50 microns. At this scale, printing remains achievable but becomes highly challenging. Fine-tuning the screen parameters is essential to prevent ink bridging and pattern distortion.

Achieving extreme fine-line resolution requires precise control over mesh counts and emulsion thicknesses. By customizing these variables, manufacturers can regulate the exact volume of functional paste deposited, ensuring targeted electrical conductivity.

In this short video, you can learn:
* The current high-speed production threshold for line widths and pitches in rotary printing.
* The technical challenges and limitations encountered when pushing printing features down to 50 microns.
* How adjusting mesh counts and emulsion thickness regulates wet-laydown volume for functional inks.

📋 **Clip Abstract** Explore the high-resolution boundaries of rotary screen printing as line widths approach 50 microns. Learn how fine-tuning mesh count and emulsion thickness ensures precise paste delivery for advanced micro-electronics.