Metal Silk Screening

Product Showcase
silk screen transfer drawer Silk screen UV exposure unit X-Vactorunit silk screen blank silk screen blank top metal silk screen UV exposure unit metal silk screen uv exposure unit 2 metal silk screen uv exposure unit interior silk screen placed over metal part preparing aluminum plate for silk screen using spacers to get silk screen height correct screen printed sheet metal panel silk screen emulsion exposed emulsion showing negative image in silk screen placing transfer on silk screen in UV exposure silk screen with emulsion applied squeegee on silk screen silk screened aluminum sheet metal control panels

Industrial Metal Silk Screening Services

Over time, PEKO has learned that silk screening on metal is a difficult service to come by. To address this gap, we’ve created our own metal silk screening division to offer as an ancillary service to our machinery and equipment contract manufacturing customers. Our team has mastered the process and can provide the highest quality prints to meet customer specifications. 

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Metal Silk Screening for Machinery Manufacturing

This department is located directly next to our wet paint and powder coat operations within the sheet metal fabrication facility. The vertical integration that resulted from taking this process in-house has benefited our customers in numerous ways. For example, it eliminates the inherent risk of using an outside vendor, improves delivery times, and lowers the cost to their end users.

Types of Metals

  • Aluminum
  • Painted substrates
  • Powder Coated metal
  • Coated Steel
  • Stainless Steel

Types of Inks

  • Epoxy (most common) – outdoor exposure and adhesion
  • Urethane
  • Lacquer

Advantages

  • Precise location 
  • Transferability
  • Cosmetic appearance (logos)
  • Accurate geometry
  • Durability/Longevity

Alternatives

  • Ink stamps
  • Adhesive labels
  • Stencils

These metal silk screening alternatives aren’t always as durable and accurate as metal silk screening, so we advise you to choose wisely.

Our Silk Screening Process

Silk screen printing on metal is a delicate and nuanced process. It may look easy but creating a process and having the discipline to follow it is of utmost importance. Steps 1 to 7 describe the process of creating the screen, and steps 8 thru 11 describe the process of applying the ink.

  1. The customer supplies artwork files
  2. PEKO prints the artwork onto the transfer film (Econofilm by Ryonet) with DMAX UV light blocking dye
  3. A screen is chosen by size and a liquid emulsion is placed on the screen in an environment (similar to a dark room)
  4. The screen is then baked in an oven to solidify the emulsion on the screen
  5. The printed artwork transfer film is placed onto the silkscreen, then both are placed into the X-Vactor LED Vacuum Exposure Unit with Digital Timer
  6. The exposure unit is turned on, using a vacuum seal and UV light to imprint the artwork negative into the screen
  7. The screen is ready for printing
  8. The silk screen is placed over the workpiece, with a small gap between the material and the screen to ensure good springback
  9. Ink is placed onto the screen and a squeegee is wiped across the silkscreen
  10. Ink is pushed through the negative image onto the material
  11. The screen is removed, leaving the completed workpiece to dry

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Case Studies

MRI Radiation Therapy