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Screen Printer

Do you want to become a Screen Printer? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

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Screen printers set up and operate power-driven or hand-operated screen printing machines to create visual images for printing onto fabrics, paper, CDs, printed circuit boards or display signs. They create the patterns by forcing ink through a fine mesh overlaid with the stencil design. The work includes:

• preparing stencils for printing by hand cutting, photographic or electronic methods
• placing the stencils onto a mesh fabric-printing screen
• preparing and loading inks, paper, fabric or other materials onto the printing machines
• making sure everything is aligned correctly
• after printing, unloading and drying items
• removing waste, cleaning and maintaining machines and other equipment.

Screen printers usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, often including shifts. Overtime is frequently required. Part-time work is a possibility. The working environment may be noisy, depending on the equipment used, and screen printers usually have to stand for long periods.

Salaries range from around £12,000 to £24,000 a year.

A screen printer needs to:

• be able to work on their own with minimal supervision
• be observant, with a good eye for detail
• be practical and able to undertake manual work
• have good sight, hearing and hand-to-eye co-ordination
• be interested in art and design.

Despite competition from electronic media and the internet, printing is still one of the UK's largest industries, employing around 185,000 people. Screen printers may work for printing companies, sign-writing companies, textile companies or High Street print/design firms. Jobs exist throughout the UK. However, modern machinery has resulted in fewer jobs for printers.

There are no formal entry qualifications, but employers ask for four GCSEs/S grades (A-D/1-4), preferably including English and maths. There is a variety of full-time and part-time courses available, including NVQs/SVQs and City & Guilds qualifications. Broader art and design courses may offer options in screen printing. Adult entry is possible.

Training is mainly on the job, learning from experienced staff. Employers may send entrants on courses run by the manufacturers of the printing machinery they use.

Once trained and experienced on different types of printing presses, screen printers may move into supervisory or production control positions, or into other areas of printing. Self-employment is possible, although the machinery required is expensive.

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