Screen printing technology for beverage bottles: a detailed explanation of the process and applications
I. Technical Principles and Equipment Composition
Pattern transfer is achieved by allowing ink to pass through the mesh of the image area of the screen printing plate, while the non-image areas are sealed by photosensitive emulsion. Key equipment includes:
Screen printing plate: commonly made of stainless steel or polyester mesh, the mesh count (e.g., 120-200 mesh) determines the ink layer thickness;
Squeegee: made of polyurethane, with an angle typically set at 60°-75° to control ink penetration;
Drying system: UV curing or hot air drying to ensure ink adhesion (meeting ISO 2409 standards).
II. Key Points of Special Processes
1. Surface Adaptability Adjustment
A pneumatic clamp is used to fix the bottle body, and a servo motor is used to achieve 360° rotation printing, which solves the problem of uneven tension on the curved surface of the cylinder.
2. Ink Technology
Solvent-based inks: suitable for PET bottles, require the addition of hardeners to improve scratch resistance;
UV ink: An environmentally friendly option that cures instantly under ultraviolet light, reducing VOC emissions by more than 90%.
3. Registration accuracy control
Using a CCD alignment system ensures that the multicolor printing deviation is ≤0.1mm, avoiding the "ghosting" phenomenon.
III. Quality Control and Industry Challenges
Adhesion test: After the tape peels off after being scratched with a cross-cut tester, the ink peeling rate must be <5%;
Weather resistance: Pattern durability was verified through QUV accelerated aging test;
Environmental bottleneck: The drying efficiency of water-based inks in high-speed printing needs to be improved.
Conclusion
Screen printing remains the mainstream technology for beverage bottle decoration due to its high cost-effectiveness and three-dimensional effect. In the future, with the development of nano-inks and digital plate-making (such as CTS direct plate making), this technology will evolve towards greater efficiency and environmental friendliness. Companies need to balance process innovation with cost control to adapt to the market's dual demands for personalization and sustainability.
