Hitting The Big Screen

The thickness of the ink produced by a screen unit lends itself well to certain specialty applications, Yates continues. Tactile warning labels and Braille printing for the blind on certain packaging is now done using screen units. Special 200 micron mesh, with a puckering additive to raise the ink higher than 200 microns after curing, is used to place raised Braille warnings on packages such as chemical bottles. Ink thickness also can be a marketing tool to give new product packaging a pebbled or raised effect to stand out on the shelf. "It can really add value and make a product look totally different," Yates confirms, adding that a new look can also open new markets for established products by giving it more consumer appeal on the store shelves.