Buying used screen printing equipment

Automatic presses

Registration is everything on an automatic. Watch the press index through a full rotation and print a multi-color test if you can. Any play in the print heads, indexer or pallet arms shows up as misregistration on press.

• Check pallets are level and the micro-registration has full travel on every head.
• Listen for air leaks on pneumatic presses and ask what size compressor it needs.
• Check the control panel, sensors and any servo drives for error codes.
• Ask how many colors and stations it has, the max print size, and what pallets come with it.

Manual and tabletop presses

Manual presses are simpler, but registration still matters. Clamp a screen in each head and check that it locks down the same way every time.

• Look for bent arms, worn bearings and loose platen mounts.
• Check off-contact and micro-registration adjustments move freely.
• Ask which platens, jacket clamps and sleeve platens are included.

Conveyor dryers and flash cure units

Under-cured plastisol cracks and washes out, so heat is the whole job of a dryer. A dryer that looks fine can still have dead zones across the belt.

• Check the temperature across the full belt width with a heat gun or temperature strips.
• Watch the belt track straight and check for frayed edges or burn marks.
• Ask about the age of the heating elements and the controller (analog or digital).
• Confirm the belt width, heat chamber length and power (voltage and phase).
• On flash cure units, check the panel heats evenly and the timer or sensor works.

Exposure units and the screen room

Light source and vacuum decide how sharp your stencils come out. LED units and older metal halide or fluorescent units behave differently, so know what you're buying.

• Check lamp or LED output and age, and run a test exposure if possible.
• Look for tears in the vacuum blanket and make sure it pulls full draw-down.
• Check the timer or integrator works and ask for the max frame size.
• Ask whether burning or registration templates are included.
• For washout booths and dip tanks, check for cracks, leaks and a working drain or filter.

Before you pay for any used machine

• See it run under load, not just power on. Ask the seller for a video of a real job if you can't visit.
• Ask for age, hours or print/stitch count, and any service records or receipts for replaced parts.
• Confirm parts and service are still available for that model.
• Check the power it needs (voltage, phase, amps) against what your shop has, and price any electrical work.
• Plan rigging, crating and freight before you buy. Heavy machines may need a forklift or liftgate at both ends.
• Pay through escrow so the money is only released after you've inspected the machine.

What to ask the seller

• Why are you selling it, and when did it last run a production job?
• What has been replaced or repaired, and who did the work?
• Can you send a video of it running, or can I see it run in person?
• Is it owned outright, or is there a loan or lease on it?