The screen printing process utilizes a squeegee to push ink through a mesh screen onto an object or surface. The screen houses the image for printing. To create the image, we block areas of the screen except for the image, allowing the ink to pass through. Due to its simplicity, people widely use this printing process to print on a variety of materials, including fabrics, glass, plastics, and more.
Screen printing ink is a special type of “paint” formulated for application in layers to various materials, such as textiles, glass, metal, and plastic, in the screen printing process. The screen printing process, known as silk screen printing, uses a squeegee to push the ink through a stencil (mesh screen) onto a substrate.
There are various types of ink formulations to suit different applications and materials. Some common types include water-based, plastisol, UV/LED-curable, solvent-based, and silicone inks. At Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., we formulate and supply solvent-based, UV/LED-curable, and silicone printing inks.
Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., revolutionized the world of printing with silicone inks. Today, we are the largest manufacturer and supplier of silicone printing inks in the world. We offer inks for printing on silicone rubber and inks for printing on apparel.
There are two types of silicone screen printing inks. These are:
Both rubber and apparel silicone inks are silicone-based, but they cater to specific printing applications. The major differences are application of use, flexibility, softness, curing processes, and adhesion properties. Read more about the difference between rubber silicone inks and apparel silicone inks.
At Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., we offer some of the world’s most versatile solvent-based screen printing inks for marking and decorative applications.
Many contractor printing and industrial companies use our solvent-based inks to mark and decorate hard goods.
We formulate these printing inks using organic solvents as a base. As a result, they evaporate during and after printing, leaving behind the solids on the printed surface.
These inks are excellent for high-speed production environments. Typical screen printing applications include paper, wood, leather, plastics, metal, and glass. Not only do these printing inks adhere well to different materials, but they also produce vibrant and durable prints.
Learn more about ink additives and when to use a hardener.
Specially formulated, UV inks dry when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light. This feature makes them different from thermal-cured ink or air-dry inks. Please note that these inks do not “cure” instantly, but they dry instantly on exposure to UV light at 395nm. A full cure occurs within 24 hours upon exposure to UV light.
UV ink produces a sharper and more vibrant image than regular conventional inks due to their quick drying nature.
Many companies are using UV-curable inks for various printing applications because of their quick-drying nature. Additionally, these inks are environmentally friendly and increase production efficiency. At Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., we make both UV inks for UV inkjet printing and screen printing.
Visit our YouTube channel to learn more about UV inks and the different UV adhesion promoters that aid this ink to bond well on hard-to-print substrates.
For more information on our printing inks, check out the screen printing ink overview on our blog.
Follow us around the world as we demonstrate our latest and greatest products on different applications.
©2025 Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc.
