Screen Print Technician

Silk City Printing Inc; Charlottesville (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Silk City Printing Inc. in Charlottesville, VA, is seeking a Screen Printing Press Operator to manage automatic and manual presses from setup through cure.

You will ensure precise registration, color matching, and consistent ink application across cotton, performance polyester, and heavyweight fleece while meeting daily quotas. You will handle ink preparation, screen setup, and pre-press tasks, perform quality inspections at the dryer exit, and uphold safety and maintenance standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2+ years of professional experience operating commercial automatic textile screen printing presses.
• Proven expertise in printing on flat knits and heavyweight fleece, with understanding of underbase flashes and dye migration prevention.
• Proficiency in micro-registering multi-color spot, simulated process, and index separation jobs (6–12 colors).
• Comprehensive knowledge of plastisol curing dynamics, viscosity adjustment, and temperature management for various inks.

Responsibilities

• Set up, align, and calibrate screens using pneumatic clamps and micro-registration systems.
• Configure squeegees and flood bars by adjusting pressure, angle, stroke length, and speed for different inks and fabrics.
• Calibrate flash units and cooling stations to prevent heat damage and optimize dwell times.
• Operate automatic textile printing equipment and monitor ink coverage, adjusting parameters to address ink shearing and fabric characteristics.
• Maintain workflow between pallet loading and dryer intake to optimize production efficiency.

Skills

Screen printing experience

Ink handling

Quality inspections

Safety compliance

Maintenance troubleshooting

Tools

Tri-Loc

M&R CTS

Job description

Position Overview

The Screen Printing Press Operator is responsible for the setup, operation, and maintenance of automatic and manual textile printing presses. This role manages the production process from pre-press through final cure, ensuring accurate registration, precise color matching, and consistent ink application across various substrates, including cotton, performance polyester, and heavyweight fleece. The operator is responsible for achieving daily production quotas while maintaining company-standard spoilage rates.

Key Responsibilities

Press Setup & Calibration

• Mount, align, and secure screens utilizing pneumatic clamps and optical micro-registration systems.
• Configure squeegees and flood bars by adjusting pressure, angle, stroke length, and speed relative to specific ink viscosities and garment materials.
• Calibrate flash units and cooling stations, optimizing dwell times to prevent thermal damage to heat-sensitive fabrics.
• Execute test prints to verify registration, opacity, and color accuracy against approved production proofs prior to full-scale operations.

Production Execution

• Operate and manage automatic textile printing equipment.
• Continuously monitor ink coverage throughout production, adjusting mechanical parameters to address ink shearing and fiber characteristics.
• Execute production on specialized substrates by applying low-cure inks, bleed-blockers, and poly-safe additives to mitigate dye migration.
• Manage workflow between pallet loading and dryer intake to optimize production efficiency and prevent bottlenecks.

Quality Control & Cure Verification

• Perform ongoing quality inspections to identify and rectify defects, including ink smudges, color drift, and misregistration.
• Ensure proper ink cross-linking by verifying dryer tunnel settings, belt speeds, and garment surface temperatures using precision thermal instrumentation.
• Conduct standardized stretch and adhesion testing at the dryer exit to ensure product durability.
• Maintain scrap and spoilage rates within the established threshold of under 1.5−2%.

Ink Handling & Pre-Press Coordination

• Prepare and adjust ink viscosity using appropriate thinners, bases, and activators based on mesh counts and fabric specifications.
• Coordinate the staging of screens, tools, and materials to minimize downtime between job changeovers.

Clean, card, and return ink to original containers; seal pinholes and sanitize screens using approved press-side cleaning agents.

Maintenance & Shop Safety

• Execute daily startup and shutdown procedures, including platen maintenance, moisture trap inspections, and lubrication of pneumatic head tracks.
• Maintain squeegee condition by inspecting edges and replacing or sharpening blades to ensure optimal performance.
• Comply with all safety protocols regarding solvent handling, flash unit clearances, and emergency shut-off procedures; ensure consistent use of ventilation and PPE.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum 2+ years of professional experience operating commercial automatic textile screen printing presses.
• Substrate Proficiency: Proven expertise in printing on flat knits and heavyweight fleece, with a strong understanding of underbase flashes, dye migration prevention, and adhesive selection.
• Technical Setup: Demonstrated proficiency in micro-registering multi-color spot, simulated process, and index separation jobs (6–12 colors).
• Ink Chemistry: Comprehensive knowledge of plastisol curing dynamics, viscosity adjustment, and appropriate temperature management for various ink formulations.
• Physical Requirements: Ability to stand for 8–10 hour shifts, lift 40–50 lb loads, and operate in a high-temperature warehouse environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with automated screen registration systems (e.g., Tri-Loc / M&R CTS or equivalent).
• Experience with water-based and discharge ink systems, including mixing and post-print processes.