Screen printing for electronics

Build functional layers with a proven process

Screen printing deposits functional inks with precision on flexible and rigid substrates. It is widely used to build printed electronics at scale: conductors, resistors and dielectrics for heaters, sensors and interfaces. This page explains the process, materials and quality controls engineers rely on.

Screen printing

What is screen printing?

Screen printing is a stencil process: a squeegee drives ink through open areas of a mesh to transfer a pattern. In printed electronics, we use conductive, resistive and dielectric inks to build functional layers. Registration and screen alignment ensure each layer lines up for consistent performance.

Materials and substrates

Substrates: PET (often heat‑stabilised), PC, TPU, PMMA.
Inks: Silver and carbon conductors; resistive pastes; dielectric and protective layers.
Post‑print: Drying or curing, then lamination or converting as required.

Quality and testing

Every panel is checked for alignment, continuity and adhesion. For functional prints we measure track resistance against targets at process level (per panel) and product level (end of line). This supports traceability and stable electrical performance.

Throughput and scale

Screen printing supports high‑throughput production on automated lines with short cycle times and panelised handling. It suits mid‑ to high‑volume builds where uniform layers and repeatable geometry matter.

When to use it

  • Printed heaters
    Uniform resistive patterns on films.

  • Sensors and interfaces
    Conductors and contact areas on PET, TPU or PC.

  • HMI layers
    Graphics plus functional stacks in one process.

Screen printing machine

A quick reference guide to screen printing:

how does it work exactly?

Screen printing press in a production line for electronics.

Operator running a screen printing machine on an electronics panel.

Squeegee applying conductive ink during a screen print.

Conductive tracks on a PET panel after curing.

Die-cut film sheet with printed circuitry, panelised for assembly.

Hand holding a flexible film with printed electronics.

Closing note

Screen printing provides a robust, cost‑efficient route to functional prints with repeatable quality. If you are scaling a heater, sensor or interface, it offers the registration, material breadth and inline checks that production teams expect.

Product families

Smart textiles

Printed sensors

Film heaters

Capacitive touch

Membrane switches

ExG monitoring applications

Silicone rubber keypads

Graphic overlays

Stimulation electrodes

Are you ready to move forward together?

Download the whitepaper

Screen-printed electronics are lightweight, flexible, and built for smart applications. They reduce cost and production time by printing functional layers directly onto the substrate. From IoT and sensors to wearables and smart surfaces, integration is fast and versatile.

Download the whitepaper to explore the 10 advantages and real-world use cases.

This is why we are
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Co-creation & advice

Co-creation is how we work. We challenge assumptions, ask the right questions and share insights gained from previous projects to help customers avoid pitfalls.

R&D

R&D at Quad is about exploring what’s possible before committing to what’s buildable. Through applied research, material testing and participation in innovation programs, we deepen our understanding of new technologies and emerging applications.

This knowledge feeds future projects and helps customers make informed choices early on.

Engineering

Engineering is where ideas are translated into concrete designs. Our engineers define architectures, layouts and technical details that balance functionality, performance and feasibility.

Every decision is made with downstream production and real-world use in mind.

Prototyping

Prototyping is about learning fast. We create functional samples and proof-of-concepts to test assumptions, compare options and validate critical parameters.

This hands-on phase reduces uncertainty before committing to final designs or production.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing is where reliability is proven. In our European production facilities, we produce both low-volume and series runs with full control over critical processes such as printing, assembly and precision cutting.

This allows us to deliver consistent quality while managing cost, yield and lead times.

Quad Academy

The Quad Academy brings together cases, trends and insights from within Quad Industries. It’s a place to explore how technology, materials and production thinking come together in real projects.

Printed electronics for smart textiles: a market on fire

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Synergistically repurpose functional ROI after B2C strategic theme areas. Dynamically formulate performance based functionalities for real-time ROI. Credibly communicate.

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