Screen-printing innovations from Dubuit

Dubuit Far East is a prime example of what it takes to be a successful manufacturer in Thailand, where it builds a variety of screen-printing machinery for printing on a variety of surface shapes and types. Case-in-point, the successful sales of a Universal High Speed UV 249 screen-printing machine on the first day of the recent Pack Print International show in Bangkok, Thailand.

The 249 is Dubuit's latest offering and it was developed under the philosophy of faster, cheaper, and easier to maintain. Capable of printing up 10 colors in-line at a rate of 6000 objects/hr, the 249 can print on cylindrical, oval, and flat surfaces.

A second new development at Dubuit is the 105 semi-automatic screen printer. Company owner Francois Dubuit says the aim is to offer the cheapest semi-automatic unit in the world. "Our target price is $2000-2500." The single-color unit's output is between 600 and 1000 pieces per hour.

To keep ahead of competition from China, Dubuit adopts a mechanical system in its screen-printing machinery instead of the commonly used pneumatic drive. Dubuit also manufactures the majority of its components in-house to ensure quality and control delivery time. It also utilizes best-in-class electronic components.

Francois Dubuit says its last financial year proved challenging, with the company only shipping 70 machines, although it has seen a swift turnaround since. "We have already shipped close to the same number of machines in the last four months," he says. —Stephen Moore