Advanced Lab Screen Printing

Last week, students from the Print Media Technologies program at Hochschule der Medien had the unique opportunity to participate in a one-week Advanced Lab Screen Printing seminar at the CCL site in Nufringen. Accompanied by Prof. Dr Lindenmann, a group of six students immersed themselves in an intensive, hands-on learning experience focused on developing functional printed electronics.

 

The goal of the seminar was ambitious: to design and manufacture a fully functional electronic label from scratch. Over the course of the week, participants worked through the entire production process, from the initial concept to the final working prototype.

 

The seminar combined both design and technical implementation. Students explored material selection and layer structures, while also creating graphical layouts and circuit designs. A key part of the process involved working with specialised inks, including two-component, silver, and carbon inks, which are essential for printed electronic applications.

 

In addition to design work, participants gained practical experience in the complete screen-printing workflow. This included film production, screen exposure, machine setup, and the actual printing process. Precision tools such as laser cutters were used to produce components, which were then assembled into the final label.

 

The project also integrated electronic functionality. Students built circuits featuring multiple LEDs, incorporated a metal dome as a button, added a light guide, and completed the assembly by mounting and connecting all components into a cohesive system.

 

Overall, the seminar provided a comprehensive and immersive experience, combining theory with hands-on practice. It not only deepened technical skills but also fostered teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving.

 

A sincere thank you goes to CCL for providing access to their Technikum facilities and to Prof. Dr Lindenmann for his continuous support and guidance throughout the seminar.