Screen making technician

Screen making technicians engrave or etch screens for textile printing. 

The following job titles also refer to screen making technician:

silk screen engraver
rotary engraver
textile engraver
silk screen etcher
textile engravers
textile screen maker
etcher and engraver

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a screen making technician.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Screen making technician is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to screen making technician.

printing textile technician
textile dyeing technician
finishing textile technician
textile printer
textile dyer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of screen making technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of screen making technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

textile chemical quality technician
textile sourcing merchandiser
textile quality technician
textile process controller
textile operations manager

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of screen making technician.

• Health and safety in the textile industry: The requirements, rules and applications of health and safety measures in the textile industry.
• 3D printing process: The process of reproducing 3D objects by using 3D printing technologies.
• Printing techniques: The techniques and processes to reproduce text and images using a master form or template such as letterpress printing, gravure, and laser printing.
• Properties of fabrics: The influence of chemical composition and molecular arrangement of yarn and fibre properties and fabric structure on the physical properties of textile fabrics; the different fibre types, their physical and chemical characteristics and different material characteristics; the materials used in different processes and the effect on materials as they are processed.
• Textile printing technology: Addition of colour partially, according to the designed pattern, onto textile based materials. Processes for adding coloured patterns onto textile materials using printing machines and techniques (rotary of flat bed screen printing or others, heat transfer, inkjet, etc.).

These skills are necessary for the role of screen making technician.

• Prepare equipment for textile printing: Manufacture screens and prepare printing paste. Use tools and equipment associated with screen printing. Select screen types and mesh for appropriate substrates. Develop, dry and finish screen image. Prepare screens, test screens and printed quality.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Operate screen printing equipment for textiles: Operate equipment for textile screen printing considering specifications, the type of textile material, and the quantity for production. Foresee the necessary actions for screen and printing in textile.
• Decorate textile articles: Decorate wearing apparels and made up textile articles by hand or using machines. Decorate textile articles with ornaments, braided cords, golden yarns, soutaches, jewellery, and cristals.
• Cut textiles: Cut textiles fitting to customers’ desires and needs.
• Bundle fabrics: Bundle fabrics and place several cut components together in a single package. Join related products and items together. Sort the cut fabrics and add them with the accessories required for assembling. Care for the adequate transportation to the sewing lines.
• Maintain control systems for automated equipment: Check, maintain and repair electrical and electronic elements. Check and update software of automated equipment.
• Tend textile printing machines: Operate textile printing machines keeping efficiency and productivity at high levels.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of screen making technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Textile industry: Major textile manufacturers on the market of various brands and materials.
• Textile chemistry: Chemical processing of textiles such as the reactions of textiles to chemicals.
• Research and development in textiles: Development of new concepts through the use of scientific and other methods of applied research.
• Textile technologies: Textile technologies to design, manufacture and evaluate the properties of textiles.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of screen making technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Oversee the design of touristic publications: Monitor the design of marketing publications and materials for the promotion of tourism-related products.
• Oversee the printing of touristic publications: Manage the printing of marketing publications and materials for the promotion of tourism-related products.
• Conduct textile testing operations: Prepare for textile testing and evaluation, gathering the test samples, conducting and recording tests, validating data and presenting results.
• Evaluate textile characteristics: Evaluate textiles and their properties in order to manufacture products in conformity with specifications.

7321 – Pre-press technicians

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References

1. Screen making technician – ESCO