Flat vs. Round Screen Printer – Which Should Customers Choose?

The screen printing industry remains one of the most popular forms of printing in Vietnam. From small print shops to large-scale factories, screen printing equipment is essential for printing logos, brand information, and patterns onto products.

But for those preparing to invest in a printing business or expand production, the most important question is:

Should I buy a flat screen printer or a round screen printer? Which type best suits my real needs?

This article will help you clearly understand the differences between the two types of screen printers, their pros and cons, real-world applications, and how to make the right choice to save costs and maximize production efficiency.

1. What is a Flat Screen Printer?

A Flat Screen Printer is designed for printing on flat, non-curved surfaces.

Main components:

• Flat printing table, with a fixed or movable screen frame

• Squeegee or pressing arm to push ink through the screen onto the material

• Adjustable pressure and squeegee speed

Common applications:

• Printing on T-shirt uniforms

• Printing on non-woven fabric bags

• Printing decals, labels, and stickers

• Printing on paper boxes, gift bags

• Printing on flat wood, glass, and plastic sheets

Advantages:

• Simple design, easy to learn

• Available in various sizes (A4, A3, A2)

• Low investment cost

• Suitable for small to medium production

• Easy maintenance, readily available parts

Disadvantages:

• Only prints on flat surfaces

• Cannot print directly on curved or cylindrical objects like bottles and cups

2. What is a Round Screen Printer?

A Round Screen Printer is specialized for printing on curved, cylindrical, or round surfaces.

Main components:

• Clamping or rotating holder to secure the object

• Rotation mechanism to turn the object during printing

• Screen frame presses ink as the object rotates

Common applications:

• Printing on cosmetic bottles (plastic or glass)

• Printing beverage and food bottles

• Printing on plastic or paper cups for cafes and bubble tea shops

• Printing on paper tubes, tin cans, cylindrical packaging

Advantages:

• Specifically designed for cylindrical items

• Direct printing onto the product – durable, professional finish

• Ideal for high-end packaging needs

• Flexible diameter handling – supports various bottle sizes

Disadvantages:

• Cannot print on flat surfaces

• Requires clamp changes and adjustments when changing object sizes

• Higher cost than flat printers of the same size if finely engineered

3. Head-to-Head Comparison: Flat vs. Round Screen Printer

4. Who Should Choose a Flat Screen Printer?

• Households or individuals starting out with a small budget

• T-shirt printing shops

• Workshops printing fabric/paper bags or gift boxes

• Decal, label, and sticker printing businesses

• Handmade gift makers

Strengths: Low capital, easy to learn, available spare parts, can print on various flat products

Recommendations:

• If your main products are T-shirts, decals, or fabric bags → choose a Flat Screen Printer

• If your budget is limited, start with A4 or A3

• If you plan to scale up → consider A2

5. Who Should Choose a Round Screen Printer?

• Workshops printing plastic/glass bottles (cosmetics, perfumes)

• Food and beverage packaging factories

• Plastic and paper cup manufacturers

• Businesses printing on paper tubes, tin cans, or metal cylindrical packaging

• Gift printing shops for mugs, tumblers, etc.

Strengths: Specialized for cylindrical objects, strong ink adhesion, visually appealing output, enhances brand value

Recommendations:

• If customers require direct printing on bottles or cups → a Round Screen Printer is a must

• If you only have a flat printer and try to take on bottle/cup jobs → you won’t be able to do them

6. TACHI’s Solution – Multi-Function Screen Printer

If you’re worried about being limited by a single-purpose machine, TACHI offers multi-function screen printers:

• Combine flat printing table and rotating clamp in a single frame

• Capable of printing both T-shirts/decals and bottles/cups

• More cost-effective than buying two separate machines

• Ideal for small workshops aiming to handle diverse orders

• Saves space and reduces initial investment

7. TACHI – Your Trusted Printing Partner

CƠ KHÍ TACHI specializes in manufacturing and supplying:

• Flat Screen Printers (A4, A3, A2) with high-quality builds

• Round Screen Printers – sturdy design, easy adjustments

• Multi-function Screen Printers – save capital, expand services

• Consultation to help you choose the right machine – avoid costly mistakes

• Hands-on training – so customers can operate confidently

• Support for installation – warranty – spare parts always available

8. Conclusion

Flat and Round Screen Printers both play vital roles, but they serve two completely different needs:

• For flat surface printing → choose a Flat Screen Printer

• For bottle, cup, or round surface printing → choose a Round Screen Printer

✅ If you’re focusing on a single product line – buy the specialized machine
✅ If you want to take on diverse orders – consider a multi-function screen printer to save capital and expand services

Contact TACHI today for expert advice and to choose the perfect screen printer for your workshop!

TACHI Mechanical Manufacturing and Trading Co., Ltd.

Address: 176, Nguyen Ai Quoc Street, Group 2, Quarter 1, Trang Dai Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai District, Vietnam.

Hotline/Whatsapp: +84 352 193 969

Email: tachi.customercare01@gmail.com

Website: //mayinluatachi.com