Screen Printing Press Configurations

Dynamic Supply Knowledge Series · Volume 4 · Chapter 5

Previous: Manual vs. Automatic Screen Printing Presses | Equipment Contents | Next: Flash Curing Equipment

Colors and Stations

A color refers to a print head that holds a screen. A station is a pallet position that carries a garment around the press. The counts are related, but they describe different parts of the machine.

Diagrams comparing 6 colors with 8 stations and 9 colors with 10 stations; orange indicates print heads and gray indicates extra positions

Why Station Counts Matter

Additional pallet positions can support loading, unloading and workflow flexibility. A flash unit normally occupies a print-head position; it does not automatically add another station.

Plan for Your Work

Compare your common color counts, operator staffing, flash needs, available space and growth plans before choosing a press configuration.

Manual Press Configurations

Thunder: Manual Press Options

Anatol documents Thunder configurations from 4 colors / 4 stations to 12 colors / 12 stations. The manual operator controls printing, so the right configuration depends on the jobs and labor available.

Anatol Thunder manual screen printing press

What Changes Between Configurations?

More print heads allow more colors to stay set up. More stations affect press diameter and the number of garment positions. The Thunder brochure also documents three-point micro-registration and a four-point pallet leveling system.

Thunder micro-registration components on the left and pallet assembly on the right

Automatic Press Configurations

Titan, Vector and Volt

These are the published ranges in the supplied Anatol brochures. Each press has its own drive options. Confirm exact combinations and availability when preparing a quote.

Press family	Published configuration range	Drive options
Titan	6 stations / 2 colors to 12 stations / 11 colors	AAA, ASA and ASE drives
Vector	6 stations / 4 colors to 20 stations / 18 colors	SSE hybrid operation
Volt	6 stations / 4 colors to 20 stations / 18 colors	SSE or SSS, all electric

Heads Up and Operator Positions

How Heads Up Works

On compatible Anatol automatic presses with an odd number of print heads, the last head can be raised so the press can use two dedicated operator positions when that print head is not needed.

Raised print head illustrating Heads Up operation on an Anatol automatic press

Example: 10 Stations / 9 Colors

A 10-station / 9-color press can operate as a 10-station / 8-color press when Heads Up is engaged, providing separate loading and unloading positions for two operators.

Check the Exact Machine

Heads Up depends on the press and its configuration. It does not create extra stations or additional print heads.

Drive Systems Explained

What AAA, ASA, ASE, SSE and SSS Mean

The first letter is pallet lift/lower, the second is indexing, and the third is the print-head stroke. A means air, S means servo electric, and E means AC electric.

Press	Lift	Index	Print head
Titan AAA	Air	Air	Air
Titan ASA	Air	Servo	Air
Titan ASE	Air	Servo	AC electric
Vector SSE	Servo	Servo	AC electric
Volt SSE	Servo	Servo	AC electric
Volt SSS	Servo	Servo	Servo

Why Vector SSE and Volt SSE Differ

Both have servo lift and indexing with AC electric print heads. Vector uses air for the chop and indexer lock/unlock; Volt performs these movements electrically and does not require a compressor.

Close-up illustrations of chop movement and indexer lock/unlock mechanisms