What should I check about a screen printing shop’s dryer, press and exposure unit?
Run the equipment during a real job. Watch whether the dryer holds an even temperature across the belt, whether the press registers cleanly on every station, and whether the exposure unit gives consistent results. Then ask for service records and replacement parts history.
Ask to see a production run, not a quiet demonstration. On the dryer, check for cold spots along the belt, burnt or under-cured prints, worn belt edges and the condition of heating elements and controls. Ask how often it has been serviced and who did the work.
On the press, push each arm through its full travel. Look for play in the pivots, loose registration, damaged platens and clamps that no longer hold. Ask about the last time a part was replaced and whether replacements are easy to get for this make and model.
The exposure unit matters more than it looks. Ask how the owner confirms a screen is properly exposed, how old the lamps or LEDs are, and whether the vacuum seal still holds. Poor exposure shows up later as ruined screens and reprints. Bring a technician who knows this equipment, and ask your accountant how the machines should appear in the purchase price. Make sure every machine listed in the deal is actually on the floor, working and not subject to a lease or lien. Ask to see the last time a bulb, belt or heating element failed, and how long production stopped while it was fixed.
Key takeaways
- Watch the dryer, press and exposure unit run during real production.
- Ask for service records and the date of the last major repair.
- Confirm no machine is leased, financed or missing from the sale.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
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