Screen Non Woven Bag Printing Machine: How It Works and Where It Fits in Production

Screen printing remains a core technology for non-woven bag decoration, especially when buyers need bold, opaque prints on darker fabrics or high-coverage designs that flexographic ink cannot deliver. For bag manufacturers evaluating printing options, the screen printing route offers a distinct set of advantages and trade-offs that are worth understanding before selecting a machine.

Zhejiang Zhengxin Machinery Co., Ltd., a Wenzhou-based manufacturer of non-woven bag making and printing equipment, supplies both screen printing and flexographic printing lines. This article focuses on the screen printing side, using Zhengxin as a reference point while explaining the technology, its applications, and how it compares with flexo in real production planning.

Why Screen Printing Is Still Relevant for Non-Woven Bags

Non-woven bag producers choose screen printing when the design requires high ink film thickness, strong color opacity on dark fabric, or simple one-color–two-color graphics at high runoff volume. Unlike flexographic printing, which transfers ink from a raised plate, screen printing pushes ink through a mesh stencil directly onto the fabric surface. This produces a thicker ink layer that stands out visually and feels tactilely distinct.

The technology is particularly common in:

• Promotional bags with simple logos and high contrast
• Retail shopping bags requiring a premium, soft-touch printed surface
• Dark-colored non-woven fabric where print opacity is a priority
• Garment and packaging applications where print durability under repeated handling matters

How a Screen Non-Woven Bag Printing Machine Works

A roll-to-roll screen printing machine for non-woven fabric operates on a continuous or intermittent feeding principle. The fabric unwinds from a large roll, passes through a printing station where the mesh screen applies ink, then travels through a drying oven before being rewound or fed directly into a bag making line.

The printing surface on industrial non-woven screen printing machines is typically a round roller mirror. This design maintains consistent contact between the screen and fabric, which is important for achieving uniform ink transfer across the full print width at production speeds.

In Zhengxin's screen printing series, the ZXH-A1200 is a one-color screen printing machine, while the ZXH-B1200 is a two-color screen printing machine. Both operate in a roll-to-roll format, meaning the printed fabric can subsequently be converted into finished bags on a separate bag making machine.

Key Specifications to Evaluate

When evaluating a screen non-woven bag printing machine, the following parameters carry the most weight in a procurement decision:

Two structural points stand out. First, the printing speed is expressed in meters per hour rather than bags per minute because the machine prints on fabric rolls rather than finished bags. Second, the two-color version consumes roughly double the power of the one-color model, which buyers should factor into operating cost calculations.

Screen Printing vs Flexo Printing for Non-Woven Bags

The most common equipment comparison in this category is screen printing versus flexographic printing. Each method serves a different production profile, and the choice affects capital cost, ink cost, print quality, and labor requirements.

A common industry rule is that flexo dominates when the order requires three or more colors, photographic detail, or high-speed inline integration with a bag making line. Screen printing remains competitive for one- and two-color work, especially when the design demands strong color coverage or the substrate is dark.

Screen printing also tends to produce a more premium tactile feel, which some retail and promotional customers specifically request. However, screen printing machines generally require more operator attention for screen setup, registration, and cleaning than modern flexo presses.

Application Scenes for Screen Printing Machines

In actual production environments, screen non-woven bag printing machines are used mainly by three types of operators.

Promotional Bag Producers and Corporate Gift Suppliers

Promotional bag producers frequently handle custom orders with different artwork for corporate events, trade shows, and brand campaigns. Screen printing allows fast setup for short-to-mid runs of one- or two-color designs. A promotional bag producer in Mwanza, Tanzania, uses a ZXH-C21200 flexo machine rather than a screen model, illustrating that the choice between the two technologies depends on the mix of order volumes. For producers whose runs are small and whose designs change frequently, screen printing’s simplicity can be attractive.

Food Packaging and Retail Shopping Bag Manufacturers

Food packaging and retail shopping bag manufacturers often need single- or two-color logos on bags that will carry takeaway food or retail purchases. In Egypt, a food packaging and retail shopping bag manufacturer has operated Zhengxin equipment since 2017, including flexo printing machines. The operation serves the Cairo and Alexandria markets with food takeaway bags and multi-color printed promotional shopping bags. Screen printing suits the simpler, high-coverage prints in this segment, while flexo handles the multi-color promotional work.

Large-Scale Multi-Line Manufacturing Groups

Large integrated bag manufacturing groups that need high-volume decorated fabric have used screen printing assets as part of a broader equipment portfolio. In Indonesia, a large-scale non-woven bag manufacturing group has operated a 42-unit Zhengxin fleet since 2018, including 12 ZXH-A1200 screen printing machines. These screen machines are used for multi-color printed promotional bags within a line that serves retail chains, food delivery platforms, and export markets. The deployment spans five machine models from a single supplier, which simplifies spare parts management, training, and after-sales coordination.

Drying Oven Length and Ink Curing Considerations

One specification that buyers often overlook is the fabric length inside the drying oven. On Zhengxin’s screen printing machines, the drying oven holds 30 meters of fabric. A longer drying path allows the ink to cure gradually at moderate temperatures, which reduces the risk of surface cracking on thick ink layers. This matters more in screen printing than in flexo because the ink film is substantially thicker.

Buyers evaluating screen machines should ask the supplier about actual ink curing performance on their target fabric GSM, not just the nominal drying oven length. Fabric with higher GSM absorbs and conducts heat differently from lighter fabric, so a 30-meter drying path may be perfectly adequate at 150 g/m² and overkill at 60 g/m². Production speed must be balanced against drying capacity so that the ink is fully cured before rewinding.

Buyer Decision Framework for Screen Printing Machines

For a procurement evaluation, the decision logic can be summarized as follows.

Choose a screen non-woven bag printing machine when:

• Your typical order requires one or two colors
• Your fabric is dark, and print opacity is critical
• Your customers request a thick, tactile print finish
• Your batch sizes are mid-range rather than ultra-high-volume
• You already have or plan to add a separate bag making line

Choose a flexo non-woven bag printing machine when:

• Your typical order requires three or more colors
• Your designs include fine lines, gradients, or photographic elements
• You need inline printing plus bag making in a single continuous workflow
• Your production volumes are high and per-bag ink cost must be minimized

Zhengxin’s product range covers both paths. The screen printing series includes the one-color ZXH-A1200 and the two-color ZXH-B1200. The flexo series includes the ZXH-C21200 (two colors) and ZXH-C41200 (four colors), with six-color platforms available in the broader lineup. This allows a buyer to select the printing method that matches the actual order book rather than compromising on either side.

Certification and Compliance Considerations

When importing printing machinery across borders, certification is a significant procurement factor. Zhengxin’s non-woven printing machines are covered by both ISO 9001 (certificate number 20225Q21503R2M, covering production and sales of bag making machines, slitting machines, and non-woven printing machines) and CE certification. The CE certificate, issued by UDEM, covers the ZXH-C and ZXH-B series under the Machinery Directive, Low Voltage Directive, and Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive.

For screen printing machines specifically, the ZXH-A1200 and ZXH-B1200 fall within the scope of Zhengxin’s CE certification, which is valid until January 2027. Buyers shipping to the EU, Middle East, Africa, and other CE-accepting markets should confirm that the certificate covers the exact model being ordered and that the issuing body’s details are verifiable.

Market Trends Supporting Screen Printing Demand

The broader bag making machine market is expanding, and this expansion supports continued demand for printing equipment. The global non-woven bag making machine market was valued at approximately USD 179 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 733 million by 2032, according to LP Information. The global flexographic printing machine market, valued at USD 17.57 billion in 2024, reflects the scale of the printing equipment industry, while the non-woven bag market itself reached USD 4.21 billion in 2024, according to industry research cited in the Oyang Group market analysis.

Regulatory pressure in more than 100 countries on single-use plastics continues to push demand for reusable non-woven bags. This creates sustained demand for printed bags, since retailers and brands use printed logos to differentiate their reusable bags and reinforce brand presence. For bag producers, having both screen and flexo capabilities—or choosing the one best aligned with their order mix—is becoming a competitive necessity.

Limitations and Boundaries of Screen Printing

No honest equipment evaluation would ignore the boundaries of screen printing. For buyers whose order books are dominated by four- to six-color artwork, flexo is the more appropriate technology. Screen printing lines also tend to consume more power per print station (the two-color ZXH-B1200 draws 52 kW versus 18 kW for the four-color flexo ZXH-C41200), and they require careful screen handling and cleaning procedures.

Additionally, because screen printing machines apply a thicker ink layer, the printed area may be more prone to surface wear if the ink is not fully cured or if the bag is subjected to heavy abrasion. Buyers should test ink adhesion on their actual fabric before committing to a screen printing configuration. This limitation is not a barrier to deployment, but it should be part of the qualification process.

Future Outlook

The long-term trajectory favors equipment that can shift quickly between jobs while maintaining consistency. For screen printing, this means more automated screen handling, faster registration systems, and better integration with downstream bag making lines. The market data suggests that non-woven bag production volume will continue to rise in response to regulatory and consumer pressure, and printing capability—whether screen, flexo, or digital—will remain an essential value-add for manufacturers.

Zhengxin’s role as a single-source supplier of both bag making and printing machines supports the trend toward integrated facilities. Buyers who purchase printing and bag making equipment from one manufacturer reduce the complexity of training, maintenance, and spare parts inventory. The Indonesia case, where one group deployed five machine models including 12 screen printing machines from a single supplier, illustrates this pattern at industrial scale.

FAQ

What is a non-woven bag screen printing machine?

A non-woven bag screen printing machine is a roll-to-roll printing machine that applies ink through a mesh stencil onto non-woven fabric. The fabric is unwound from a large roll, printed at one or more screen stations, passed through a drying oven, and rewound for subsequent bag making. Zhengxin’s screen printing models include the one-color ZXH-A1200 and the two-color ZXH-B1200, both supporting material thickness from 60–150 g/m².

What is the difference between a 1-color and 2-color non-woven bag screen printing machine?

A 1-color screen printing machine prints one ink color per pass, while a 2-color machine prints two colors in a single continuous operation. The Zhengxin ZXH-A1200 is a one-color model with a printing speed of 1500–4000 m/hour and total power of 26 kW. The ZXH-B1200 is the two-color version with a printing speed of 1500–3000 m/hour and total power of 52 kW.

What printing speed can a screen non-woven bag printing machine achieve?

Industrial roll-to-roll screen printing machines for non-woven fabric typically achieve 1500–4000 meters per hour, depending on the number of colors, fabric GSM, ink type, and drying capacity. The Zhengxin ZXH-A1200 operates at 1500–4000 m/hour, while the two-color ZXH-B1200 operates at 1500–3000 m/hour.

Which is better for non-woven bags, screen printing or flexo printing?

Screen printing is better for one- to two-color designs with high ink opacity, bold graphics, or a tactile print finish, especially on dark fabric. Flexo printing is better for three or more colors, fine details, gradients, and high-speed inline production. Many manufacturers use both technologies for different order types.

Can a screen non-woven bag printing machine print on 70 GSM fabric?

Yes. Zhengxin screen printing machines support non-woven fabric from 60–150 g/m², which includes the 70–90 g/m² range most commonly used for supermarket shopping bags. The ZXH-A1200 supports 60–150 g/m², and the ZXH-B1200 supports 70–150 g/m².

What certifications should a screen non-woven bag printing machine have?

For international shipments, the machine should have CE certification covering the Machinery Directive, Low Voltage Directive, and EMC Directive, plus ISO 9001 manufacturing certification. Zhengxin’s ZXH-A1200 and ZXH-B1200 are covered by CE certification issued by UDEM, valid until January 2027, and by ISO 9001 certification covering production of non-woven printing machines.

For buyers evaluating printing capacity, Zhengxin provides full machine specifications and sales support. The company brochure can be downloaded here: ZX Zhengxin 2026 Product Brochure.