What is Platen (Pallet)?
Technical definition, shop floor implications, and pricing strategies for commercial apparel decorators.
The flat rubber-coated aluminum board attached to the arm of a manual or automatic screen printing press that supports and positions the garment during printing.
Deep Dive & Practical Application
Platens come in specialized shapes and dimensions engineered for specific apparel placements: standard adult t-shirt platens (16"×22"), youth platens (10"×14"), sleeve/leg boards (4"×20"), zippered hoodie platens with recessed center channels, and pocket platens.
Operators apply water-based pallet adhesive or specialized platen tape to ensure the fabric stays 100% immobilized between multi-color print strokes and flash rotations.
Shop Floor & Profitability Impact
Using the right platen prevents seam collisions, uneven squeegee pressure, and garment stretch during high-volume production.
The Print Life Screen Printing Operating System
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