Digitalisation poses major challenges for the traditional printing industry. Fewer and fewer young people are opting for training in this field. In contrast, well-trained specialists are urgently needed for the future technology of printed electronics. Those interested can now embark on an exciting career by training as a screen printing media technologist (m/f/d) at the ITZ.
Apprenticeship as a media technologist (m/f/d)
Printing electronic components requires a great deal of expertise. Be it in the field of electrical engineering, chemistry for the production of pastes, but also in the field of printing. This is where media technologists (m/f/d) in screen printing are in demand, a recognised training occupation since 1956.
In 2011, the occupation ‘screen printer (m/f/d)’ was renamed ‘media technologist (m/f/d) screen printing’. As part of this modernisation, the training regulations were also revised. Optional qualifications such as ‘technical screen printing’ and ‘pad printing’ are now part of the training programme.
These elective qualifications are particularly interesting for the binder Innovation and Technology Centre, as they include precisely those technologies that are required in printed electronics. In order to fully cover the graphic areas of the training programme and ensure comprehensive training, inter-company training periods are planned. During these, the apprentice will work in co-operating companies in order to be able to learn all the graphic training objectives.
Training start September 2024
It became official this year. The binder ITZ has been recognised by the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce as a training company and a trainer has also been found. binder has a number of additional benefits in store for its trainees. In addition to trainee events, there is time for learning, bonuses for good school performance and much more.
The binder ITZ is looking forward to the start of a new era in the recruitment and training of new specialists for a promising profession.
Change in the job profile
Electronics and printing methods only came together after 500 years. During this period, the profession of printer has changed fundamentally and new products and production methods have emerged.
In 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented letterpress printing, which was very advanced for the time. Its high degree of flexibility was particularly impressive. However, it was not possible to print large motifs on fabrics or signs as the stamps were not suitable for this. As a result, the much older stencil printing could not be replaced by letterpress or stamp printing.
Stencil printing has developed steadily. Originally, it consisted of a simple metal plate that was mainly used for labelling. The change to different types of mesh turned the metal stencil into the first screen printing stencil. These meshes made the previously necessary bars in the stencils superfluous and allowed the printing of finer lines and structures.
What is printed electronics?
Fine lines and structures are also necessary for printed electronics.
Screen printing has now established itself in printed electronics and is of great importance due to its high layer application. Conductive pastes such as silver, copper, carbon or PEDOT:PSS as well as dielectrics are printed in order to produce ever smaller and more flexible electronic components in large quantities. Multilayer printing can be used to produce heating elements, sensors or conductor tracks, for example. Traditional craftsmanship makes a lot of things possible.
Circular connectors and pad printing
Printing processes have been part of daily operations at binder headquarters for decades. One example of this is the labelling of circular connectors using pad printing to simplify correct assembly. Since 2016, the Innovation and Technology Centre has been researching various other printing processes (dispensing, inkjet, 3D printing) and investigating their benefits in printed electronics.
About binder
binder is a family business characterised by traditional values and is one of the leading specialists for circular connectors with headquarters in Neckarsulm. Since 1960, binder has stood for the highest quality. The binder Group includes the binder headquarters, nine sales offices, seven production facilities, two system service providers and an innovation and technology centre.
The company works with other distribution partners on six continents and employs around 2,000 people worldwide. In addition to Germany, the binder sites are located in China, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland, Singapore, Hungary and the USA.
Key data on the training programme:
- Duration: 3 years
- Qualification: Screen printing media technologist
- Optional qualifications: transfer printing, pad printing, technical screen printing
- Requirements: completed school education
- Application under: bewerbung@binder-connector.de
- Application start: as of now
Corporate address:
Franz Binder GmbH & Co.
Elektrische Bauelemente KG
Rötelstraße 27
74172 Neckarsulm
Tel. +49 (0) 7132 325-0
Fax +49 (0) 7132 325-150
info@binder-connector.de
www.binder-connector.de
Press contact:
Miriam Bergmann
Tel. +49 (0) 7264 70249-225
E-Mail m.bergmann@binder-connector.de