The Screen Print Column
Reflecting on innovation, partnership, and why screen printing is ‘alive and well’
This industry is a fast-paced profession with one thing being all the rage one minute, then outdated the next. Despite the changing of tastes, Dave Roper, Owner of Screen Print World, says he has more energy than ever moving forward into this new space. He explains.
T
here is a specifi c kind of energy that only exists in our industry when the machines are humming, and the community comes together.
I’ve just come off the back of a whirlwind few days, and I wanted to take a moment to refl ect on what I’ve seen, who I’ve spoken with, and why – after four decades in this game – I am feeling more energised for the ‘now’ than I have in years. Before sitting down with Danny Sweem, the CEO of M&R, I had the pleasure of hosting my Screen Print World stand at Printwear & Promotions LIVE!
Something we’ve not done in a couple of years – it felt great to be back because all of the niggling doubts about the health of our trade were put to bed.
The zeitgeist The fl oor was absolutely buzzing. Experiencing the curiosity and genuine passion from printers of all sizes reaffi rmed something I’ve championed for a long time: Screen printing is not just surviving; it is very much alive and well. There’s a resilience in the UK print market that you just can’t manufacture, and seeing it in full force was the perfect setup for my meeting with Danny.
Danny made the trip over from the States, and despite the CEO title, he’s a print guy through and through. When we got together to talk shop, we didn’t just look at the spreadsheets; we looked at the future. We talked candidly about where the global industry is heading and, more importantly, where the opportunities lie for the shops back home.
In our world, it’s easy to get caught up in the ‘digital vs. screen’ debate, but refl ecting on our conversations, the future isn’t about one replacing the other – it’s about the
www.printwearandpromotion.co.uk
Dave Roper (left) with Danny Sweem, the CEO of M&R
marriage of the two. M&R’s roadmap for new machinery is focused on making life easier for the printer: more intelligence, better automation, and higher effi ciency. Leaving those conversations, I felt a massive sense of positivity.
Looking ahead
Experiencing the curiosity and genuine passion from printers of all sizes reaff irmed something I’ve championed for a long time: Screen printing is not just surviving; it is very much alive and well.
The state of the union for screen printing is strong, and the technology coming down the line is going to allow UK shops to compete on a global scale like never before. One of the most humbling moments of the week, however, was when Danny presented me with an award marking my 20 years as an M&R representative. I’ll be honest – 20 years! It’s a bit wild to think about how much the world has changed since I fi rst started with M&R, and even wilder that they haven’t grown tired of my feedback from the UK trenches yet. But joking aside, receiving that recognition was a moment of immense pride. Representing a global leader like M&R for two decades has been the privilege of my career. It’s a partnership built on more than just selling kit; it’s about a shared belief in the craft of print.
I walked away from the last week in February feeling incredibly “up” for the challenge. Between the vibrant energy at P&P LIVE! and the visionary plans Danny shared for M&R, the message is clear: Keep the faith in what we’ve built because we serve a fundamental purpose in the wider industry. We have the tools, we have the passion, and we have a global community that is constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible on a garment.
I’m energised for the now, I’m excited for what’s next, and I’m honoured to still be right here in the thick of it with all of you. Let’s get to work.
April 2026 |75 |
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