PRINTING United Alliance and the Academy of Screen and Digital Printing Technologies officially named Riley Hopkins as the recipient of the 2026 Joe Clarke Innovator Award on September 23. Celebrated during PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas, this honor recognizes an individual who has spent more than 50 years shaping the screen printing industry. The award presentation highlights a lifetime of relentless press design, high-speed automotive influence, and an unwavering commitment to supporting screen printers around the world.
The Legacy of the Joe Clarke Innovator Award
Named in memory of industry innovator Joe Clarke, the award honors professionals who embody Clarke’s commitment to improving the industry through technological innovation coupled with a willingness to openly share knowledge for the benefit of others. Throughout his 49-year career, Joe Clarke invented, researched, tested, documented, and implemented new approaches to screen and digital printing while sharing his findings extensively through technical papers, articles, books, training, and seminars.
The award recognizes that same spirit among today’s innovators. It celebrates individuals whose contributions through new or improved products, processes, technologies, or methodologies have helped make the printing industry better and more sustainable. Honoring Riley Hopkins recognizes a builder who has spent decades advancing manual press design with his signature line of Riley Hopkins Presses, while offering mentorship and support across the printing community.
RELATED: Ryonet Named Manufacturer of the Year by Greater Vancouver Chamber
From 160 MPH in an Aston Martin to the First Screen Press
Riley Hopkins has always lived by a simple motto: no risk, no reward. Long before he built his first screen press, Riley spent his time building and racing sports cars. As a young man, he snuck into a garage to check out his father's factory team Aston Martin. Knowing the engine was built for high output, he took it out onto the highway to Bainbridge Island, pushing the car through third gear and into fourth until he reached 160 miles per hour at 8,000 RPM. That drive set the pace for everything he would build in the future.
While working in advertising lithography by day and fabricating custom vehicles by night, Riley took on a challenge from a neighboring kite company operating in the same garage complex. They needed a four-color press capable of holding tight wet-on-wet registration on garments. At the time, standard screen printing equipment was heavy, bulky, and difficult to adjust. Riley approached the problem like a race car builder. He used torches, hacksaws, files, and automotive parts to design a press that was light, fast, and precise. He built 12 presses to cover his design time, and all 12 sold within the first week.
"Talk's cheap. Let's race."
— Riley Hopkins
Hands-On Testing and Machine Simplification
Riley’s engineering philosophy matured through direct, practical testing. Early on, he brought a handmade prototype press to a high-volume print shop handling album cover production. The printers were paid per piece and worked at high speed, putting extreme strain on the machine. Every day for two weeks, Riley picked up broken components, brought them back to his workshop, and re-engineered them using aircraft fasteners and dual-supported mounting points. This process led to machine designs built to survive demanding production environments without losing alignment.
"I always tried to simplify my presses and get rid of every adjustment you could possibly think of because inevitably somebody would make an adjustment, usually incorrectly. Keep it simple, and simple is actually difficult."
— Riley Hopkins
Over the years, that commitment to simplicity produced industry standards that define the brand today:
- Precision Micro-Registration: Hardened steel registration blocks and clean XYZ adjustments that keep alignment steady.
- Rigid Frame Construction: Heavy-duty steel structures designed to prevent flexing under pressure.
- Ergonomic Operation: Intuitive controls, spring-loaded carousels, and smooth rotation for long printing shifts.
- Modular Designs: Equipment built so older models remain functional and compatible as technology advances.
RELATED: What Makes the Riley Hopkins 360 the Pro’s Choice for Manual Printing
Growing a Business and Creating Opportunities
Across his career, Riley produced over 40,000 presses globally. For Riley, the true measure of success was knowing that every press shipped provided employment for one to three people. His approach to sales was guided by care for the person behind the machine. When new printers wanted to purchase large setups right away, he often advised them to start smaller, gain experience, and ensure they loved the craft before making larger investments.
"The thing that was important to me was that one to three people got a job with every press that I sent out. And the other part was that I built them simply enough and strong enough so that they would last."
— Riley Hopkins
Watch the Interview Let's Talk Shop with Riley Hopkins
To learn more about Riley’s journey, stories from his career, and his views on press design, watch the full episode of Let's Talk Shop below:
RELATED: The Legend of Riley Hopkins: 50 Years of Innovation, Grit, and Screen Printing
Dedicated to Trade Education and Community Growth
Throughout his career, Riley Hopkins has remained deeply involved in supporting trade education. From donating equipment to middle schools, high schools, and colleges, to working directly with vocational schools on automotive and printing projects, he has consistently championed working with one's hands and learning a practical trade.
That spirit of generosity and continuous learning aligns with Ryonet’s mission to support printers at every stage of their path. The 2026 Joe Clarke Innovator Award stands as a fitting tribute to Riley Hopkins, honoring a lifetime spent pushing technology forward, helping people build livelihoods, and sharing knowledge freely across the screen printing world.
About Riley Hopkins
Riley Hopkins is a pioneering screen printing innovator whose career has spanned nearly six decades. He began building screen printing presses in 1968, bringing a hands-on approach to engineering focused on simplicity, durability, and precision. His designs helped make manual screen printing more efficient and accessible, giving printers reliable equipment they could use to turn their craft into a business. Over the decades, Riley Hopkins presses have found their way into print shops, garages, schools, and businesses around the world, with his legacy continuing through presses still being built and used today.
Now in his 80s, Riley’s passion for screen printing and invention has not slowed down. He continues to tinker, experiment, and come up with new ideas, more than 50 years after building his first press. His lifelong contributions to screen printing were recognized with the Joe Clarke Innovator Award in 2026.
Celebrating Industry Innovation
Learn more about Riley Hopkins equipment built under his legacy.