A Practical Guide to Solving the Real Challenges of Transitioning to Screen Printing Automation
Growing your shop through screen printing automation sounds exciting, until reality sets in. Equipment costs, learning curves, space limitations, power requirements, and team dynamics all play a role in holding printers back from making the leap.
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. At Ryonet, we’ve helped thousands of printers move from manual presses to automatic screen printing. Almost none of them jumped in blindly. They asked hard questions, worked through doubts, and built a plan that fit their shop, their team, and their cash flow.
This guide breaks down the most common challenges and FAQs printers face before going automatic.
I Have A Small Space, Do I need To Move To A New Shop?
Space is one of the first challenges printers face, especially if they’re working out of a garage, shared warehouse, or compact retail space. The assumption is that automation requires a massive footprint.
The reality is different. Compact automatic presses like the ROQ FIT and ROQ E are built specifically for smaller shops. But with thoughtful layout planning, many shops find that going automatic actually improves overall flow and efficiency and can fit a variety of models, including larger ones like ROQ YOU.
Modern presses are designed with tighter indexing, centralized controls, and optimized footprints. When paired with smart pallet selection and workflow planning, automation often replaces clutter and bottlenecks rather than creating them.
If you’re unsure, our team can help evaluate your space and map out a layout before you ever commit.
Quick Answers to the Biggest Automation Questions
- Space: Many automatic presses like the ROQ FIT and ROQ E are designed to run in garages and small shops.
- Power: Presses like the ROQ E operate on a single electrical connection and include a built-in air system, eliminating the need for an external compressor.
- Cost: Financing and Section 179 often reduce monthly costs to less than a full-time employee.
- Training: Many shops are printing confidently within days of installation, depending on their team’s experience and setup.
- Support: A dedicated Ryonet team member helps coordinate with ROQ for layout planning, delivery, install, and training.
Do You Offer Nationwide Delivery and Installation?
Delivery anywhere in the US is possible. When you upgrade your shop through Ryonet, a dedicated team member supports you throughout the process. We help coordinate with ROQ.US for delivery, installation, and training, making sure your setup and onboarding go smoothly from start to finish.
Am I really Able To Make More Money After Investing?
Sticker shock is real. Automatic presses are a serious investment. But staying manual has a cost too: slower production, labor fatigue, inconsistent quality, and missed opportunities for higher-volume work.
Automatic presses like the ROQ FIT, ROQ YOU, ROQ IMPRESS, and ROQ NEXT dramatically increase throughput, reduce setup time, and unlock jobs that manual shops simply can’t take on profitably.
Instead of looking only at the price tag, it helps to look at cost per print, labor efficiency, and long-term capacity. Many shops find that automation pays for itself faster than expected once bottlenecks are removed.
What About Taxes and Write-Offs?
One of the most overlooked parts of automation planning is tax strategy. Section 179 allows qualifying equipment purchases to be deducted in the year they’re placed into service, which can significantly reduce the real cost of an automatic press.
Depending on your situation, Section 179 can help:
- Lower taxable income
- Improve first-year cash flow
- Accelerate ROI on automation investments
RELATED: Looking for a Tax Break? Section 179 May Be the Answer
How Does Financing An Auto Actually Help Me Be Profitable?
Financing a major piece of equipment can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve worked hard to stay lean and protect your credit.
The good news is that many financing partners offer soft credit checks and flexible terms, allowing you to explore realistic payment options without pressure. In many cases, monthly payments are comparable to or lower than the cost of hiring additional labor. Having financing in place can free up your cash flow to make sure the rest of your shop runs smoothly, growing your opportunities, and growing your business.
It’s also worth noting that ROQ presses are built to last and maintain long-term value for many shops, allowing you to grow equity as you run your business.
RELATED: How Ryonet and FPG Are Powering Growth for Screen Printers Nationwide
What If I Can’t Keep Up?
Some printers worry that automation will force them to grow faster than they’re ready for. Many printers hesitate because rapid growth can feel chaotic without a plan in place.
A good automation plan doesn’t rush you. It supports you. You can phase into higher volumes at your own pace, keeping your workflow manageable while increasing consistency, output, and bottom line.
RELATED: When Is It Time to Automate Your Screen Printing Shop?
I Don’t Know If I Can Learn a New System
If you’re comfortable printing manually, you already have the foundation needed to run an automatic press and conquered a steep learning curve.
ROQ presses are designed by printers, for printers. Intuitive interfaces, guided onboarding, and hands-on training make the transition smoother than most expect. Many shops are up and running within a few days of installation, fully trained and confident. Additional rich resources, content libraries, and communities exist to help support you as you go.
I’m Stuck Comparing Presses and Don’t Know Where to Start
There are plenty of automatic presses on the market. Some are overbuilt for small shops. Others fall short when volume increases.
That’s where expert guidance matters. By understanding your current volume, space, staffing, and growth goals, it becomes much easier to narrow down options like the ROQ FIT, ROQ E, ROQ YOU, or ROQ Impress.
Smart automation starts with the right fit, not the biggest press.
I Don’t Want to Cut My Team Out
The right press helps your team shift from burnout to better output.
Automatic presses reduce repetitive strain, improve consistency, and eliminate the most physically demanding parts of production. Many shops find that morale improves once the chaos of manual bottlenecks disappears.
Your team shifts from survival mode to quality control, prep, and growth-focused work.
What Happens After Purchase and Install?
Support matters, especially for first-time automation buyers.
In addition to the dedicated Ryonet team & resources, ROQ customers have access to the ROQ Customer Center, a centralized hub where you can:
- Submit and track service cases
- View equipment history
- Access orders and billing documents
- Communicate directly with support
Support starts before your press arrives and stays with you long after it’s running jobs
Moving Forward Starts with One Step
You don’t have to go automatic tomorrow. Progress starts when you take control of the decision, not when the timing feels perfect.
If you’ve been thinking about automation, now is the time to ask questions, explore real numbers, and build a plan that fits your shop.
Ryonet is here to guide you from your first question to your first pull on press.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best automatic press if I still do a lot of short runs?
If you’re printing smaller runs but want to scale without losing flexibility, the ROQ FIT is a smart choice. It’s compact, efficient, and built for fast setups and quick changeovers, perfect for shops that bounce between job sizes. You get the speed of automation without needing to batch everything into long runs.
Can I finance a press and still grow other parts of my shop at the same time?
Yes. Financing a press frees up your working capital, so you can still invest in other equipment, marketing, or staff. Many shops use financing to phase upgrades over time instead of making one massive investment all at once.
What if I outgrow my press in a few years?
ROQ presses are designed to last, and many hold strong resale value. If your shop scales faster than expected, you can often trade up to a larger model or modular press. Our team can help you plan for expansion so your first press isn’t your last.
Do I need to upgrade my dryer or other equipment when I go auto?
It depends on your current setup. An automatic press produces more volume than a manual, so upgrading your conveyor dryer is common. You may also want to revisit your screen setup, reclaim workflow, and even your film or CTS system to support faster print cycles.