Frequently Asked Questions

            Performance

• Excellent repeatable mesh tensions.
• Re-stretch your frame in less time than packaging your re-stretch frames.
• Pre softened corners to prevent mesh ripping at high tensions.
• NO more adhesive failure.  Never lose a frame again due to delamination.

             Flexibility and security  

• Change mesh on demand in about 1 minute.
• No need to wait for a traditional re-stretch.
• What if UPS damages your stretched screen? not a problem with a panel.
• What if the re-stretcher is behind schedule? no longer an issue.
• The time and expense of shipping the frame new or re-stretch has a cost.
• Your frame inventory can be dramatically reduced saving space and expense.

             Cost savings  

• Mesh panels cost far less, and they ship for 10X less than standard frames.
• Re-stretch frames in house in 1 minute. 
• No adhesive or expensive stretching equipment.
• We ship around 200 mesh panels in a box that traditionally holds 6 frames.

              Enviromental  

• No more shipping or hauling frames back and forth.
• One way shipping for far less cost and environmental impact.
• 66 X more panels in the same box as compared to a frame.
• No adhesive emissions or removal upon re-stretch.
• Safer for environment and people than adhesives and removal methods.
• Panels and frames are 100% recyclable.
• Far less wasted mesh going into landfills than traditional stretching methods.

              Nortech offers a wide variety of the best mesh on the planet.

              All of the mesh Nortech Graphics uses are designed for the intended purpose. 

              Our mesh comes from the best mesh manufacturers in the world with no exception. 

             SAATI 

• Hi-Tex - Designed for the textile printer in mind.  

                    Great all-around mesh with excellent price/performance ratio.

• Hi-R - Designed for all screen-printing applications. 

                    Atmospheric plasma treated for superior stencil adhesion. 

• Hi-Dro - Designed for water based, with excellent results with Plastisol.

                   Thinner thread, Plasma treated, better halftones with increased ink flow.

              NBC Meshtech

• Beta Series - Designed to meet the economic needs while maintaining quality.

                    Excellent tension stability with high dimensional accuracy.

• Alpha Series - Designed for all types of screen printing.

                   Smooth ink transfer. Min tension loss/long life, huge variety of mesh specs.

              SEFAR

• PET-1500 - Designed for all types of screen print applications.

                   Low mesh relaxation, Wide range of specs, surface treated for stencil adhesion.

Nortech Graphics takes a lot of pride in the fact that we make our wood and aluminum frames, racks, carts, squeegees and coaters in the United States. Here is a short list of why we feel you should always choose a Nortech for your shop. Just ask yourself, if it doesn't matter to you if you buy American made supplies, should it matter to your local customer to buy from his local print shop? 

• American Made - Almost EVERY "screen maker" in the US is importing frames. Even though most say made in America, or fly an American flag across a website, they are made overseas. Most get away with this because the common size frames are imported while they make a few custom frames in house. They do little for the American economy. Saving a few dollars today, in the end costs us all far more. These days, many "screen makers" are importing pre stretched with inferior mesh and performance. Many even work hard to bypass import tariffs further damaging the US market, tax revenues, American workers and all the local suppliers and service providers downline.

• Vast offerings - Nortech manufacturers our products in the Arkansas Ozark Mountains with more than 30 different tube, bar, and angle options in stock at all times, with hundreds more available from our local sources.  We build frames as small as a few inches on up to 20+ feet long. We can and do build custom frames, racks, carts, coaters and squeegees to specific customer specs every day. 

• American aluminum - We source every piece of aluminum from US manufacturers. Direct from the extrusion plants. This is one more layer in how we contribute to our US economy by supporting other US manufacturers, their teams, and the countless suppliers down line. Our little factory directly and indirectly supports thousands of US workers, families and local economies across the US. The tax bases supporting our roads, schools, service people and so on, while our competition saves a buck and supports themselves.  

• American hardwoods - Our wood squeegee handles, and wood frames come from responsibly managed poplar hardwood forests in central Ohio. 

• Local supply and the economic impact- Our Aluminum for frames, squeegee handle, racks, carts and more are sourced from Arkansas, Missouri, and Louisiana. All within hours of our factory. Our main supplier is within 25 minutes. It doesn't get much more local than that.  We have backup after backup to ensure consistent flow and quality, and every bit of it comes from US plants supporting US families, local governments, schools, and economies. Your choice makes a big difference. 

• Premium mesh and adhesives - We only use the very best in adhesives and mesh. 

                   Adhesives from - Kiwo, SAATI, and Parson adhesives. 

                   Mesh from - SAATI, SEFAR, and NBC Meshtech.

• Reliability - While many "screen makers" struggled to receive frames from abroad during the covid supply chain shortage, Nortech was there to help supply our US printers and even help supply our competitors that couldn't get imports delivered. 

• Sustainability - American aluminum extruders operate using cleaner energy, higher environmental/workers standards, and don't have to be shipped around the globe on CO2 spewing container ships. Much of it comes from remelt local recycling further reducing the environmental impact. Our Eco Frame line is the most environmentally friendly frame option available hands down. 

• Customization - From the aluminum tube, mesh brand and spec, kind of adhesive, add on features such as multiple permanent block out options, screen sealants, to different mesh tensions, stretching methods, stretching equipment and so on, Nortech can make you exactly what you need for YOUR application. 

• Alternative solutions - From the revolutionary Eco Frame line, Roller panels, vast static frame offerings and all customizations and variations available, Nortech can truly make any frame you could ever need.

• Capacity - Nortech has the most capacity of any stretcher in the US, and by far the most capacity for US manufactured frames. We can grow with you, supply you in a timely manner, and we offer the most customization options in the market. We not only serve textile printers, but promotional printers, pen/bottle, electronics, automotive, large format, industrial OEM, filtration/sifting operations and so on. 

Thank you for reading my rant. As you can see, we are passionate about what we do. We want to be the best option for you and your print shop. We believe that if we work hard and do everything in our power to support the printers and the distribution network we have, we will all succeed. We feel obligated to do all we can to support our team, our suppliers, partners and YOU the printers out there doing to dirty work.