Introducing The HISTORY OF TAS:

Brief Company Background

TAS commenced in 1968 as an engineering design and development consultancy service, by Otto Eppinger, engaged in tooling and special purpose machine design, and moved into manufacture of screen-printing machinery in 1974.

From that time, TAS has been recognized as the industry’s major innovator in screen-printing equipment solutions, and significant milestones include:

* 1975 Introduction of a 4 color manual rotary carousel machine, the major innovations of which were not incorporated by other competitors until 20 years later.

* 1977-81 TAS developed special purpose machines that enabled screen printing on-tapered containers, styrene boxes, metal tubes, light fittings, and spun metal products. This was unheard of at the time.

* 1982 TAS developed the first pallet lifting carousel machine, which today is used by all US manufactured automatic carousel machines. This concept revolutionized the industry by offering smart cost effective method of construction, allowing high registration, accuracy and repeatability.

* 1985 TAS began exporting to the US, and today 60% of TAS Screen Printing Machines go to the US, and the percentage is climbing rapidly. TAS also exports around the globe and has Accredited Resellers and Service Providers in all major countries including Sweden, Germany, South Africa, United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, and New Zealand.
In the United States, TAS America (now fully owned by LUIS CRUZ & RAY ALVAREZ), operates from facilities in California. (TAS America website: www.tasamerica.com)

* 1985-97 The innovations during this period are too numerous to list in this brief background, however TAS stunned the industry when in 1997 it became he first manufacturer to provide a 4 year guarantee (and today, it is still the only manufacturer to do so. Our guarantee is more than double that of any other manufacturer).

* 1998 TAS introduced the industry’s first 16 color automatic screen printing machine with smart electric heads featuring digital squee- gee speed display for quick set ups.

* 2000-01 TAS releases the industry’s first automatic screen printing machine that successfully prints on transfers, as well as garments.
The PAL (Placement Attachment Loader) was introduced to make loading of Tee Shirts onto the pallets less stressful. The ROC range of 6, 8, 10 color presses were launched as an introduction machine for screen printers who are currently using manual presses.

* 2002 TAS introduced to the market its first fully electric machine, named The Electra Range offering a 55cm x 76cm (22in x 30in) print size; with electric motor rotation coupled with electric print heads.

* 2003 TAS introduced to the market another fully electric machine, named The Hawk Range boasting a 46cm x 61cm (18in x 24in) print area with electric motor rotation coupled with electric print heads.
TAS Introduced to the market the first automatic- inline heat press and foiling machine for transfer applications or adding foil to prints.

* 2004 TAS, exhibiting at SGIA, produced the first multi color flock print on a press using Maag of Germany. Circular belt flocking technology was later to be replaced by rectangular flocking heads that fit under the print arm, not requiring the print head to be re- moved as had been the case with the circular flocking head.
TAS opened it sales office in Argentina for South America.
* 2005-06 In July 2005 a low cost entry machine was designed and called The Hawk Compac 46cm x 50cm (18in x 20in) print area with the opportunity for end users for the first time to load and unload on the same pallet and thereby maximize the number of colors that can be printed. Sales in South America grew rapidly, giving TAS a large market share.
* 2007-08 2007 saw the development of our biggest machine up to date. 20 color machines were installed in Australia and Central America. In the same year, as a result of huge market interest, development was also completed on our large format 3000 series machines, capable of producing prints ranging from as small as sleeve sizes all the way up to all-over, off the shoulder prints. Our extruded print head also became available at this time.

* 2009-10 During this period and because of the success of our 3000 series machines, TAS received more and more enquiries for even larger print areas. Because of this demand, the TAS 4000 series machine was launched. To complement this machine, a load assist unit was developed to help with the loading of very large substrates.

* 2011-Present TAS has produced their (and possibly the world’s) largest print area on a carousel, a huge 45in x 75in TAS also developed their brand new, single color, label-printing machine called The Devil.