High-quality screen printing platen and bracket system

Lets review a few challenges most printers encounter on a regular basis and then explain the advantages the Bison Platen System brings to the table.

Bracket mounting

Majority of printers are using the bracket and 4 screws into a fiber board. Your support and foundation rely on the holding power of those 4 screws. If you over tighten, you run the risk of compromising that bond.
On a manual press, you are physically rotating and stopping, putting pressure and stress on that connection. custom t-shirt platens, screen printing equipment and high-performance platens.
Some printers have moved to double stick tape setups. When tape gets hot, it gets flexible and reduces the stability of your foundation. Limited options to adjust how level they set as well as locks you in a specific platen size for that setup.
Tapped threaded aluminum is one of the better options, but has similar issues to the screw situation. Aluminum is a soft metal and if you over tighten you compromise that support. Also being aluminum, you are set to specific platen size

Boards

Most presses come with the basic MDF Veneer top boards. These are a nice looking low cost solution to provide a starting foundation for printing. custom t-shirt platens, screen printing equipment and high-performance platens.
Environmental factors impact the integrity of these boards over time. With repeated exposure to heat, cold, humidity and usage the boards tend to warp or disform, creating registration issues and print inconsistencies.
Aluminum replacements have become the standard upgrade to reduce warping. Aluminum helps to distribute the heat more evenly, reducing hot spots, mainly from brackets. The only down side to switching to this option is the limitation to specific platen size and ability to customize for specific projects / client request and maintenance.

Rubber top that can blister, deform and time and cost to replace
Double stick tape gets worn and needs to be replace
Tap threaded models are limited to torque due to risk of compromising threading

Then there is the use of ¾ cabinet grade plywood.

Having multiple bonded layers and a smooth finish top. This gives a locally available and low cost option for a platen. The multiple layers also gives a better grip to support bracket, hot spot impact from bracket is less compared to MDF boards. In time, these boards will also start to warp but not as bad due to the composite of multiple bonded layers.
Customize size for specific jobs, not eating up profits for expensive limited use boards.

Bison Platen System
Bracket

screen printing, screen printing platen, screen printing pallet, Hopkins, Hopkins BWM, screen printing bracket, screen printing base, screen printing aluminum platen, printed shirts, t-shirts printing, silk screen shirt printing, manual press, automatic press, Bison Platen, Platen bracket, riley hopkins, hopkins bracket, shirt press bracket, aluminum platen, aluminum shirt board, shirt board, simulated process, plastisol, Graphic Design

Compact, low profile, normal size knobs and wide footing knob bolt helps with stability when mounted to press arm. custom t-shirt platens, screen printing equipment and high-performance platens.
Can be used with the system or standalone. Check out setup video for tips on using as a standalone bracket as there is an additional component to help minimize movement is screw does come loose. Screen Printing Platens and Pallets: screen printing platens screen printing pallets t-shirt printing platens aluminum screen printing platens wooden screen printing pallets youth size screen printing platens sleeve printing pallets custom screen printing platens universal screen printing pallets vacuum platens for screen printing Screen Printing Brackets: screen printing platen brackets screen printing pallet brackets platen mounting brackets adjustable screen printing brackets universal platen brackets replacement pallet brackets heavy-duty screen printing brackets aluminum platen brackets silk screen printing brackets pallet bracket mounting hardware

Base Plate

Bolted to the bracket… yes bolted. Creating a solid foundation.
Being bolted, the bracket and base plate become one, one solid printing foundation and stability .
Interior and Perimeter mounting holes to attach you Wood or MDF platen top. These holes are positioned to pull the board flat and keep flat. Mitigating the warping factor.
The large aluminum base plate help to distribute heat evenly, minimizing hot spots and more uniform flashing, as well as keeping boards heated reducing flash time and increased production speed.
Not all presses are perfect. At the bolting locations, shims can be added to help level your boards across all arms. See installation video for more details.
Not set to a specific platen size. Can add or replace as needed based on business needs.
Base can be used as a Left or Right hand knob side. Base Plate will align center with arm either way.
Unlock Customization Without the Cost The Bison Platen System: Built for Performance, Designed for Profit Tired of expensive add-ons just to handle custom printing projects? • The Bison Platen System eliminates that frustration with a smart, adaptable solution at a minimal investment cost. Key Benefits: • Customizable & Versatile – Swap out platen tops easily to meet your project needs. • One-Time Purchase, Long-Term Value – Durable design means fewer replacements and no recurring costs. • Maximized ROI – Built to last, providing continuous performance without extra expenses. A Solid Foundation for Your Business Designed for custom screen printers, our platen system ensures a rock-solid, flat surface that handles any project with precision and reliability. Don’t waste money on overpriced upgrades. Choose the Bison Platen System — the smarter way to deliver what your customers need and grow your profit.

Youth / Standard / Custom Sets

Setting up each set to be aligned the same allows for easy change out with no to minimal adjustments. Each base is dedicated to a specific arm.

Example of printing standard boards for standard shirts, but changing out to a smaller board set to accommodate for fashion of fitted shirts.

Currently, there are 3 different options. Each option comes with a specific board set.
Check out video on these Platen System sets and watch installation video for more details.

Face Challenges Head-On with the Strength of the Bison
The mighty bison charges into the storm, meeting adversity head-on. This powerful symbolism represents resilience, efficiency, and determination—qualities that align with the needs of custom screen printers. Just like the bison, we believe in confronting challenges directly, ensuring you have the right foundation to tackle any job with confidence and efficiency.
A Solid Foundation for Your Business
Designed with the custom screen printer in mind, Bison Platen provides a rock-solid, flat surface to handle whatever you throw at it. Performance and reliability are at the core of our product, ensuring you get the best possible return on investment. Optimizing your product page with targeted keywords is crucial for improving search engine visibility. Here are some top keywords related to screen printing brackets and platen pallets: Screen Printing Brackets: Screen printing bracket Screen printing platen bracket Screen printing pallet bracket Silk screen printing bracket Screen printing platen clamp Screen printing press bracket Screen printing platen mounting bracket Screen printing bracket hardware Screen printing bracket replacement Screen printing bracket installation Platen Pallets: Screen printing platen Screen printing pallet Screen printing platen pallet Silk screen printing platen T-shirt printing platen Screen printing shirt board Screen printing pallet tape Screen printing platen adhesive Screen printing platen sizes Screen printing platen replacement Incorporating these keywords naturally into your product descriptions, titles, and meta tags can enhance your site's SEO performance. Additionally, consider adding high-quality images with descriptive alt text and creating informative content around these terms to further boost visibility.

Customizable & Versatile – Our platen is built for adaptability, allowing you to
swap out tops as needed.
One-Time Purchase, Long-Term Value – Forget costly add-ons and frequent
replacements. Our durable design ensures longevity and continuous
usability.
Maximized ROI – We are not here to keep you coming back for unnecessary
expenses. Our mission is to provide a lasting solution that supports your
success.

Invest in Performance, Not Overpriced Extras
Unlike traditional corporate models that push costly, unnecessary upgrades, our vision is simple—equip you with a foundation that lets you take on any printing challenge with ease. Whether it's custom or standard jobs, our platen system is engineered for long-term, high-performance use, giving you the best return on investment in the industry.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Charge forward with Bison Platen and take on any challenge with strength and resilience.