Otto Eppinger is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of TAS Screen Printing Equipment P/L, a manufacturer of presses for the screenprinting technologies located in Australia. He is credited with the first automatic textile press with lifting platens and has many other innovative patents within the screenprinting technologies.

TAS commenced in 1968 as an engineering design and development consultancy service. Eppinger, engaged in tooling and special purpose machine design, and moved into manufacture of screen-printing machinery in 1974. TAS was quickly recognized as the industry’s major “innovator” in screenprinting equipment solutions, and significant milestones include:

In 1975, Eppinger introduced a 4 color manual rotary carousel press with major “patented innovations.” Due to the patent laws, Eppinger’s innovations were protected from competition for 2 decades. When his original patents expired, the competition quickly moved to accept his innovations into their own presses.

From 1977 to 1981, Eppinger developed special purpose machines that enabled screenprinting on a great variety of products, including tapered containers, polystyrene boxes, metal tubes, light fittings, and spun metal. The innovations allowed screenprinting on products that helped enhance the offerings of screenprinters worldwide.

Perhaps Eppinger’s crowning innovation was the first automatic carousel press with platen lift in 1982, which allowed the platen to be lifted up to meet the fixed position screen. This unique design revolutionized the screenprinting technologies by offering smart cost effective method of construction, allowing high registration, accuracy and repeatability.

Other firsts have included:

Today, TAS exports approximately 60-percent of their production to the USA, but enjoys a worldwide following with Accredited Resellers and Service Providers in most major countries including – Argentina, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom and others.