23″×31″ ECO Frame: Nortech ECO Frame 23″×31″ with Four Locking Strips – Retensionable Aluminum Screen Printing Frame for Manual & Automatic Presses

Nortech

The Nortech ECO Frame 23″×31″ is the retensionable, no-adhesive screen printing frame that lets you swap mesh panels in minutes — no press, no glue, no shipping frames out for re-stretching. Built from fully recyclable aluminum and engineered with a four-strip locking system, the ECO Frame delivers professional-grade mesh tension while cutting your long-term screen costs in half. Made in the USA by Nortech Graphics in the Arkansas Ozarks — and sized perfectly for the most common manual and automatic press platen setups.

🔄Retensionable — Swap Mesh in Minutes
🚫Zero Adhesives — Locking Strip System
♻️100% Recyclable Aluminum & Panels
🛢️Welded & Airtight — Dip Tank Safe
🇺🇸Made in the USA — Nortech Graphics
📐23″×31″ — Fits Most Press Setups

📦 What’s Included

One (1) Nortech ECO Frame 23″×31″ with four pre-installed locking strips — one per side. Mesh panels sold separately. Add a Saati Hi-Dro ECO Panel 6-Pack or Saati Hi-Tex ECO Panel 6-Pack and a Nortech ECO Stretching Tool to get started.

⚠️ Drop Ship Item: Ships directly from Nortech Graphics in Arkansas. Nortech ships as fast as possible — shipping times may vary. Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or at (512) 454-0505.

🚚
Ships direct from Nortech · Free shipping on orders over $200 · Questions? (512) 454-0505

$45.99

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SKU: NORT Eco Frame- 2331 Category: Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Description

Stop Shipping Frames. Start Swapping Panels.

The Nortech ECO Frame system is the biggest workflow upgrade most screen printing shops haven’t made yet. Instead of sending frames out for re-stretching — or throwing away perfectly good aluminum every time mesh goes slack — you lock a new mesh panel in yourself in under 5 minutes. Same tension. No glue. No mess. No shipping cost. This 23″×31″ frame is the industry standard size used by the majority of textile screen printing shops — so it slots right into your current press setup.

How the Nortech ECO Frame Locking Strip System Works

🔒 Four Plastic Locking Strips

The frame ships with four pre-installed locking strips — one on each side. Mesh panels are woven directly into a matching locking strip. You insert the panel strip into the frame channel, apply tension with the Nortech stretching tool, and lock it down. No adhesive, no heat, no press required.

📐 Pre-Softened Corners

Nortech pre-softens the frame corners before shipping — this is critical for preventing mesh ripping at high tension levels. The standard ECO Frame achieves excellent repeatable tensions across the entire print area, consistent from panel to panel.

🛢️ Welded & Dip Tank Safe

All ECO Frames are fully welded and airtight — meaning they can be safely submerged in your dip tank or chemical reclaim system without damage. The plastic locking strip replaces adhesive, so screen cleaning chemicals cannot degrade the mechanism holding the mesh in place.

🎬 Watch: How to Set Up the Nortech ECO Frame

ECO Frame vs. ECO HD Frame — Which Is Right for Your Shop?

Both frames use the same locking strip panel system — the difference is in the aluminum profile and wall thickness. Here’s the full breakdown:

Feature ✅ ECO Frame (This Product) 🏭 ECO HD Frame
Aluminum Grade Standard-Grade Recyclable Aluminum Superior-Grade Aluminum
Frame Profile Standard Profile 1.5″ × 1.75″ Larger Profile
Wall Thickness Standard Wall Added Wall Thickness — Ultra Heavy-Duty
Best For Manual printers & smaller auto shops High-volume automatic production shops
Mesh Tension Excellent — meets/exceeds spec Maximum — ultra-high tension stability
Locking Strip System ✔ Yes — 4 strips included ✔ Yes — 4 strips included
Dip Tank Safe ✔ Welded & Airtight ✔ Welded & Airtight
100% Recyclable ✔ Frame & Panels ✔ Frame & Panels
No Adhesives ✔ Chemical-Free Reclaim ✔ Chemical-Free Reclaim

Which should I choose? If you run a manual press or a smaller automatic shop and want to upgrade from standard aluminum frames — start with the ECO Frame. If you’re running a high-volume automatic shop with multiple production presses pushing maximum tension — go straight to the ECO HD Frame for added rigidity and long-term durability under production stress.

Why Screen Printers Are Switching to the ECO Frame System

No

Shipping frames out for re-stretch

No

Adhesive degrading under solvents

<5

Minutes to swap a mesh panel

100%

Recyclable — frame & panels

∞

Re-use the same frame forever

💸 Real Cost Savings

When mesh goes slack on a standard aluminum frame, you’re stuck: pay to ship it out and wait, or throw it away. With the ECO Frame, a replacement mesh panel costs a fraction of re-stretching. The frame itself lasts indefinitely. Shops running 10+ frames typically break even within the first 2–3 panel swaps.

🎯 Consistent Tension = Better Prints

Repeatable tension is the foundation of consistent ink deposit and registration. ECO Panels meet or exceed manufacturer tension specs every time. Verify your tension with the Nortech tension meter — the same tension, screen after screen, job after job.

♻️ Greener Screen Room

The ECO Frame system supports a truly chemical-free wash booth. No adhesive means no solvent degradation, no glue residue in your reclaim chemicals, and no extra contamination in your wash water. Panels are 100% recyclable. Eliminating frame shipping also cuts your shop’s carbon footprint significantly.

Compatible Saati Mesh Panels for This Frame

The 23″×31″ ECO Frame takes two panel types from Saati — the world’s leading mesh manufacturer. Choose Hi-Dro for water-based and fine detail work, or Hi-Tex for high-volume plastisol production. Both are woven into a plastic locking strip that snaps directly into this frame.

💧 Saati Hi-Dro ECO Panel — 6-Pack (23″×31″)

High modulus, low elongation monofilament polyester with a proprietary plasma surface treatment. Thinner thread diameter = wider mesh openings = better ink flow with lower squeegee pressure. The go-to mesh for water-based, discharge, and HSA inks — and increasingly popular for plastisol base coats.

Shop Hi-Dro Panels →

Mesh Count Color Thread Dia. Mesh Opening Open Area Best For
110 Hi-Dro ⬜ White 64 µm 167 µm ~60% Heavy ink deposits, discharge, white water-based
157 Hi-Dro ⬜ White 48 µm 109 µm 46% Spot colors, water-based, general plastisol
157 Hi-Dro 🟨 Yellow 48 µm 109 µm 46% Halftones, simulated process, reduces undercutting
198 Hi-Dro 🟨 Yellow 40 µm 85 µm 44% Fine detail, simulated process, light ink deposit
230 Hi-Dro 🟨 Yellow 40 µm 68 µm 38% High-detail halftones, 4-color process, fine lines
305 Hi-Dro 🟨 Yellow 31 µm 52 µm ~36% Ultra-fine detail, index printing, photographic work

🔴 Saati Hi-Tex ECO Panel — 6-Pack (23″×31″)

The workhorse of the plastisol textile printing industry for decades. Thicker thread diameter = higher tension tolerance = more resistant to tearing and popping on press. Excellent price/performance ratio. Requires degreasing before first use. No surface treatment — ideal for shops with high screen turnover who are not reclaiming mesh.

Shop Hi-Tex Panels →

Mesh Count Color Thread Dia. Best For
110 Hi-Tex ⬜ White 80 µm High-opacity whites, heavy underbases, specialty inks
110 Hi-Tex 🟨 Yellow 80 µm Heavy underbases, shimmer/metallic inks
158 Hi-Tex ⬜ White 64 µm General plastisol production, spot colors
158 Hi-Tex 🟨 Yellow 64 µm Halftone-sensitive plastisol work
180 Hi-Tex ⬜ White 55 µm Mid-range plastisol, light-hand prints
196 Hi-Tex 🟨 Yellow 55 µm Fine detail plastisol, halftones
230 Hi-Tex 🟨 Yellow 48 µm High-detail color work, simulated process
305 Hi-Tex 🟨 Yellow 34 µm Ultra-fine detail, 4-color process

Hi-Dro vs. Hi-Tex — Which Mesh Should You Choose?

💧 Choose Hi-Dro If You Print:

  • Water-based or discharge inks
  • High-detail halftones and simulated process
  • Softer hand prints where less ink deposit is better
  • Plastisol underbases (growing trend — better ink release)
  • Fine lines and photographic artwork
  • Any work where emulsion edge definition matters most

🔴 Choose Hi-Tex If You Print:

  • High-opacity plastisol whites and underbases
  • High-volume production runs needing durability
  • Metallic, shimmer, or specialty thick-ink formulas
  • Shops with high screen turnover (no reclaim needed)
  • Standard spot-color textile work
  • Any job where tear resistance is the top priority

Essential Tools for Your ECO Frame Setup

🔧 Nortech ECO Frame Stretching Tool →

Required to install panels. This purpose-built tool seats the locking strip into the frame channel and applies even tension across all four sides of the mesh.

You cannot properly tension a panel without it — don’t skip this.

📊 Nortech Tension Meter →

Highly recommended. Measure actual mesh tension in Newtons/cm after every panel install. Consistent, verified tension is the foundation of consistent ink deposit and print registration.

Especially important for multi-color jobs where registration accuracy matters.

Complete Your Screen Room at River City Supply

The ECO Frame is just the start. Pair it with the right emulsion and ink for a complete, high-performance printing system.

🟦 Chromaline, Murakami & Saati Emulsions

SBQ, dual-cure, diazo, photopolymer — for every ink system and mesh count.

Shop now →

🎨 Screen Printing Inks

Plastisol, water-based, discharge & specialty inks from Inktek, TW Graphics, Matsui & more.

Shop now →

🧪 Screen Cleaning Chemicals

Ink removers, emulsion removers, degreasers — all compatible with ECO Frame’s no-adhesive system.

Shop now →

🔪 Squeegees & Blades

All durometers & widths. Consistent tension = consistent squeegee performance.

Shop now →

🖨️ Screen Printing Equipment

Manual & automatic presses, flash units, conveyor dryers & more.

Shop now →

Questions?  (512) 454-0505  ·  [email protected]  ·  Free shipping over $200  ·  Same-day shipping before 3:30 PM CT

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications — Nortech ECO Frame 23″×31″

Manufactured in the USA by Nortech Graphics · Drop Ship Item — Ships Direct from Nortech

Frame Size 23″ × 31″ (outside dimensions)
Frame Material Standard-grade recyclable aluminum — lightweight and fully weldable
Construction Fully welded and airtight — dip tank safe
Locking Strips Included 4 plastic locking strips — one per side, pre-installed
Corner Treatment Pre-softened corners — prevents mesh ripping at high tension
Adhesive Required None — locking strip system replaces all adhesives entirely
Recyclability 100% — both the aluminum frame and mesh panels are fully recyclable
Compatible Mesh Panels Saati Hi-Dro 23″×31″ ECO Panels and Saati Hi-Tex 23″×31″ ECO Panels
Required Tool Nortech ECO Frame Stretching Tool (sold separately)
Tension Verification Nortech Tension Meter (sold separately, highly recommended)
Press Compatibility Manual and automatic screen printing presses — standard 23×31 platen size
Best For Manual printers and smaller automatic shops seeking retensionable screen printing frames
Manufacturer Nortech Graphics — Made in the USA (Arkansas Ozarks)
Shipping Note Drop ship item — ships direct from Nortech. Times vary. Questions: Nortech at 800-743-6473 or River City Supply at (512) 454-0505.

Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents

Nortech Eco Frame – Instructions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is a retensionable screen printing frame?

A retensionable screen printing frame like the Nortech ECO Frame uses a locking strip system instead of adhesive to hold the mesh panel. When tension drops, you remove the old panel and install a fresh one yourself using the stretching tool — in under 5 minutes, in your own shop, with no glue and no shipping cost.

Do I need to buy mesh panels separately?

Yes — the frame ships with four locking strips but no mesh. Add the Saati Hi-Dro ECO Panel 6-Pack or Saati Hi-Tex ECO Panel 6-Pack to your order, and you’ll also need the Nortech ECO Stretching Tool to properly install them.

What is the difference between Hi-Dro and Hi-Tex mesh panels?

Saati Hi-Dro is a thin-thread plasma-treated mesh with wider openings — ideal for water-based inks, discharge, halftones, and soft-hand prints. Saati Hi-Tex is a thicker-thread standard mesh — the plastisol industry workhorse for decades — with superior tear resistance for high-volume production.

What is the difference between the Nortech ECO Frame and the ECO HD Frame?

Both use the same locking strip system, are welded & dip tank safe, and use 100% recyclable materials. The standard ECO Frame uses standard-grade aluminum and suits manual printers and smaller auto shops. The ECO HD Frame features superior-grade aluminum with a larger 1.5″×1.75″ profile and added wall thickness — built for ultra-high tensions in high-volume automatic production shops.

Do I need glue to attach the mesh to an ECO Frame?

No adhesive required. The plastic locking strip system completely replaces glue. The mesh panel is woven into the strip, which locks into the frame channel. No heat, no press, no adhesive. This means your screen cleaning chemicals cannot degrade the holding mechanism, and your wash booth stays cleaner with no adhesive residue.

Is the ECO Frame dip tank safe?

Yes — fully welded and airtight, safe for submersion in dip tanks and chemical reclaim systems. The plastic locking strip also resists degradation from screen cleaning solvents and emulsion removers.

Which mesh count should I use for screen printing?

It depends on your ink type and design detail. 110 mesh — heavy plastisol underbases and opaque whites. 158–180 mesh — standard plastisol spot colors. 196–230 mesh — halftones and simulated process. 157 Hi-Dro — best all-around for water-based inks. 230–305 Hi-Dro — ultra-fine detail and 4-color process. Not sure? Call us at (512) 454-0505.

How long does it take to change a mesh panel?

Most screen printers swap a panel in under 5 minutes once familiar with the process. Remove the old locking strip, insert the new panel strip, use the stretching tool to tension all four sides, then verify with the tension meter. Nortech’s pre-softened corners prevent mesh ripping during the tensioning process.

Where does this item ship from?

The Nortech ECO Frame is a drop ship item — it ships directly from Nortech Graphics in Arkansas. Nortech manufactures and ships as quickly as possible; times can vary. For questions, contact Nortech at 800-743-6473 or reach out to River City Supply at (512) 454-0505 or [email protected].

More questions about the Nortech ECO Frame system?

Our screen printing experts are ready to help you choose the right frame, mesh, and emulsion for your shop.  |  (512) 454-0505  |  [email protected]

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