Support system and method for a screen printing unit

A support system for supporting a printing screen unit in a screen printing machine, the support system including:

• a support assembly comprising a support unit for supporting a printing screen unit, the printing screen unit comprising a printing screen including printing apertures through which printing medium is printed onto a workpiece, a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the printing screen, and a clamping mechanism for clamping the printing screen;
• and
• a control unit for controlling operation of the support assembly, wherein the control unit is configured (i) to actuate the tensioning mechanism to tension the printing screen, and (ii) to actuate the clamping mechanism to clamp the printing screen in a printing phase in printing printing medium onto a workpiece so as to fix the lateral, in-plane position of the printing screen, and to de-actuate the clamping mechanism to release clamping of the printing screen in a separation phase in separating the printing screen unit and the workpiece.