a screen printing machine according to the invention has one or more printing stations each provided with a printing screen having a surface adapted to support a printing medium which is to be forced through the printing screen onto a travelling web . a rotary squeegee is provided for forcing the printing medium through the printing screen . the squeegee has a non - rotatable shaft which is mounted so as to be upwardly spaced from and extending substantially parallel to the surface of the printing screen , and a driven tubular jacket which rotatably surrounds the shaft and which is driven in rotation . an arrangement is provided for shifting the squeegee relative to the printing screen surface and into pressure - exerting line contact with the same .