Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing technology in Europe sometime around 1450. Among his Gutenberg's many contributions to printing are

- The invention of a process for mass-producing movable type
- The use of oil-based ink
- The use of a wooden printing press similar to the agricultural screw presses of the period.

A sculpture of Johannes Gutenberg

Gutenberg combined the above elements into a practical system which allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers alike. His method for making type is traditionally considered to have included a type metal alloy and a hand mould for casting type. The alloy was a mixture of lead, tin, and antimony that melted at a relatively low temperature for faster and more economical casting, cast well, and created a durable type.