A device for selectively protecting a needle includes an adapter holding the needle and a guard engaging the adapter for relative movement therebetween. The printing unit includes a screen roller engaging a doctor blade system, and which is in continuous operation, either by engaging a motor or by operation by the transmission of the printing machine. This invention also pertains to compounds used in these methods. Two snapshots are consolidated by updating block references in snapshot meta data. The alloy film contains cobalt, iron, and boron and its boron content exceeds 21 at %.