Pad printing, also known as tampography, is a printing process that allows for the transfer of complex, detailed graphics onto flat or contoured surfaces, e.g., injection molded plastic parts. It is a popular choice for printing on plastic products due to its versatility, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.
The process of pad printing on plastic begins with the creation of an image on a printing plate. Pad printing plates typically made of photopolymer or metal. The plate is then coated with a layer of plastic pad printing ink. A cup or a doctor blade removes the excess ink from the plate, leaving a thin film of ink in the image. Then a silicone pad presses onto the plate to pick up the ink. The pad then compes into contact with the plastic product, transferring the ink onto the surface.
Pros of Pad Printing
Here are some of the common advantages of pad printing:
This technique allows using multiple colors to print images on highly chemical-resistant surfaces.
Pad printers use a silicon pad, which easily adapts to surfaces with irregular shapes.
The Pad printing process is ideal for personalizing or customizing products.
Pad printing technology is compatible with various materials such as glass, metal, plastic, and edibles like sweets.
It offers a crisp, high-quality finish on small, uneven, fragile objects such as minor electrical components.
The Pad printing machine is easy to operate and cost-effective for the in-house pad printing process.
Pad Printing Applications
Automotive: The flexibility of the pad printing process allows manufacturers in this sector to efficiently decorate and label different automotive parts with images and details that are resistant to abrasion. Common pad printed parts include batteries and radiators.
Consumer Appliances: Pad printing is ideal for printing identification labels, instructions, branding, and decorating appliances such as telephones, keyboards, laptops, radios, and other gadgets.
Request a Free Quote for Masking Systems
Offers Many Benefits For Plastic Parts
The process of pad printing is versatile and easy to apply to your products. With pad printing, you could print intricate designs on any surface, or add tiny, delicate lettering to your product. This can be done even on the curviest, most indented surfaces.
Because pad printing is so usable, it offers many benefits, such as:
Applicable on almost any material regardless of texture.
Cost-efficient and easy to operate, making it a realistic secondary service for many projects and companies.
Provides crisp and high-quality printing — even on irregularly-shaped or large plastic parts.
Offers an ideal way to personalize and customize products (even if your design is intricate).
Designs can incorporate multiple colors, fonts, symbols, images, and more elements easily.