Pad printing

One of the marking techniques that may not be the most popular, but allows for the creation of durable and precise prints is pad printing. It is worth getting to know this method, which offers a wide range of possibilities for use in companies in many industries.

 

What is pad printing?

This is one of the techniques for creating prints in which the printing ink is applied using special silicone stamps, called pads. These elements are characterized by high flexibility and softness, which means they adhere perfectly to any surface. As a result, pad printing is used when creating prints on uneven surfaces - both concave and convex.

 

How does printing look like

A special machine called a pad printing machine is necessary for marking using this method. It can be manual, semi-automatic and automatic. Thanks to this, you can choose the type of device for the planned applications, as well as the colors used - the manual version works well for single-color prints.
At the very beginning, a matrix is ​​created, most often from plastic - polymer. The pattern that is to be found on the final article is placed on it. Once the matrix is ​​covered with printing ink, the excess paint should be removed with a metal or rubber squeegee - this guarantees the precision of the print.
The next step is to press the pad against the matrix, as a result of which the given pattern is transferred to the silicone stamp. Then the pad is placed exactly over the printed material and pressed against it. As a result, the appropriate amount of paint in a specific pattern is deposited in the selected location.

 

Advantages of pad printing

The method we describe is relatively universal and is often used for a number of advantages. These include:

- high print quality - if the right paints are used, the durability of the graphics or inscriptions is very high - in practice, they are extremely resistant to abrasion, crumbling or fading;

- universality of use - pad printing can be used for most materials - plastics, metals, wood, and many others; an undoubted advantage is also the fact that in the case of this technique, you can make prints on uneven surfaces - concave and convex;

- great coverage - properly selected paints ensure a great final look,

- extraordinary precision of workmanship - a wide selection of shapes and sizes of pads allows you to adjust the stamp to the type of print.

 

Application of pad printing

As you can see in the text above, pad printing has many advantages, which in turn translate into the wide application of this technique. As a result, solutions of this type work great for products from many industries, e.g.:

- automotive,

- cosmetics,

- medical and pharmaceutical,

- electrical engineering,

- textile,

- and many others.