Skip to main content
03 March 2025

Pad Printing on Industrial Parts.

Automotive, Medical, Plastic, Industrial

Pad printing is a printing technique that allows images and designs to be transferred onto various surfaces, especially those that are irregular or difficult to reach.

It uses an indirect process where ink is applied to a cliché (an engraved plate) and then transferred to the object's surface using a silicone pad.

This pad acts as an intermediary, picking up the ink from the cliché and depositing it onto the part to be printed.

Industrial marking with Pad Printing

While applicable to any sector, pad printing is widely used in industrial applications for:

  • Product identification: Pad printing enables components to be marked with essential information such as serial numbers, barcodes, or QR codes, facilitating inventory tracking and supply chain management.
  • Instructions and warnings: Many devices and instruments require printed information on proper usage and safety warnings. Pad printing ensures that this information remains visible and durable, helping to prevent accidents and misunderstandings.
  • Branding and Marketing: Customizing products with a manufacturer's logo or brand enhances brand visibility and can influence customer perception of product quality.

This technique is ideal for applications where print precision and durability are critical.

It is particularly useful for printing on irregular or hard-to-reach surfaces.

Pad printing is essential to ensuring that industrial parts are functional, safe, and aesthetically appealing.

Applications of Pad Printing in different industries

There are multiple applications of pad printing in industrial parts. Below are some examples:

1. Electronic Components:

  • Casings and panels: Pad printing is used to print logos, certification marks, and technical specifications on electronic device casings, such as phones, computers, and household appliances.
  • Warning labels: Safety and usage information is printed on components such as switches, buttons, and control panels.

2. Tools and Machinery:

  • Instruction markings: Hand and power tools often feature printed instructions on proper usage and safety warnings.
  • Serial numbers and product codes: Tools and machinery commonly have serial numbers printed using pad printing for easy identification and tracking.

3. Automotive parts:

  • Plastic Components: Pad printing is used to print decorative or functional details on plastic parts of a vehicle’s interior and exterior, such as dashboards, door panels, and trim.
  • Part Identification: QR codes or barcodes are printed on automotive components to facilitate tracking within the supply chain.

4. Medical equipment:

  • Medical devices: Pad printing is used to mark important information on medical equipment, such as usage instructions, warnings, and technical data that must be visible to healthcare professionals.
  • Packaging labels: Pharmaceutical product packaging often features printed expiration dates, batch numbers, and other critical information.

5. Household appliances:

  • Controls and buttons: Control panels on appliances such as washing machines, microwaves, and refrigerators use pad printing to display functions, settings, and warnings.
  • Brand logos: Logos are printed on the exterior for aesthetic and branding purposes.

6. Industrial Furniture:

  • Identification marks: In industrial furniture, such as tables and shelves, pad printing can be used to mark the manufacturer or the furniture’s maximum load capacity.

Key elements of the Pad Printing Process

The pad printing process involves several key materials, both for printing and for manufacturing tools and equipment:

1. Ink:

  • Solvent-Based Ink: Commonly used, it is suitable for various surfaces. It offers bright colors and good adhesion but may have a longer drying time.
  • Water-Based Ink: More environmentally friendly, it is ideal for applications seeking lower environmental impact. However, its use may be limited to certain surfaces.
  • UV Ink: This ink cures with ultraviolet light, allowing for instant drying and excellent durability. It is very popular in industrial applications.

2. Cliché or plate:

  • Metal: Steel or aluminum plates are commonly used as they are durable and allow for high-precision printing.
  • Photopolymer: This material is lighter and more flexible, ideal for jobs that require frequent design changes. It is exposed to light to create the design relief.

3. Pad:

  • Silicone: Pads are primarily made of silicone due to their ability to effectively transfer ink and adapt to irregular surfaces. They are also resistant to abrasion and heat.

4. Substrates and materials:

Pad printing can be applied to a wide range of materials, including plastics (such as polypropylene or PVC), metal (such as aluminum or steel), glass, ceramics, and wood. The choice of substrate depends on the final product and the type of ink to be used.

5. Equipment and machines:

Pad printing machines range from manual to fully automatic models. Key components include the ink transfer system, the cliché and pad holder, and the registration mechanisms to ensure proper alignment.

Technical Process of Pad Printing

The silicone pad printing process involves the following steps:

  • Design preparation: A design is created for printing. This design is transferred onto a plate or cliché, which can be made of metal or photopolymer.
  • Cliché creation: The cliché is prepared by engraving the design onto its surface. This can be done using chemical or laser techniques.
  • Ink application: Ink is applied to the surface of the cliché, filling the engraved areas. The ink used is typically fast-drying and can be solvent-based or UV-curable.
  • Ink transfer: A silicone pad is pressed onto the cliché, picking up the ink from the engraved areas. The pad is then pressed onto the object to be printed, transferring the ink.
  • Drying: After the transfer, the ink must dry to ensure durability and prevent smudging.
  • Repetition: This process can be repeated to print multiple objects or apply different colors, in which case multiple clichés and pads will be required.

At OSF, we analyze each client's project to recommend the most suitable materials and technology for their specific needs.

For more information, contact us.