Pad printed Assembly and Collating

Tampography – you may not be familiar with the term but you are likely to be surrounded by objects which have been branded using this process. More commonly known as pad printing, this method is used to deal with objects where there is not a traditional flat surface that could be best worked using screen printing. A silicone pad is used to transfer an image onto a surface that is non-linear, curved or sometimes textured. The pad is first pressed onto a plate, which holds a type of ink that can vary according to the material which is being printed. The plate is formed to show the design of the product’s logo or some other piece of information, such as a barcode or an instruction for usage. Most pad printed objects are then left to air dry, but with some types of ink they can be cured using heat or UV light.
The pad printing process makes adding your stamp on curved, cylindrical and other unusually shaped objects easy – the image transfer is sharp, shows fine detail and can be used with multiple colours at once. You’re left with a high resolution image that is perfect for showcasing your brand in it’s best light. It’s a very versatile and popular method often used alongside other printing methods such as digital, screen print and UV. The method that is best for your job will depend on specifics that you can brief in when you’re ready to proceed with a job.

Your Finished Product

When a batch of products has been through a pad printing process, they will need to be assembled and collated accurately. Pad printed assembly and collating is an important part of the process to give you a great finish. If this part of the chain is not handled properly, and things are in disarray then you may find it’s a bit of a headache to deal with. It’s much better to have a full production plan in place which includes agreement on assembly and collation before you go to print. Each project should be handled on an individual basis, and it’s requirements assessed in advance so that you receive a completely bespoke product in line with your specifications. In this manner, you can achieve the beautiful, personalised product that will best represent your brand.

Knowing what you want to achieve can actually be the hardest part of the job – an experienced printer can help to guide you through the range of processes available to help you make the best choice overall. Envisioning how you want your final printed products to look is something which can take a little bit of experience to ensure that you get the best product. Look at all the available options and their cost and timeframe implications to ensure that you make the decision which will best fit your company’s aims. Working up a solid design brief will help to ensure that you consider all the angles before submitting your job. With a little thought, you can achieve a great product that’s ready to go.