Printing used to be a very complicated process. Complicated and limited. It began with woodblock printing which is about as basic as it gets. Eventually, over one thousand years after woodblock printing originated in ancient China, the printing press changed everything, but it was still very limited by today’s standards.

Fast forward to a period where technology progresses in the blink of an eye, and we have many more options when it comes to printing. However, with products of every shape and size coming with limitless contours and curves, it can be difficult to find the best solution.

Fortunately, that was why pad printers came into prominence after World War II. Pad printing is a unique process that makes it possible to quickly and efficiently transfer an image onto an irregular surface. To do so, it uses an indirect offsite printing process that combines the printing plate (otherwise known as a "cliché") and a flexible silicone pad to transfer the ink from the etched printing plate to just about any surface. Back then, the process was used to effectively print on the face of watches, but it was still a relatively young process. However, advancement in terms of the silicon pads and advanced equipment used for pad printing meant that it could be used on just about everything. This put pad printing on the fast track to becoming an extremely flexible printing method for businesses around the world. Because of this, printing on curved surfaces like appliance panels can be done very easily with a single machine. But how does it work?

First, from the "home" position, a sealed ink cup is lowered over the etched plate - covering the image and filling it with ink. Next the sealed ink cup is removed from the etched plate. Due to the way the ink is formulated, it becomes tacky immediately after being exposed to air. The transfer pad then lowers onto the printing plate for an instant, and as the pad is compressed air pressure is used to transfer the ink from the etched artwork onto the silicone pad, leaving a small amount of ink on the printing plate. Finally, the silicone pad moves forward and the ink cup fills the etched plate again to prepare for the next printing cycle. Meanwhile, the silicone pad compresses onto the print surface, which transfers the ink layer onto the product. When the silicone pad lifts away from the substrate, it completes the print cycle. Most projects involve many print cycles.

But why is this process better than a process like screen printing? The main advantages of pad printing when compared to other methods, is a pad printing machine’s unique ability to print on irregular shapes and virtually any material - including glass, coated substrates, plastic, metal, ceramics, silicone, foods, and pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, printing methods like screen printing are limited to printing on flat surfaces or round surfaces only. Meanwhile, pad printing offers businesses like manufacturers with the all of the capabilities of a screen printer but a level of flexibility and versatility that can’t be found with any other method. On top of this, pad printing machines provide greater print quality while also allowing the printer to perform at a higher speed, reverse direction, and make fine adjustments on-the-go. With methods like modern screen printing, the same would simply not be possible. This is fortunate for companies producing virtually every kind of product, especially from a branding perspective.

Pad printing has emerged as the method of choice for printing on products of every shape and size and has quickly replaced screen printing when it comes to printing for products, parts, and components. Apart from simple appliance decorating, it has also been used for the printing of knobs, dials, and many other appliance parts. Other products typically printed by pad printers include medical devices, hockey pucks, toys, automotive parts (such as turn signal indicators and panel controls), computer keyboards, televisions, and the serial numbers used for many different applications.

If you’re looking for a printing process that’s flexible and powerful - pad printing is likely to fit the bill.