Pad Printing Service
MOLDITQUICK provides pad printing as a value-added surface treatment for molded and machined parts — transferring crisp logos, symbols and text onto flat, curved and recessed surfaces with ±0.1 mm registration.
Single-Color Pad Printing
One-color logos, symbols and text printed on flat, curved or recessed surfaces with ±0.1 mm registration — the workhorse of part branding.
Multi-Color / Multi-Station Printing
Two to four sequential colors printed with cliché registration for complex brand graphics on one part.
UV-Curable Ink Printing
UV inks cure instantly for high scratch and chemical resistance — ideal for medical devices and electronics where durability is tested.
Conductive Ink Printing
Silver and carbon conductive inks for membrane switches, sensors, electrodes and ESD paths printed directly on plastic parts.
Miniature & High-Precision Printing
Tiny text, fine lines and small parts printed with hardened silicone pads, holding detail down to 0.15 mm line width.
What Is Pad Printing?
Pad printing — also called tampo printing — is an indirect offset printing process. Ink is doctored into an etched plate (cliché), picked up by a soft silicone pad, and transferred onto the part. Because the pad is flexible, it conforms to curved, stepped, recessed and textured surfaces that screen printing and labels cannot reach, while still printing crisp detail down to fine line widths.
The process is the standard choice for logos, icons, buttons, symbols and regulatory text on molded plastic parts, from medical device handles and keyboard keys to automotive controls and consumer products. Inks range from solvent-based to instant-cure UV formulations, including conductive inks that turn a printed pad into a functional electrode or sensor path. Compared with hot stamping, pad printing is more flexible for multi-color graphics and curved geometry; compared with laser engraving, it adds ink color options but is not permanent to the same degree. See the surface finishing overview for a side-by-side view.
Key Parameters
Typical printing capabilities; ink system and pad hardness are selected per part and durability target.
| Parameter | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | ±0.1 – 0.15 mm | Between print stations and part features |
| Cliché (plate) depth | 15 – 30 μm | Etched depth controls ink film thickness |
| Ink film thickness | 3 – 15 μm | Thicker film for durability and opacity |
| Cycle time | 1 – 3 s per station | Multi-station lines print 2–4 colors |
| Line width / detail | down to 0.15 mm | With hardened pads and fine clichés |
Applications
Pad printing is used whenever a durable, colored mark must follow a 3D surface:
- Medical devices — handles, buttons, housings with permanent symbols and UV-stable inks.
- Electronics — keycaps, buttons, switches and membrane-switch electrodes with conductive ink.
- Automotive — interior controls, knobs and trim with wear-tested inks.
- Consumer products and toys — logos, characters and decorative graphics on curved parts.
- Industrial equipment — nameplates, dials and function symbols.
Printed parts are typically molded in-house on our injection moldinglines, so pad areas are designed flat, crowned or textured exactly as the printing process needs.
Why MOLDITQUICK
MOLDITQUICK (Dongguan Guohong Precision) runs pad printing in-house at a 10,000 m² plant with 280 employees and IATF 16949, ISO 13485 and ISO 9001 systems. Clichés are etched in our own facility, so artwork changes are fast and sampling is done with production tooling — no external plate house, no extra lead time.
Ink is matched to Pantone or your physical sample, and first articles are approved against your reference. Prototype and small batches ship in 7–12 days, mass production in 25–30 days, worldwide. Combine pad printing with our othermanufacturing services to keep marking, molding and assembly under one roof.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between pad printing and screen printing?
Pad printing uses a silicone pad to transfer ink from an etched plate, so it prints on curved, stepped, recessed and textured surfaces. Screen printing is limited to flat areas and is better for large, simple graphics.
Which plastics can be pad printed?
Most thermoplastics — ABS, PC, PA, acrylic, POM and more. PP and PE receive a brief flame or corona pre-treatment for ink adhesion; metals can be printed with appropriate inks.
How durable is the printed ink?
UV-curable inks withstand wiping, mild solvents and abrasion tests commonly required by medical and electronics specs. Standard inks are suitable for most consumer products. We confirm durability on your actual substrate during sampling.
Can you print on textured or curved surfaces?
Yes. Different pad hardnesses conform to curved, stepped and lightly textured surfaces while keeping edge definition on the printed artwork.
Can you match a specific brand color?
Yes. Inks are mixed to Pantone or a physical color sample, and the first article is approved against your reference before production starts.
What is the minimum quantity for pad printing?
There is no strict MOQ. Prototype and small batches ship in 7–12 days and mass production in 25–30 days; printing itself adds 2–5 days.