Steel printing plates are chemically etched, after a film positive has been made and the plate has been UV exposed and cured.
Pads are manufactured at Milford Astor for specific shapes and surfaces to ensure the printed design perfectly transfers to each different safety item.
Ink cups are made for the purpose of meticulously managing ink loads, safeguarding against excessive or insufficient ink application onto both the printing plate and the final print. The ultimate result is a sharp, crisp image.
Individually tailored colour blends, including metallic variations, are made to cater to the specific pad printing requirements. Each ink formulation is crafted to ensure robustness and durability, resulting in enduring and resilient imprints.
Each item is securely mounted to stop any movement. This guarantees each part of the print is perfectly aligned and positioned correctly on the item.
As part of the production, the different coloured ink pastes are filled into sealed ink cups on the pad printing production line and applied to the printing plates.
Ink is picked up from the plate and transferred onto the pad before it makes its way to stamp the item.
As the machines work, the ink cups simultaneously refresh ink onto the printing plates.
The pad 'stamps' each item repeatedly to build layers of ink and ensure a lasting design.
Each individual element of this process, from the creation of bespoke pads customised to the surface and size of each product, as well as the tailored inks that are supplied, ensure that complex branding deposition is optimised.