Name badges are staples in event marketing, employee identification, and branded promotions. When decorating these promotional products, the method matters just as much as the design. Curved surfaces, variable data, durability, and order volume all impact which process fits the job best.
From traditional options like pad and screen printing to digital printing and laser engraving, promotional products suppliers and decorators have several methods to choose from. Here’s what industry experts have to say about where each process excels.
“Decoration requirements depend on the material, imprint shape, and how the product will ultimately be used,” Matt Wagner, VP of sales for Fields Manufacturing, says. “The end environment plays a key role in determining the right method to ensure both durability and visibility.”
Wagner adds that perceived value is just as important when determining the right decoration method for the finished product. It must check both the “performance” and “presentation” boxes.
Pad Printing: Precision for Small, Curved Surfaces
Looking at pad printing strengths, Scott Einsig, senior account manager at Diversified Printing Techniques, says it’s the “unsung hero” of the branding world.
He notes that it’s particularly ideal for those looking for event badges that go beyond a simple nameplate. “While digital printing dominates the high-speed variable data market — like printing individual names onsite — pad printing is the gold standard for high-quality, durable branding on the badge hardware itself,” Einsig says.
Because of its “stamp” method, using a flexible silicone pad, it works best on acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate, and various metals, including aluminum or steel.
“If your badge is curved, recessed, or textured — like a high-end plastic molded badge or a metal clip-on — the silicone pad wraps around the shape to apply the ink without distortion,” Einsig explains.
It’s most cost-effective for medium- to high-volume orders (500 or more pieces) of the same design. It excels in tiny text and intricate logos, and if you need high detail in a small area, Einsig says pad printing delivers crisp detail.
Talking inks, color matching, metallics, and neons are all possible with pad printing. Because of the silicone pad, inks can be stamped into the “valleys” or “hills” of a surface unlike screen or digital printing.
“The inks used are designed to become ‘tacky’ during the transfer, meaning parts can often be handled or stacked almost immediately after the pad lifts,” Einsig notes. “Because the ink chemically bonds with the plastic (solvent-based) or is cured with UV, the adhesion is often much stronger than digital inkjet on non-porous plastics.”
That said, like any technology, it comes with its limitations. As mentioned, it’s not well-suited for those looking to print individual names or variable data. “Each change in text requires a new etched plate — also called a cliché,” Einsig explains. “Use pad printing for the ‘static’ branding and a different method for the names.”
Read the full article on Promo Impressions.
