SCREEN Product decoration

Print is

pervasive

There are some individuals in the printing industry currently beavering away, using a host of complex print processes to tackle their bulging order books – these are the product decorators

ompanies in the product decoration sector are working in small factory units throughout the UK, realising pre-tax profits that are but a dream to the wide format giants of the point of sale industry. These companies are normally owner managed, employ up to 10 people and are currently stacked out with work.

C

Often familiar with screen printing, pad

printing, hot foil printing and possibly small format flat bed digital printing, many product decorators have been in the business for more than twenty years. Their greatest assets are their practical abilities and experience, not least because they are constantly faced with dozens of different substrates in a range of shapes and sizes. Typically image sizes will not exceed 350mm and generally be less than 100mm,

By Peter Kiddell

featuring on watches, mobile phones, promotional pens, keyboards, white goods and packaging.

It is certainly a resurgent industry, but not without its own challenges. This is because volume product is manufactured in the orient, where products can be printed, but only in volumes over 1,000 and often with a lead time in excess of 15 weeks. Personalisation presents problems, because volumes are low. Promotional pens, for example, where just a few thousand items are required will not be printed with their logos and promotional message until they reach these shores.

What is it?

Product decoration comes in all shapes and sizes, from watch straps and pebbles to keyrings and bowls. Pictures courtesy Tealwood

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SCREEN PROCESS AND DIGITAL IMAGING l April/May 2010

Surface decoration specialists have to know what they are being asked to print onto. This is not always easy since the moulding was probably produced in China. The plastic used was not a pure bred polymer but a mix of molecules whose surface is unrecognisable from the original specification. Why is this important? Because in order to print on a surface, the quality control of the materials used to create that surface has to be more precise than if it were a non printed surface. Flow additives or material turbulence in the mould tool can all affect the printability of a material. Unfortunately, moulding conditions are often way out of the printers’ control. Of course, product decorators have to manage this situation because no client will accept a printed pen whose advertising message comes off when handled. In many cases it is necessary to wipe the surface with a cleaning agent or pre-treat it with flame, corona or plasma. Most product printers use

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