Pad Printing

At Secondary Solutions Inc. (SSI), we provide precision pad printing services for manufacturers who require durable, repeatable, and cosmetically superior printing on molded plastic, metal, and engineered components.

Since 1996, SSI has partnered with OEMs, contract manufacturers, and injection molders to decorate components for medical devices, industrial controls, agricultural equipment, consumer products, and commercial electronics. From simple one-color identification marks to complex multi-color graphics on difficult three-dimensional surfaces, our experienced team delivers consistent quality backed by responsive customer service and dependable production support.

Whether your project involves prototypes, pilot production, or high-volume manufacturing, SSI has the expertise to produce professional, repeatable results.

What Is Pad Printing?

Pad printing is a precision decorating process that transfers ink from an etched printing plate (cliché) onto a component using a flexible silicone pad. Because the pad conforms to curved, recessed, textured, and irregular surfaces, pad printing is often the preferred solution when screen printing or direct printing cannot achieve the required results.

Pad printing is commonly used for:

• Company logos
• Product branding
• Control panel graphics
• Safety symbols
• Regulatory markings
• Serial identification
• Functional icons
• Medical device graphics
• Graduated scales
• Multi-color artwork
• Product identification

Why Manufacturers Choose Pad Printing

Pad printing provides exceptional flexibility and precision for decorating molded and machined components.

Benefits include:

• Crisp, high-resolution graphics
• Excellent print registration
• Fine text reproduction
• Printing on complex geometries
• Multi-color capability
• Excellent ink adhesion
• Durable industrial ink systems
• Consistent production quality
• Cost-effective manufacturing

Whether printing on a small medical component or a large industrial housing, pad printing delivers reliable cosmetic performance.

Our Pad Printing Capabilities

SSI supports a broad range of pad printing applications, including:

• Plastic components
• Injection molded parts
• Metal components
• Painted parts
• Textured surfaces
• Curved housings
• Recessed features
• Cylindrical components
• Consumer products
• Industrial equipment

Our capabilities include:

• One-color printing
• Multi-color printing
• Tight print registration
• Fine-detail graphics
• Customer-specified colors
• Custom ink systems
• Prototype through production quantities
• Customer-supplied or SSI-managed artwork

Custom Fixtures for Repeatable Quality

Every successful pad printing project begins with proper part presentation.

SSI designs and manufactures custom fixtures that securely locate components in the exact same position for every print cycle. Proper fixturing minimizes variation, improves registration, reduces setup time, and ensures consistent results throughout production.

Whether your part has complex curves, delicate features, or tight print location tolerances, our fixture design process helps achieve repeatable quality from the first part to the last.

First Article Samples & Production Validation

Before production begins, many customers request printed samples or First Article Inspection (FAI) parts to verify print location, artwork, color, and overall appearance.

SSI supports:

• Prototype printing
• Engineering samples
• First Article Inspection (FAI)
• Production approval samples
• Customer validation builds
• Pilot production runs

This collaborative approach helps identify potential improvements early, reducing risk and ensuring confidence before full-scale manufacturing begins.

Printing on Difficult Geometries

Some of the most challenging pad printing projects involve complex molded components with compound curves, recessed features, textured surfaces, and tight cosmetic requirements.

SSI has extensive experience printing on parts where artwork must remain consistent across:

• Multi-axis curves
• Textured molded surfaces
• Deep recesses
• Narrow ribs
• Cosmetic Class A surfaces
• Functional control panels
• Operator interface components

Our experienced operators continuously monitor print quality and registration to maintain a professional appearance throughout production.

Color Matching & Ink Selection

Choosing the proper ink system is critical to achieving both the desired appearance and long-term durability.

SSI works with customer-specified and industry-proven ink systems designed for:

• Pantone® color matching
• Corporate branding colors
• Chemical resistance
• Abrasion resistance
• UV resistance
• Medical applications
• Industrial environments
• Outdoor exposure

When requested, we can assist customers in selecting ink systems compatible with both the substrate and the product's operating environment.

Print Durability & Quality Verification

A quality print must do more than look good—it must continue performing throughout the life of the product.

SSI incorporates quality verification methods appropriate for each application, including:

• Visual inspection
• Registration verification
• Print location verification
• Color consistency checks
• Adhesion testing
• Customer-specific quality requirements
• Functional inspection when applicable

Our quality-focused approach helps ensure every printed component meets both cosmetic and performance expectations.

Integrated Secondary Manufacturing Services

Unlike many decorating companies, SSI offers much more than pad printing.

Many customers reduce cost, lead time, and transportation by combining pad printing with other manufacturing services performed in the same facility, including:

• Assembly & kitting
• Ultrasonic welding
• Heat staking
• Spin welding
• Adhesive bonding
• UV adhesive application
• Conformal coating
• EMI/RFI shielding
• Functional coating applications
• Inspection & packaging

Consolidating multiple manufacturing processes with a single supplier simplifies project management while improving production efficiency and quality control.

Industries We Serve

SSI provides pad printing services for manufacturers in numerous industries, including:

Why Partner with Secondary Solutions?

Since 1996, manufacturers have relied on SSI because we combine precision printing with practical manufacturing expertise. Our team understands that successful pad printing depends on much more than ink and equipment—it requires careful process development, fixture design, quality control, and attention to detail.

Whether your project involves a simple logo or complex multi-color graphics on challenging three-dimensional components, SSI provides dependable manufacturing support from concept through production.

Our customers benefit from:

• Nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience
• Prototype through production support
• Custom fixture design
• First Article Inspection support
• Precision print registration
• Experienced operators
• Responsive customer service
• Competitive pricing
• Minnesota-based manufacturing
• Consistent quality and repeatability

Production Experience

Since we began tracking, SSI has pad printed more than one million parts. From simple one-color identification marks to complex multi-color graphics, our experienced operators consistently deliver crisp, repeatable results. These figures are only what we have recorded since we started keeping track; actual production totals are higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Partner with SSI for Precision Pad Printing

Your product's graphics are often the first thing your customers notice. At Secondary Solutions, we understand that every printed logo, symbol, and control panel graphic represents your brand. That's why we focus on delivering sharp detail, consistent registration, durable finishes, and repeatable manufacturing processes that meet your cosmetic and functional requirements.

Whether you're introducing a new product, improving an existing design, or searching for a reliable contract manufacturing partner, SSI has the experience, equipment, and commitment to quality to help your project succeed.