Pad Printing Plate Making Equipment
UV Exposure Units, Laser Cliché Systems, and Outsourced Options for Making High-Quality Pad Printing Plates
Automark offers equipment for producing pad printing clichés in-house, from UV exposure systems for polymer plates to the TTN Cliché Laser for fast, precise laser engraving. Whether you are making a few clichés per day or need a production-ready plate making workflow, we can help you choose the right system, plate material, and process.
Cliche quality
Better Clichés Create Better Pad Prints
The cliché, or printing plate, controls image quality, ink transfer, fine detail, and setup repeatability. Poor cliché quality leads to inconsistent ink pickup, soft edges, longer setup times, and avoidable production variation. Investing in reliable pad printing plate making equipment gives manufacturers tighter control over the parts of the process that directly affect print quality.
Sharper Detail
High-quality clichés hold fine artwork, small text, and precise image edges for cleaner pad prints.
Faster Setup
Repeatable plate quality helps operators dial in the job faster and reduce trial-and-error setup time.
Better Ink Transfer
Consistent etch depth and surface quality improve ink pickup and release from the silicone pad.
More Control In-House
In-house cliché making improves turnaround, confidentiality, scheduling control, and production flexibility.
What Is Pad Printing Plate Making?
The Right Plate Method Changes Everything
Pad printing plate making is the process of creating a cliché (printing plate) that transfers ink onto a product. These plates can be produced using laser engraving systems, UV exposure units with photopolymer plates, or outsourced to third-party suppliers.
Automark helps companies choose the best way to produce pad printing plates based on volume, cost, and quality. Each method offers different advantages depending on your production volume, required precision, and operational budget.
Why Plate Selection Matters
- Directly affects cost per print
- Impacts production speed and throughput
- Determines print quality and repeatability
- Influences chemical and consumable overhead
- Shapes your total cost of ownership
plate making methods
UV Exposure or Laser Engraving: Which Plate Making Method Fits Your Production?
UV Exposure Units for Polymer Clichés
Best for:
- 1–4 plates per day
- Lower-volume production
- Prototype work
- Companies starting in-house cliché making
A polymer cliché exposure unit is commonly the lower upfront cost path. Typical plate making time is 30–40 minutes per plate, and the process works well with WS43 water wash plates and ST52 alcohol wash plates.
method 1
TTN Cliché Laser for Laser-Engraved Plates
Best for:
- 5+ plates per day
- High production environments
- Frequent artwork changes
- Fine detail and fast turnaround
- Aluminum cliché production
The TTN cliché laser engraves several plates in approximately one minute. It is recommended for YL50 laser plates, compatible with COL40 laser plates, and YL50 is Automark’s preferred plate material for this workflow.
method 2
Automark Manufactured Plates
Best for:
- 1-4+ plates per month
- Low changeover production environments
- Customers that don’t want to make plates
- Fine detail with 24 hour turnaround
- Steel cliché production
Automark can customize the plate for your individual requirements including thick steel plates for very high volume runs.
method 3
UV Exposure Units for Polymer Pad Printing Plates
UV exposure units for clichés are a practical choice for customers making a small number of polymer clichés each day. These systems are commonly used with water wash and alcohol wash cliché materials and are a cost-effective way to bring polymer cliché processing and pad printing plate production in-house.
A UV exposure workflow is a good fit for 1–4 plates per day, lower-volume shops, prototype work, and occasional plate changes. A typical process takes about 30–40 minutes per plate and can be configured for WS43 water wash plates or ST52 alcohol wash plates.
1-4 Plates Per Day
Practical for lower daily cliché volume and controlled in-house production.
30-40 Minute Process
Exposure, washout, drying, and finishing typically fit a manageable shop workflow.
Water or Alcohol Wash
Supports WS43 water wash plates and ST52 alcohol wash plates.
See How to Make a Polymer Cliché
with a UV Exposure Unit
Watch the full workflow for producing a polymer pad printing cliché using a UV exposure plate making system. This instructional video helps operators understand the exposure, washout, drying, and finishing process used to create high-quality polymer clichés.
UV Exposure Units for Polymer Cliché Production
TTN UV Mark
Affordable and accurate UV exposure unit for shops making small numbers of polymer clichés in-house. Uses a glass pressure plate to hold film against the cliché. Can be equipped with a vacuum.
entry level
Automark UV
vacuum system
TTN Mark GF II
large format
Need Help Choosing the Right UV Exposure Unit?
TTN Cliché Laser for Fast, High-Detail Plate Engraving
The TTN Cliché Laser is designed for companies that need faster cliché production, fine detail, and reduced labor. Instead of spending 30–40 minutes producing each polymer plate, the TTN laser can engrave a plate in approximately one minute. For companies making five or more plates per day, the labor savings can quickly justify the investment.
This premium laser cliché engraver is a strong fit for medical, aerospace, electronics, automotive, and industrial applications that require fast laser engraving, excellent detail, repeatable production, and dependable laser engraved pad printing plates. Automark recommends YL50 laser plates as the preferred plate material, while COL40 laser plates are also compatible.
Approximately 1 Minute Per Plate
Reduce plate production time compared with traditional polymer plate workflows.
Fine Detail Engraving
Produce crisp artwork, small text, and detailed industrial marks with repeatable quality.
Ideal for YL50 Laser Plates
YL50 laser plates are Automark’s preferred material for the TTN workflow.
Reduces Labor Cost
Less operator time per plate can create a clear financial case at higher daily volumes.
Production-Ready Workflow
Designed for teams that need dependable, repeatable plate output every day.
Excellent for Frequent Artwork Changes
Fast engraving supports short runs, revisions, and high-mix production schedules.
Watch the TTN Cliché Laser in Action
See how quickly the TTN Cliché Laser can engrave precision pad printing plates. This system is designed for companies that need fast turnaround, repeatable quality, and reduced labor compared with traditional UV exposure workflows.
When Does a Laser Cliché System Make Financial Sense?
For companies making one to four plates per day, a UV exposure system is often the most practical solution. Once production reaches approximately five plates per day, the labor savings of the TTN Cliché Laser can quickly offset the higher upfront investment.
| Production Factor | UV Exposure Unit | TTN Cliché Laser |
|---|---|---|
| Best Daily Volume | 1–4 plates/day | 5+ plates/day |
| Typical Time Per Plate | 30–40 minutes | Approximately 1 minute |
| 25 Plates Per Week | Approximately 13 hours | Approximately 25 minutes |
| Weekly Labor Cost at $20/hr | Approximately $250 | Minimal |
| Annual Labor Cost | Approximately $12,500 | Minimal |
| Best Plate Materials | WS43 / ST52 | YL50 / COL40 |
| Preferred Plate Material | Based on washout process | YL50 |
| Best Fit | Low volume and prototype work | Production environments and frequent plate changes |
At 25 plates per week, the labor difference between a UV exposure workflow and the TTN Cliché Laser can equal approximately $12,500 per year. That labor savings can be close to the price difference between a UV plate maker and a laser cliché system.
Outsourcing Pad Printing Plates
Plates can be purchased from Automark shipped ready for use. You supply the artwork, Automark produces the cliché and delivers it to your facility. No equipment, no training, and no consumable management required.
Advantages
- No equipment purchase required
- No setup or operator training needed
- Ideal for very low volume or one-off jobs
Considerations
- Higher long-term cost per plate
- Slower turnaround — dependent on current lead times
- Less control over plate quality and tolerances
Ideal For
- Occasional or seasonal printing operations
- Companies evaluating pad printing before investing
- Low-volume production environments
- High-volume production environments with no desire to make plates in-house
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Pad Printing Plate Making Methods
Not all plate making methods are equal. Use this comparison to identify the right fit for your production environment, budget, and quality requirements.
| Method | Speed | Cost Per Plate | Startup Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser Engraving | Fastest | Lowest | High | High-volume production |
| UV Exposure | Medium | Low | Moderate | Small to mid-size operations |
| Outsourced Plates | Slow | Highest | None | Low volume / occasional use |
Cliché Plate Materials Supported by Automark
Automark supports polymer and laser-compatible plate materials for a range of in-house pad printing cliché workflows, including water wash cliché plates, alcohol wash cliché plates, and laser plate materials for steel cliché engraving and high-speed laser workflows.
WS43 Water Wash Plates
A polymer cliché plate designed for water wash processing. A strong fit for UV exposure plate making workflows.
ST52 Alcohol Wash Plates
An alcohol wash polymer cliché plate used with UV exposure systems for pad printing plate production.
YL50 Laser Plates
Automark’s preferred plate material for the TTN Cliché Laser. Recommended for fast laser engraving, fine detail, and production plate making.
COL40 Laser Plates
A laser-compatible cliché material that can be used with the TTN Cliché Laser for engraved pad printing plates.
Industry Use
Built for Industrial Pad Printing Applications
In-house cliché making improves speed, control, confidentiality, and production flexibility across industrial pad printing departments. Whether your team uses UV exposure units or a laser cliché engraver, better control over plate production helps reduce delays and protect critical artwork.
Medical Device Printing
Less operator time per plate can create a clear financial case at higher daily volumes.
Aerospace and Defense Marking
Less operator time per plate can create a clear financial case at higher daily volumes.
Automotive Components
Less operator time per plate can create a clear financial case at higher daily volumes.
Electronics and Connectors
Produce fine marks and compact graphics for small technical components.
Industrial Product Marking
Bring cliché turnaround in-house for everyday manufacturing schedules.
Promotional Products
Handle changing artwork and short-run decoration more efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pad Printing Plate Making FAQ
What is a cliché in pad printing?
A cliché is the etched or engraved printing plate used in pad printing. It holds the image that transfers ink to the silicone pad and then onto the part.
What is the difference between polymer and steel clichés?
Polymer clichés are typically made using UV exposure and washout processing. Steel or laser-compatible clichés are engraved with a laser and are often preferred for faster production, fine detail, and higher-volume environments.
How long does it take to make a polymer cliché?
A typical polymer cliché made with a UV exposure unit usually takes about 30–40 minutes, depending on the plate type, exposure settings, washout process, drying, and finishing steps.
How fast is the TTN Cliché Laser?
The TTN Cliché Laser can engrave many pad printing plates in approximately one minute per plate, depending on the artwork and plate material.
When does a laser cliché system make sense?
A laser cliché system usually begins to make sense when a company is making approximately five or more plates per day. At that volume, labor savings can quickly offset the higher upfront investment.
What plate material does Automark recommend for the TTN Cliché Laser?
Automark generally recommends YL50 laser plates as the preferred plate material for the TTN Cliché Laser because of their engraving quality and production performance.
Can Automark help us choose the right plate making system?
Yes. Automark can help review your plate volume, artwork requirements, print detail, production schedule, and budget to recommend the right UV exposure or laser cliché system.
Explore More
Complete Your Pad Printing Setup
Plate making is one part of a complete pad printing system. Explore Automark’s full range of equipment, inks, and accessories.
Pad Printers
Browse our full range of manual, semi-automatic, and fully automatic pad printing machines.
Pad Printing Inks
Explore AM-Si silicone inks and standard solvent-based inks for every substrate and application.
Printing Plates
Order pre-made steel and photopolymer clichés in standard and custom sizes.
Cleaning Systems
Keep your pad printing operation running cleanly with our ink cup and pad cleaning solutions.
Request a Quote
Need Help Choosing the Right Cliché Making System?
Whether you are making a few polymer plates per week or need a fast laser engraving system for daily production, Automark can help you select the right plate making equipment and cliché material for your pad printing process.
Or call us directly: +1-512-593-7100 | sales@automarkco.com
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