TAMPOPRINT manufactures many different types of cliché/plate material. Our cliché/plates are made of quality controlled materials through patented processes developed exclusively at TAMPOPRINT in Germany. Our sophisticated cutting and punching equipment allows us the flexibility to provide rapid setup for any hole configuration of any competitor pad printing machines. To name a few, KENT, Comec, Winon and Ink Cups Now. TAMPOPRINT custom pad printing cliché/plates can be sized to any pad printing machine.
Photo Polymer
Photopolymer clichés/plates (or polymer clichés/plates) are photo-engraved. The process to develop a photopolymer printing plate is fairly simple, and takes about 45 minutes to an hour to perform correctly. It is important to have a work space free of ambient ultraviolet (U.V.) light as the blank cliché material is sensitive to U.V. A film positive with sufficient image density is required to achieve the correct depth. You will also need a suitable exposure unit, line screen film, and developer which TAMPOPRINT manufactures. Most polymers require two exposures; one with the film positive and a second with a line screen. Following exposure, the cliché/plates is then developed in either an alcohol solution or distilled water. After the cliché/plate is exposed, it must be re-exposed to harden the image area, and then dried to remove moisture.
Tampoprint has all the tools and equipment you need to make photopolymer clichés/plates in-house. Our polymer clichés/plates consist of the following:
| Cliché/Plate Type | Cool Orange Polymer | Cool Grey Polymer | Magnet Raster – Red Polymer |
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| Manufacturing Process | Water Wash, UV Exposure, CO2 Laser. | Alcohol wash, UV Exposure, CO2 Laser | Alcohol wash, UV Exposure, CO2 Laser |
| Cycle Time | Up to 10,000 | Up to 20,000 | Up to 80,000 |
| Application | Low runs. Multiple change overs. Used when more ink coverage is required. | Low runs. Multiple change overs. Used when more ink coverage is required. | High quality process colours. Detailed images. Larger volumes. |
| Description | Eco – friendly. Cost effective. Developed for “open” system printing machines. Can also be used on “hermetic” print systems. Perfect for low print runs. | Eco – friendly. Cost effective. Developed for “open” system printing machines. Can also be used on “hermetic” print systems. Perfect for low print runs. | Traditional plastic. Quick and easy to make. High ink coverage, fastness and fine resolution. Used both with line motif and in high quality precision designed multicolour screen print motifs. |
- All clichés/plates can be used on TAMPOPRINT machines and some competitor machines.
- Interleaving paper is recommended for all thin steel (non-magnetic) clichés/plates.
IMPORTANT NOTE: While this is not to our quality standards, companies with CO2 lasers can use any of our photopolymer material for laser etching by pre-exposing the material beforehand.
Laser Cliché/Plates
TAMPOPRINT is the original pioneer of computer to plate technology. TAMPOPRINT also created their own laser cliché/plate material coating that guarantees 100% etching depth and an even consistency of ink distribution which; is important in producing high quantity and high quality prints. In the past several years, most of TAMPOPRINTS competitors sell signage material as their “cliché/plate material”. We have seen problems with the use of this material in pad printing due to the uneven coating layered onto the cliché/plate. This in turn has caused etching depth issues and many customers have turned to us for a better solution. TAMPOPRINT cliché/plates can be etch/engraved using CO2 and YAG lasers. TAMPOPRINT offers both laser engraving systems.
Below is a list of our laser clichés/plates along with details on their characteristics:
| Cliché/Plate Type | Magnet – Microflex | Magnet – Aloxid | Aloxid – Special | Steel | Ceramic |
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| Manufacturing Process | Laser (CO2/YAG) | Laser (YAG) | Laser (YAG) | Laser/Chemical | Laser (YAG) |
| Cycle Time | Up to 10,000 | Up to 80,000 | Up to 80,000 | Up to 500,000 | Up to 3,000,000 |
| Application | Low runs, Multiple change overs. High resolution. Screened motifs. Excellent for multiple color or CMYK color work, with the industry's highest resolution of up to 1200 d.p.i. (dots per inch). | Medium runs. Multiple change overs. Required high quality vector graphics. Replacing thin steel clichés. Offer a nominal etch depth of 20 microns. | Medium runs. Multiple change overs. Required high quality vector graphics. Replacing thin steel clichés. Offer a nominal etch depth of 20 microns. | Long runs. Repetitive Prints. High speed printing requirements. | Long runs. Repetitive Prints. High speed printing requirements. |
| Description | Lacquer coating is invented by TAMPOPRINT which is why this cliché is recommended for high quality and screen like motifs. | Aluminum cliché with magnetic base to be used on a magnetic holding plate “H”. Aloxid anodising process developed exclusively by TAMPOPRINT. Has extremely accurate engraving depth and contour sharpness. | Aluminum cliché with a high tech anodized coating. Must be mounted on a non-magnetic holding plate, held in place by dowel pins. Has extremely accurate engraving depth and contour sharpness. | Made with high quality chromium steel. Largely produced using laser engraving but can also be chemically etched. High Longevity. | 100% ceramic. 10mm thick. Distinguished by unsurpassed service life, light weight design. Non Corrosive and resistant to harsh chemicals. |
- All clichés/plates can be used on TAMPOPRINT machines and some competitor machines.
- Interleaving paper is recommended for all thin steel (non-magnetic) clichés/plates.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All statements of cliché/plate durability mentioned above assume that the clichés/plates have been properly etched. Furthermore; that all clichés/plates and backing plates are clean and perfectly parallel, and that the machine is properly set up and maintained.