It is quite difficult to make a prudent decision to select a particular pad printer when you have variety of options available in front of you. If you are clear with the process design and requirement details, then of course the selection becomes easy.

To make the right pad printer selection, we have the following suggestions:

• You should understand the cost of whole process, as cheaper machines end up with higher costs in the first year itself due to losses not accounted for during purchase i.e. ink costs, energy costs, plate costs, downtime costs, bad quality costs, lower yield costs.
• Ink cup system should be closed so that ink and solvent loss through evaporation can be saved and ink can be prevented from dust, dirt particles.
• Machine needs to have special cross table with X/Y/Z axis , so that the component can be shifted according to the precise printing position. This saves time.
• Machine needs to have suitable facility for quick change-over of ink cup and etched plate, so that multiple jobs can be done in limited time. Also the accessories for consistent print quality should be available with machine.
• Proper ink storage system in the ink cup should be available. If, suppose during emergency, such storage is required.
• An advance machine should have membrane keyboard with the following panel functions -- inching mode, single cycle, continuous run, multiple print, infinitely variable speed regulation, infinitely variable doctor contact pressure, adjustable doctoring pressure. When less variables are to be printed these can be avoided.
• You need to have clear idea of the quality desired (fine printing is only possible with sophisticated technology like high quality cup ring, metals for fabrication).
• Understand, if the supplier or manufacturer is competent enough to provide all solutions at his premises i.e. designing studio, plate and pad making facility, fixture or jigs making, ink and pantone preparation, ink testing, sampling facility, technical feed backs, after sales service, machine guarantee, so that you need not run in different directions for a single product printing.
• Machine only that machine, which can serve your customized purpose (flexible speedy machines suitable for multicolor and automations requirements).
• Select the machine that can cover maximum printing area, which can be sometimes 360 degree as per the requirement.
• Manufacturers or suppliers should have proper set up (designers, engineers, technicians) to guide you when required, as well as display system at their site (showroom etc).
• Machine needs to be environmentally suitable so that it consume minimal ink. Evaporation of solvents should be very low.