| We can source any branding option required. Please log in to www.ddcorp.co.za to download our price list. Branding processes are described below. Pad Printing: In the pad printing process an inked image is transferred from a photo-etched plate to a thick, soft silicone pad. The pad is then pressed against the object. The pad can wrap itself as much as 180° around a small object, and ink coverage is excellent. One colour is done at a time, but registration between colours is so accurate it allows four-colour process printing. Pad printing is mostly used for printing onto corporate gifts like pens, golf balls, mugs etc. Post-curing is aided by the use of heating tunnels. PA = plastic pens PB = small, medium & large items with easy handling and minimal treatment required PC = large, bulky items that cannot be tunnel-dried; breakables; specialised inks required; complicated packaging Screen Printing: In the screen printing process a piece of porous mesh is stretched over a frame. Areas of the screen are blocked off with a non permeable material - a stencil - which is a positive of the image to be printed, that is, the open spaces are where ink will appear. Ink is placed on top of the screen, and a squeegee is used to push the ink through the openings in the screen and onto the product. SA = high-volume items with easy set-up and handling SB = complicated set-up & handling; some drying and / or packaging required SC = large, bulky items that cannot be tunnel-dried; labour-intensive Where a number appears in brackets after a branding code, this denotes the maximum number of colours that an item can be branded, e.g. SA(1) = Screen Printing, category A, 1-colour branding only Digital Printing: Stickers are digitally printed in full-colour and then automatically cut to any shape by computerised vinyl cutters & printers. The stickers are coated with polyurethane to give a three-dimensional appearance. Domed stickers can be applied to many surfaces or heat pressed onto fabrics. DA = vinyl sticker DB = vinyl domed sticker Laser Engraving: Laser engraving is a process by which an image is marked into the surface of either metal (by YAG laser) or organic items (by CO2 laser) by removing approx. 0.8 microns off the surface of the product. A computer system is used to drive the movements of the laser head whereby very precise and clean engravings are achieved at a high rate. LA = high-volume, small items with easy set-up & multiple-marking ability LB = medium and large items, more complicated set-up LC = CO2, organic materials like wood, leather & glass Embroidery: Industrial embroidery machines are driven by computers that read digitised embroidery files created in-house by special software. Embroidery machines produce high quality, neatly stitched, multi-colour designs on items such as golf and, corporate clothing as well as caps, collars and towels. EA = embroidery up to 2000 mm2 EB = embroidery over 2000 mm2 |
