Screen Printing on Plastic
Screen printing (or silk screen printing) on plastic is the best product decorating option when a large, bold image is required for flat plastic panels or covers, or when a full wrap or two-sided image is required for a cylindrical plastic part, including bottles, buckets or jars. Screen printing is compatible for most plastic manufacturing processes such as injection molding, thermoforming, blow molding, extruding, vacuum casting, and rapid prototyping.
Screen Printing on Plastic at Unique
At Unique Assembly & Decorating, we can take on your short-run or high-volume orders to meet your plastic screen printing needs. With screen printing, we can print the plastic bottles and jars nearly 360° in one pass or print large port markings on large plastic signage. With process, multicolor images are also achievable but require one pass for each color. We can screen print on clear, frosted, or colored plastic parts.
For your flat or round plastic parts, we have both conventional and UV cured inks. For most standard plastics, such as (but not limited to) ABS, acrylic, HIPS, nylon, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, we have full ink lines which allow us to mix PMS colors and custom colors in-house.
- We offer screen printing both flat and cylindrical items
- Compatible for all types of plastic manufacturing
- Most effective product decorating option when large opaque images are required
- Custom Color and PMS Color Matching
Plastics We Print On
We offer both single color screen printing or 1-color screen printing, and multicolor screen printing (i.e., multicolor spot images and 4-color process images).
Acetal (Delrin / Celcon)
Delrin® is a thermoplastic material used in moving parts that require low friction and long wear life. Products made of Delrin® are tough, have high impact strength and high resistance to repeated impact. Additionally, Delrin® has high tensile strength and creep resistance, and exhibits low moisture absorption. Its chemical resistance to hydrocarbons, solvents and neutral chemicals make Delrin® ideal for many industrial applications.
Delrin® – also known as Acetal Homopolymer (POM-H/Ertacetal H®) – parts are easily machined and its strength and high abrasion resistance make it a good replacement for metal if the full strength of metal is not required.
Applications
- Gears
- Bearings
- Bushings
- Rollers
- Fittings
- Electrical insulation
- Electrical components
- Conveyor moving parts
- Automotive and fuel related parts
- Sliding and guiding parts
- Zippers
- Winter sports equipment
- Pump and valve parts
- Pocket knives
ABS
We can print on most plastic types, offering a wide range of product varieties. Our ABS, or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene, is an opaque thermoplastic that does not need to be pre-treated. Relatively stiff and strong, it’s a cost-effective plastic type that is easy to print on. Additionally, it’s scratch-resistant and an easily recycled material, making it durable and better for the environment.
Applications
- LEGO bricks
- Small kitchen appliances
- Keyboard keycaps
- Automotive components (auto body parts)
- Protective headgear such as helmets
- Musical instruments
- Plastic guards on wall sockets
- Protective cases for power tools
- Medical supplies
Polyester / Valox
At Unique Assembly & Decorating, we are the leading provider of product decorating services for rigid plastic polyester / valox products. With over 25 years of experience, we aim to provide the best quality results offering a wide range of printing and decorating services. Our dedication to our customers motivates us to complete the most complex projects in a cost-effective and time-efficient manner. We work with a range of customers, including contract manufacturers, OEMs, injection molders, and product manufacturers severing a variety of industries. We are often asked to pad print, screen print, or hot stamp on polyester / valox plastic parts.
Nylon (PA)
Nylon, also known as Clean-pak and nylon C, is used for a variety of applications from reinforcement rubber, injection molded parts and more. It is exceptionally strong, relatively resistant to abrasions and moisture absorptivity, long lasting, resistant to chemicals, elastic and easy to wash. Nylon comes in different grades and can be extruded since it has a high melting temperature, making it perfect for injection molding and 3D printing.
Applications
- LED Parts
- Power Tool Parts
- Kitchen Cookware
- Plastic Fasteners
- Machine Parts
- Automotive Parts
Acrylic
Unique Assembly & Decorating is one of the most knowledgeable and reliable companies in the industry for pad printing, screen printing, or hot stamping on Acrylic parts. With over 25 years of experience, we can decorate or print on almost any plastic material and surface with customers including product manufacturers, contract manufacturers, OEM's, and injection molders. We are in Downers Grove, IL and proudly serve customers throughout the country.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic and is one of the most commonly used plastics in the world. The uniqueness of polypropylene lives in its elasticity, allowing it to be made into very thin pieces that can bend endlessly and not break, more commonly known as living hinges. An example of this would be the plastic top to your ketchup bottle. It’s a very versatile material that maintains excellent chemical resistance, toughness, fatigue resistance and electric insulation qualities. The plastically is typically opaque and can be recycled, making it very cost-effective. Although it’s one of the more difficult plastic surfaces to print on, Unique Assembly & Decorating can effectively print on both treated and untreated polypropylene.
Applications
- Consumer market packaging
- Plastic parts for automotive equipment
- Caps and closures
- Household parts
- Storage containers
- Garden furniture
- Consumer goods
- Special devices like living hinges
- Medical components
Polyethylene (PE)
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer that can be utilized in a wide variety of applications depending on the type. The two most common types seen in everyday applications are high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE). HDPE is a rigid material that is used for items like plastic bottles, while (LDPE) is used for things like plastic bags and films. At Unique Assembly & Decorating, we only provide printing and design services for HDPE items. Common applications for HDPE are food and beverage use (milk cartons), laundry detergent bottles, garbage bins, and cutting boards. We have years of experience helping injection molders with printing on PE parts.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate is a type of plastic that is naturally transparent and lightweight. As it’s virtually unbreakable and has transparency like glass, it’s typically used in applications which require material to be see-through yet durable. Examples of this include eyeglasses or even bulletproof glass. It has remarkable longevity, making it cost effective for the quality it delivers. Being heat and shatter resistant makes it a popular choice for industries such as food and beverage, among other storage uses. The quality and versatility of the plastic material make it a popular choice for signage and printed retail displays.
Applications
- Electronic components
- Construction materials
- Automotive and aircraft components
- Medical tools
- Smartphone parts
Unique Assembly & Decorating Inc. can also print on other plastics considered too difficult to decorate or print.
For flat plastic parts, such as injection molded equipment panels, signage or large plastic sheets of various types of plastic, we have several semi-automatic machines available. They produce outstanding results for projects that require a few parts, or for a program requiring thousands of parts per order. When screen printing plastic parts on these machines, multicolor images are achievable but require one pass for each color.
We can also screen print cylindrical plastic parts using these semi-automatic machines for just a few pieces or a run of several thousand. For example, we can screen print plastic tapered knobs, cylindrical plastic flow tubes for industrial or medical use, water bottles containing sports logos or bottles and jars used in the cosmetic industry.
Is screen printing the right choice for my plastic part?
Even though we will do the research and legwork to find the best printing solution for your plastic product or part, pad printing may be the right solution for your project if:
- You need a large bold image.
- Your image needs to be printed on a round plastic object.
- The image can be printed with multiple passes, one for each color.
Contact us today to request a quote or to learn more about our screen printing for plastic bottles and other services!
Project Gallery
Unique Assembly is able to print or decorate nearly any rigid surface – flat or cylindrical, concave or convex, raised or recessed, and painted or coated surfaces.
Have Questions?
We have the capabilities to work with companies across the US and are excited to work with you on your upcoming project!
Contact Us (Phone & Fax)
630-241-4300Find Us
Unique Assembly & Decorating, Inc.
2550 Wisconsin Ave,
Downers Grove, IL 60515