Die Cutting
Flat-bed, rotary and laser cutting from drawing to ready-to-install parts.
Service detailsFlexographic Printing on Tape, Liners and Cores
Printing on the tape itself and on what it is wound around: logos, part numbers, handling text and identification marks, delivered as slit rolls ready for the line.
Drawing to productionTolerance per drawingSample timing at quotationShenzhen plant
What this service is for
Marking that is applied with the tape, not afterwards
A label stuck on a core falls off in transit, an inkjet line smears when the roll is handled wet, and a product that needs identification on every metre of tape cannot be marked by hand at the speed it is wound. Printing on the backing, the liner or the core is the version of marking that survives the process it belongs to.
It is also the part of converting where artwork approval really matters. The material and the width can both be right and the pack still fails, because a logo that prints cleanly on one carrier becomes unreadable on another. That is why a printed sample on the actual material is part of the sequence rather than an optional extra.
FacesBacking, liner, core, pack
Ink systemsWater-based and UV
PresentationSlit rolls or sheets
ArtworkProof before production
Capabilities
Backing print
Logo, text and identification printed on the non-adhesive face of the tape.
Liner and release-line marking
Printed positions on the liner so a part can be identified or released at the right place.
Core printing
Customer identification on the core instead of a sticker applied to it.
Packaging print
Bags, cartons and labels carrying brand and handling information.
Numbers and patterns
Sequential marks, colour bands, pictograms and handling symbols.
Artwork control
Proof, colour approval and a printed sample before the full run.
How the work is actually set up
What sits behind the service page, stated the same way as on the plant page, so a capacity claim can be checked in one place rather than in five.
Flexographic print route
Printing on the backing face with water-based or UV ink systems, positioned so the ink never meets the adhesive.
Liner and release-line marking
Printed positions on the liner, used for identification and for release marks at a defined point.
Core and carton printing
Brand and handling information produced on the pack itself instead of an applied label.
Slitting after print
Printed stock slit to the delivery width, so the repeat length stays registered on the roll.
The specification items we settle before quoting
| Specification item | How it gets confirmed |
|---|---|
| What is printed and where | Face, position across the width and repeat length, taken from the artwork rather than described in words. |
| Colour reference | The colour stated as a reference and approved on a printed proof, because the same ink reads differently on different carriers. |
| Ink system | Water-based or UV, chosen against what the tape meets after printing: handling, solvents, moisture or abrasion. |
| Legibility at size | The smallest text and the finest line that will hold on that carrier at that repeat. |
| Adhesive protection | Print stays on the non-adhesive face, so the bond is never asked to tolerate ink. |
| Approval record | Proof, sample and artwork version kept on file, so a repeat order matches the pack you approved. |
Nothing in this table is a standing promise. It is the list we work through with you; the answers end up in the quotation and on the work order.
Process
Artwork
Send the file with the colours and the position on the tape.
Plate and proof
We prepare the print route and issue a proof for approval.
Printed sample
A run on the actual material checks legibility, adhesion of the ink and rub resistance.
Production
Print, slit to width, inspect and pack with the approved artwork on file.
What to send with a request
Send what you already have. A partial list still gets a useful answer, and whatever is missing simply becomes the question we ask back.
- A vector artwork file with the colours stated as a reference
- Which face the print goes on and the repeat length
- The tape or material, or the family if it is still open
- The delivery format: slit roll, spool, sheet or carton
- What the finished pack has to survive after printing
- The quantity you expect per order and per year
How the result is inspected and released
Print proof
A signed colour and layout proof before material is committed to a run.
Rub and solvent check
Printed samples tested against the handling the pack actually meets.
Registration at width
Repeat position checked after slitting, because the cut is where a print can drift.
Packing and shipment
- Printed rolls ship sealed individually so the printed face is not abraded against itself in transit.
- Cartons and bags carry the approved artwork and the handling marks agreed at the order stage.
- Repeat orders run from the archived proof and artwork version rather than from a freshly supplied file.
Freight term, routing and destination charges are stated on the quotation. The logistics notes and the technical guides explain how each of those lines is worked out.
Materials we convert
MOPPPVCClothPET filmKraft paperRelease linersPaper coresCartons
The material list is a guide. Send the grade or performance requirement and we will confirm compatibility with the cutting route.
Product families this service converts
Industries that use it
Questions buyers ask about Printed Tape & Core Marking
Can you print on the adhesive side?
No. Printing goes on the backing, the liner or the core so the ink never meets the adhesive, which is what keeps the bond and the print both working.
Will the print survive handling and solvents?
That depends on the ink system, the face it is printed on and what the roll goes through afterwards. A printed sample on the actual material is the honest test, and we issue one before a run.
What artwork do you need from us?
A vector file with the colours stated as a reference, the repeat length and where the print sits on the width. A screenshot still gets a useful answer, but the proof is what makes it final.
Is there a minimum order for printed tape?
It depends on the material, the number of colours and the run length, so the minimum is confirmed with the quotation rather than published as a standing figure.
Can the tape be printed on the side that sticks?
No. Printing goes on the backing or the liner face, never on the adhesive, which is what lets a printed tape still bond properly. Where a construction has no printable face available, that is a material question and we answer it before quoting.
Do you print our logo on the tape itself or only on the box?
Both are possible and they are different products: print on the tape backing identifies every metre of material, print on the pack identifies the carton. Cost and minimum behave differently on each.
Application solutions
Other converting services
Slitting & Rewinding
Custom widths, spooling and tension-controlled rewinding from jumbo rolls.
Service details
Lamination & Converting
Tape + foam, film, liner and multi-layer adhesive constructions.
Service detailsOEM & Private Label
Private-label rolls, printed tape, custom packaging and kitted supply programs.
Service details
Custom Adhesive Solutions
Material selection, prototyping and supply programs for new projects.
Service detailsSheeting & Cut-to-Size
Tape and laminate converted to sheets in a stated width and length, loose or on a liner.
Service details
Spooling & Continuous Length
Rolls spliced and wound onto one core so an automated line runs without a roll change.
Service details
Packaging & Kitting
Shrink-sealed rolls, bagged and counted parts, kitted sets and custom printed cartons.
Service detailsIsland Placement
Small or soft parts built into a layer and presented in position, so an assembly places in one step.
Service detailsHave a part that is hard to cut?
Send the drawing and the problem. We will review the material, liner and cutting route before quoting.