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A/W Gray Pad Printing Plate (Cliche)

A/W Gray Pad Printing Plate (Cliche)

The A/W Gray pad printing cliché plate is one of Inkcups’ most popular alcohol wash photopolymer plates, with a standard thickness of .017″ and a reputation as one of the most reliable pad printing plates for yielding consistent etch quality.

  • Etch with an exposure unit
  • WIthstand up to 25,000 impressions
  • Light gray before exposure, cures to a durable olive tone after etching

Cost-effective choice for consistent, repeatable etches across production runs. Like other alcohol wash photopolymer plates, the A/W Gray cliché is exposed and developed using a UV exposure unit rather than a laser plate-maker. For a closer look at pad printing cliché making, photopolymer versus laser, see our guide to plate-making methods.

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Pad Printing Plate Etching Services

Don’t etch your pad printing plates in-house? Inkcups’ plate etching service handles the process for you using Cobalt® Ultra, the preferred material for high-quality results. Using the Cobalt ® Edge pad printing plate maker, it ensures sharp, consistent image reproduction every time.

The process is simple: send in your artwork, and Inkcups’ plate-making technicians prepare and etch it to your specifications. Nothing gets etched or shipped without proof approval first, so you can be confident the plate is etched properly for immediate printing.

Benefits of using the etching service instead of etching in-house:

  • Takes the guesswork out of curing times, etch depth, and laser settings
  • Plates arrive etched properly and ready for immediate printing
  • Fast turnaround, typically 1-2 business days from U.S. and select international locations
  • Scheduled shipping options to simplify reordering the same plate
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long does an A/W Gray pad printing plate last?

A: The A/W Gray cliché withstands up to 25,000 impressions under normal production conditions, making it a reliable choice for standard-volume pad printing runs.

Q: What’s the difference between A/W Gray and A/W Red pad printing cliché plates?

A: A/W Gray is Inkcups’ most popular, cost-effective alcohol wash plate at .017″ thick with a 25,000-impression life. A/W Red is thicker at .020″ and built for higher-volume runs of up to 75,000 impressions. Compare all available options in our full pad printing plate material lineup.

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