Sticker / Art Work on Extruded LDPE Foam

If you were, "able to do these in house", where would the house be? What country?

In the USA,I am located in MN and one of the reasons, is to perhaps create work locally and in our country, I am wondering what difference the location makes in the finding a solution to this? do you have any suggestions or a solution to this inquiry?

I'm always happy to see jobs created in the USA. Practically it makes no difference.

If the area has a skin you might have some success with an acrylic. 3M (usual disclaimer) probably has the best product selection.

Check their Industrial Tape Division products line. Plasma or flame treating might work, but it'll probably just obliterate the surface. There's not much there and it is basically just high molecular weight wax.

I have a place in SW Minnesota, so I'm always glad to help the economy.

Cheers!

You may want to look at silk screening. low cost and easy to do.

Silk screening does not work, it will not stick/Bond to the LDPE foam surface, this has already been tried, thank you.

Please re-visit silk screen printing or alternatively "tampo" printing technology.

The adhesion concern relates not to the process, but to the ink selection.

Contact the ink manufacturer. They will already have faced the challenge of LDPE and will definately be able to help you.

ps. In previous role we were printing high quality graphics onto plastics including HDPE, ABS, Nylon, Styrene and others. It is feasible.

"adhesion concern relates not to the process, but to the ink selection"

Not exactly. It relates to the surface condition of the LDPE foam. This surface is gossamer and very delicate. Once again, consider it as a very dense wax foam. Almost any thing you do will destroy it, unlike HDPE.

Ink selection is important, but adequate surface prep is imperative.

Google "teca print usa" and you will get details of an organisation that will be able to formulate an ink that will have suitable adhesions onto whatever plastic you nominate.

Also, have a look at their "pad printing" process. It is like magic. Will print onto irregular surfaces, is cheap and very easy to implement.

Their chemists formulate the ink to chemically prime and then bond into the substrate. Durability is better than normal painting.

You might also like to search "industrial barcode systems". These can provide a non-contact printing method, but in the past their ink options have not been as versatile. The software used means that you will not need screens or plates and can modify your graphics at will.