Pad Printing in New Energy Vehicle and Auto Parts Industry: Applications and Challenges

2026,08,26

As the new energy vehicle industry grows rapidly, auto parts manufacturing quality requirements continue to rise. Marking and printing are indispensable in auto parts production: button symbols, instrument scales, part numbers, warning labels, brand logos. Pad printing prints clear fine patterns on irregular curved surfaces, concave-convex surfaces, and small areas, making it widely used in auto parts.

Application Scenarios

Automotive Buttons and Switches: Steering wheel, center console, window, air conditioning buttons. Curved or concave-convex surfaces requiring clear wear-resistant symbols.

Instrument and Display Panels: Dashboard scales, warning symbols, panel markings requiring fine print, accurate positioning, UV and heat resistance.

Interior Parts: Trim strips, door armrests, console panels with brand marks and function symbols on various materials and shapes.

Battery and Charging Components: Battery housings, BMS modules, charging interfaces, charging piles requiring part numbers and warning labels on plastic and metal.

Electronic Components: Sensors, connectors, control modules requiring fine text on small irregular surfaces.

Exterior Parts: Emblems, trim strips, door handles, mirror housings requiring weather-resistant markings.

Technical Requirements

High Wear Resistance: Buttons pressed repeatedly, patterns must remain clear after tens of thousands of presses.

Weather Resistance: UV-resistant, heat-resistant, cold-resistant, no fading cracking or peeling.

Printing Precision: Accurate positioning, sharp edges, fine lines for symbols and scales.

Environmental Requirements: Meet automotive VOC and hazardous substance standards, silicone and ink must be eco-friendly non-toxic.

Batch Consistency: Consistent color, clarity, positioning across large-volume batches.

Multi-Material Adaptation: Works on ABS, PC, PP, PVC, metal, glass and other materials.

Challenges

New Materials: Lightweight composites, new engineering plastics, special coatings require re-verification of ink adhesion.

Large Curved Surfaces: Center screens, integrated interior panels require large specially shaped pads.

High-Beat Production: Faster printing, longer pad life, shorter changeovers for growing EV output.

Automation: Integration with automated lines requires standardized pad installation and stable predictable results.

Tightening Regulations: Stricter VOC, hazardous substance, and recyclability requirements.

Silicone Selection Tips

Hardness by shape: medium-hard (916) for flat buttons, general/soft (912, 901) for curved surfaces.

Wear-resistant models (902, 916) for frequently pressed buttons.

Value batch stability, choose strict quality control suppliers.

Focus on environmental certification for automotive VOC requirements.

Multi-color models (912) for interior color matching.

Always test new materials/ink in small batches first.

Hongye Silicone offers a full range: 912 multi-color eco general-purpose, 902 wear-resistant, 918 precision, 916 extra-soft, 928 addition-cure, with professional technical support for the automotive industry.

Author:

Ms. zhou

E-mail:

alice@szrl.net

Phone/WhatsApp:

+86 18938861889