Hydrographics – Industrial Water Transfer Printing

Technology that Coats Excellence

Discover What Industrial Hydrographics Is and How It’s Done

What Is Hydrographics?

Hydrographics or Hydro dipping is an immersion technique that allows the decoration of countless types of materials and three-dimensional objects, even particularly complex ones. Sometimes this technique is also called Water Transfer Printing, dipping, hydrographic printing, or immersion printing.
ANBOindustry is one of the most established companies dedicated to industrial hydrographics in Italy.

How Does the Hydrographics Process Work?

The industrial hydrographics process consists of the following stages:

Surface Preparation: This stage can vary greatly depending on the type of material composing the object to be decorated. Generally, the product is cleaned, then a base coat is applied using spray painting, followed by a specific primer for hydrographics. At this point, the object is ready for the decoration phase.

Immersion Decoration: This stage begins with the placement of a special film onto a dedicated hydrographics tank filled with water at a temperature-controlled setting. Once carefully laid on the water surface, the film is activated with a special liquid known as the Hydrographic Activator, which allows the colors and patterns on the film to perfectly adhere to the surface of the component that will be immersed next. The object is then immersed, and thanks to the hydrostatic pressure of the water, it is decorated with the permanent transfer of the graphic, even in hard-to-reach areas. After immersion, a rinsing phase with water jets removes any remaining film residues from the transfer, followed by a low-temperature drying phase to fix the graphic.

Application of Protective Clear Coat: The final stage of the production cycle involves liquid coating with a protective clear finish, also called a topcoat. This provides an additional enhancement of the aesthetic effect as well as significant resistance to mechanical and chemical stress.

What Effects Can Be Achieved with Hydrographics?

The effects that can be achieved with our hydrographics are countless, just as there are thousands of films available on the market. The most requested ones are the following:

Chrome Hydrographics

Camouflage-Effect Hydrographics

Marble-Effect Hydrographics

Carbon-Effect Hydrographics

Wood-Effect Hydrographics

Before and After Hydrographics

What Materials Can Be Decorated with Hydrographics?

With hydrographics, any type of material, rigid or flexible, can be decorated. Moreover, it is the only technology that allows decorating three-dimensional objects made of heat-sensitive materials, such as plastic. The materials most commonly processed include: Plastic, Rubber, Metal, Glass, Ceramic, Wood, Fabric, Leather, and many more.

What Is the Cost of Hydrographics?

The first question we are asked when contacted for the first time is: How Much Does Hydrographics Cost? The answer is not straightforward, and in reality, there is no fixed Price List, as some preliminary information is required, such as:

Type of material the object is made of
Complexity of the object to be decorated
Quantity of production batches
Type of protective finish
Any additional parameters or special requests

To find out How Much You Should Invest to Hydro Dip your products, we recommend requesting a quote by carefully filling out the appropriate form.

How Long Can Hydrographics Last?

Durability is a very important factor, at least as much as aesthetics. For this reason, ANBOindustry has been able to achieve over the years high standards of resistance in both chemical and mechanical treatments.

This has allowed us to collaborate with major companies operating in numerous market sectors, such as the firearms industry, recognized as one of the most demanding in terms of mechanical resistance, or the perfumery sector, highly demanding regarding chemical resistance. Additionally, the hydrographics we perform have high water and heat resistance, which is why we have also been chosen by leading cookware manufacturers for decorating handles and grips.

Beyond durability, ANBOindustry can certify its processes for child and/or food use, as well as hospital and/or healthcare applications, thanks to the use of special raw materials that make our processes antibacterial. We are also able to apply hydrographics on firearms, having successfully passed the military firearm retention test.

Industries Where We Apply Hydrographics:

AUTOMOTIVE

FURNITURE

ELECTRONICS

HOME APPLIANCES

AUTOMATION

DESIGN

FASHION

FOOTWEAR

CHILDREN’S PRODUCTS

TOYS

EYEWEAR

DISPLAY SOLUTIONS

COSMETICS

FOOD

AGRICULTURE

MARINE

AEROSPACE

BIOMEDICAL

Why Trust Us for Hydrographics?

Hydrographics is a highly specialized process, whose results depend on numerous variables that can only be identified through years of experience. Many of these variables can be controlled and managed only by using technologically advanced and costly systems and equipment.

ANBOindustry has invested for years and continues to invest constantly in all of this, which is why today we are recognized as one of the leading European companies specializing in industrial hydrographics. With us, the client is supported 360 degrees, from the preliminary feasibility study, through prototype design and development, to mass production. Our production facility is unique, composed of both manual and semi-automatic systems as well as a fully automated line, allowing us the flexibility to meet the needs of small, medium, and large clients in terms of delivery times and costs.

This is why dozens of companies and world-renowned brands have relied on us for many years, aware of our production capabilities and the high quality standards we can ensure. Additionally, thanks to our Design and Research & Development departments, we are regularly able to propose new solutions and effects that are always one step ahead.

If you want to make a product unique, giving it significant aesthetic added value, and want to rely on the leaders in the field, do not hesitate to contact us!