Rubber stamp making business, revenue-wise, has very good income potential. Rubber stamp making can be initiated as home based business with comparatively small startup capital. Manufacturing process is simple and various different types of rubber or polymer stamps are becoming popular nowadays. The method required to produce the stamps is straightforward and requires no specialist skill. Different technology and machinery are used to make different types of stamps like a normal rubber stamp, polymer stamp, pre-inked stamps and small pocket stamps.
RUBBER STAMP MAKING – MARKET POTENTIAL
Rubber Stamps are extensively used in all offices, business houses and private firms as an official seal of the firm or the person. Rubber stamps are also used in craft projects for designing purpose. So broadly, rubber stamp making can be divided into two categories depending on their use. These are office rubber stamp making and art rubber stamp making. Decorative stamps are used for decorating the paper, making special greeting cards, children toys and many other things. These can be used on paper, Greeting Cards, Invitation Cards, Furniture, Clothes, Glassware, Interior decoration and different types of crockery. These may be in a single color or in segments of different colors to make the impression more beautiful, decorative, and attractive.
RUBBER STAMP MAKING BUSINESS REGISTRATION
In starting rubber stamp making as a small scale, you will need to register your business first. Registering as ‘One Person Company’ is recommended. If you are starting the business with one or more partner, then you can go for LLP Registration. You must obtain Trade License from local Municipal Authority. You may register your small business as SSI Unit. You will need to have a business current account and Vat Registration.
FINANCE FOR RUBBER STAMP MAKING BUSINESS
Different types of rubber stamp making process involve a different amount of initial cost. Generally, cost factor depends on machinery cost and raw material cost. Before starting the business, having a customized project report is recommended. It will also help you in getting manufacturing cost, sale price, gross margin and net profit. You can apply for the term loan and working capital loan to your nearby bank or any financial institution.
RUBBER STAMP MAKING PROCESS
There are different types of methods for making different types of a rubber stamp.
● Traditional Rubber Stamp Making
The letters types are arranged according to the text in a composing stand(made of iron) with the help of a composing stick and fixed. Later, this composing stand is placed in a wooden frame. A mixture of plaster of Paris and whitening powder are laid in a metallic tray. This tray is kept on the wooden frame in which the composing stand is fixed. Then the entire unit is heated for half-an-hour using kerosene stove. This results in impressions of the letters in the plaster of Paris mixture. A thin rubber sheet that is cut to required size is spread and pressed with the help of a hand press. This results in rubber penetrating in the plaster of Paris mixture. Impressions and moulds are fixed to the metallic sheet by the synthetic adhesive. While fixing the rubber mould to the metallic piece a cushion piece is used in between these two. To get the hold, a wooden handle is fixed to this rubber stamp
● Polymer Rubber Stamp Making
These stamps are made by use of precisely controlled Ultra Violet (UV) light. The image or text is printed by means of a laser printer on a transparent paper called Vellum. The negative of the artwork and the sachet containing the polymer is put in between two glass plates 2-3 mm apart. When the UV exposure is complete, just cut the sachet and wash it to remove the unexposed polymer. Then put it in the machine for 10 minutes for curing. The complete process takes about 30 minutes. These stamps do not contain any rubber but still these are called rubber stamps.
This process has a lower capital investment and produces almost clear, professional quality rubber stamps at a lower price. These stamps can be made without any specific skills. These are the most commonly manufactured rubber stamps nowadays. However, before starting your business of making the rubber stamps, the following points need attention:
1. All photopolymers will not make rubber stamps. The best polymer is named as ‘Polymer in a bag’. Polymers which solidify in ordinary light are not recommended. Those working under UV light are better.
2. The structural backing of the stamps is required for sticking on the mount. Stamps with good structural backing can be mounted with the help of a clear silicone based product called InstaGrip.
3. The rubber images can be sold unmounted to reduce shipping and packaging charges. The client can mount the images in the manner he likes. However, since a number of images are produced on a single sheet to reduce handling, wastage, cost and time, you must trim the images and separate them for individual clients.
● PRE-INKED RUBBER STAMP MAKING PROCESS
You can make Pre-Inked Stamps for high profits easily and quickly. These stamps are more user-friendly and popular. There are various methods and material you can use. One of the methods of making pre-inked stamps is as follows: First you type your artwork on your computer. Get output the artwork from your Laser Printer onto a Transparency Sheet. Create a negative on your Polydiam Stamp Platemaker or on a Process Camera. Make a Sheet moulding polymer plate on the Platemaker. Put a matrix board and the Moulding Plate into the pre-heated Polydiam Vulcanising Press to make the impression in the Matrix Board. Then you take the Matrix Board and put it into the Moulding Chase. Pour the Polydiam Pre-Inked Resin into the Chase. Place a Felt Pad onto it. Then cover the Chase with a board and put into the pre-heated Vulcanising Press again to form the Pre-Inked Stamp. Once the Pre-Inked Stamp slab is formed, you cool it down on a cooler or under a cooling fanThen Cut Stamp into sizes required. Finally, put adhesive glue on back and mount.
RUBBER STAMP MAKING MACHINES
You will find a large variety of Stamp Making Machines on the market. The machine is basically your main investment in the business of rubber stamp making and, therefore, you have to be very careful in choosing the right machine. Modern Technology has made the Stamp making business very simple. Now the Rubber Stamps can be made accurately and quickly by means computers. These machines are expensive but their production cost is low and these last longer. Modern machines can make any type of impression and image without any problem. Stamps can even be made from photographic images.
1. Flash Stamp Making Machine
With Flash Stamp Making Machine, you can produce a stamp in 30 seconds. Just use your computer, a laser printer, and Flash Stamp Making Equipment to start your stamp making business.
Features: Single flash exposure – produce stamps in 30 Seconds
You can make all types of pre-ink stamps
Small and compact design, suites well on table
You can make stamps size up to 100 x 70 mm
Easy to use
2. Polymer Stamp Making Machine
With polymer stamp making a machine, you can make all type of rubber stamps. Just use your computer, laser printer and Photopolymer Stamp Making machine establish a complete in-house stamp production business.
Features: Easy to operate with adjustable time.
You can make Normal, Self-inking, and Date Stamps
Up to 40 stamps can be made in one lot
Processing time is 25 minutes
Apart from home based operation, you can also start rubber stamp making business by having a small retail space at any market place and can promote your business online.
