1. Screen Printing (Monochrome)​

How It Works​

It uses a mesh screen with a logo stencil to transfer single-color ink onto smooth thermos surfaces (e.g., glossy plastic, coated stainless steel). The ink is then cured with heat or UV light to ensure adhesion to the thermos.​

Key Traits​

Color: Only supports single-color designs; no multi-color gradient effects.​

Durability: Moderate—resistant to hand washing but prone to fading with harsh scrubbing.​

Cost: Low for large batches (100+ units), as the fixed cost of screen production is spread out across more items.​

Difficulty: Medium​

Challenges: Precise alignment of the screen is required for curved thermoses. Controlling ink consistency is also tricky—too thick ink causes clumps, while too thin ink results in faint logos.​

Ease: Easy to operate for flat thermos lids or small-sized logos. Once the screen is prepared, mass production can be done quickly.​

2. Laser Engraving (Monochrome)​

How It Works​

A high-power laser is used to directly etch the logo onto the thermos material (mostly stainless steel, uncoated plastic). The logo is formed by oxidizing the metal or vaporizing the surface layer, with no ink needed.​

Key Traits​

Color: Only single-color; the color is determined by the material’s natural contrast (e.g., matte gray on stainless steel, light gray on black plastic).​

Durability: Excellent—the logo becomes an integral part of the thermos, making it resistant to washing, scratching, and fading.​

Cost: Low for small batches (1-50 units). No ink or screen costs are involved, making it suitable for customized orders.​

Difficulty: Low-Medium​

Challenges: Laser depth control is crucial—too deep engraving may damage the thermos, while too shallow engraving makes the logo hard to see. Intricate, detailed logos require high-precision equipment.​

Ease: No curing or post-processing is needed. Computer software assists with alignment, allowing beginners to master the process in a short time.​

3. 3D Printing (Color)​

How It Works​

Colored plastic filaments are layered by a 3D printing head to “build” a textured, 3D logo on the thermos surface (stainless steel, rough plastic). Multi-color effects can be achieved by switching filaments during printing.​

Key Traits​

Color: Supports multi-color designs, but the color vibrancy is not as good as that of screen printing ink.​

Durability: Moderate—thick logos withstand daily use, but thin, delicate details may break off if bumped or dropped.​

Cost: High—printing is slow (1 logo takes 10-30 minutes), and filament costs add up. Only suitable for small-batch, high-end customizations.​

Difficulty: High​

Challenges: The thermos surface needs sanding pretreatment to enhance filament adhesion. Calibrating the printing angle for curved thermoses is necessary, and post-printing edge sanding is also required.​

Ease: Enables customization of 3D shapes (e.g., raised mascots) that cannot be achieved with other printing techniques.