API Foilmakers pioneered the development of cold foiling technology which transformed the economics and flexibility of foil stamping in the 1990s. The company now supplies gloss, matt and satin finishes, a second surface option (for viewing filmic labels and sleeves from the reverse), reels cut to customer-specified length and width, plus additional specialist grades and shades on request. Recently released are its new cold foil shade books for Narrow-web Cold foiling as well as Sheet-fed Cold foiling
The TA-Plus rotary cold foil grade has excellent over-printability with UV inks and coatings. It has an easy-release system plus the ability to give good fine detail and broad area coverage. It also demonstrates good adhesion onto a range of UV curing adhesives, as required by the cold foiling process.
Unlike hot stamping, this technique uses a low-cost flexo printing plate to lay down adhesive in the image area. After the foil has been brought into contact, the adhesive is cured by UV light or oxidative drying before the carrier film is stripped away. Cold foiling allows for faster processing and saves on tooling costs.
Narrow web cold foils are now widely used for reel-to-reel label production on filmic materials and coated paper, where foiling units integrated into the printing press enable printed and foiled labels to be produced at high speed in a single, in-line process, with quick, low-cost set-up.
Another special use is on heat-sensitive materials such as shrink sleeves where hot stamping would cause significant complications.
API Foilmakers’ cold foil is suitable for use on the foiling systems of all leading machine builders, including Gallus, Nilpeter, Mark Andy, OMET, AB Graphics, Edale, Focus Label Machinery, Gidue and Rotatek. Adhesives are available from leading industry suppliers such as XSYS, Yänicke & Schneemann, Zeller & Gmelin, Watson and Paragon Inks and Plates.
Immerse yourself in API Foilmakers’ new Cold Foil shade books to inspire your new projects
