The development of modern cold stamping foils originated with the simple cold foils devised as a dieless technique for applying a metallic finish to self adhesive labels produced on reel to reel printing presses. There are many benefits of this process, and some disadvantages, although cold foiling has progressed a lot since then.
The benefits in reel to reel printing are obvious. If hot foiling is carried out in-line at the end of the printing process, then the press speed is limited by the foiling speed which is relatively slow. If the printing was maintained and the foil applied as a separate pass, there is a corresponding cost impact. Furthermore, the cost of hot foil dies is relatively high compared to a printing plate or sleeve and energy is needed to heat the die.
Reel to reel cold foiling involves printing a UV curable adhesive in the foil design needed, laminating the foil to the adhesive through a nip, curing the adhesive with UV lamps and separating the foil from the printed web. The foil that is removed from its carrier film is in the design of the printed adhesive, since that has been UV cured and so adheres to the foil.
By using a cold foil,...