Intro:
· What new foils have been tested
· New adhesives, blankets etc
· Foiltone systems

What Foil?
Most recent developments in the foiling department have come from A.P.I. foils here in the UK. At Windles, Bruce's company in England we have been testing numerous different foils for their quality. Primarily for their overprint ability which has become number 1 issue and also the lay down and adhesion of the foil to the sheet.

Work is still on going but significant steps have been made and we are hopeful, no very confident, that the issue of scratch off of inks on foil will be consigned to history.

The most recent foils we are testing are giving excellent over printability but there are 1 or 2 issues that need resolving regarding the print quality of the foil alone i.e. surface cracks and front edge problems.

So what I have done is compile a list of foils with their characteristics. This list is of foils that I’ve run or seen run-if anyone has tried different types or makes, I’d be very interested in hearing of their opinion of the results.

Kurz KPS Alufin (22884)-Soft, foils excellent all across the range but takes a while to dry.

Kurz V1– Harder foil. Doesn’t foil half-tones and lower end screens as well as 22884, but very good foil adhesion.

API. R/D – Ink over printing is fantastic, no scratch off, but slight cracking on solid foiling.

Univacco 9b– Foils very well from solid to 15% but has a dull (matt) appearance.

Ran numerous tests in the Far East on Japanese foils from companies called Katani and Murata, all had good and bad points but no improvement on the ones we currently use.

As regards to the over printability, as soon as we establish a stable foil that does what we, the foil makers, and more importantly are customers requires, I will pass on the information immediately.

Adhesives
Another point of interest is the adhesive used whilst foiling. Again we are testing different makes and kinds of adhesive to find the best adhesion for varying types of foil.

Myself and Ady at Windles have tried numerous adhesives: Zeller & G Mellin, Kennedy Inks and recently an adhesive from Toyo Ink Co but OFT adhesive remains the best.

We are in the process of trying some U.V. adhesives from Toyo and will let you know on the outcome shortly.

Blankets
Not as much progress made on the blanket front with the dayInternational Cast blanket still out performing the others.

Also please remember to keep the foil blanket clean and free of any contaminates, as anything on it will attempt to grab the foil and pull it through the machine.


New Foiltone system installed in Macomer, Sardinia on a K.B.A. 162a 6 colour & coater. Pics: Feb 2008

Mass, Franco, Sophie and yours truly hard at work at Eurographica, Sard. P.S. Notice the Colts hat, Pete.

 

 

Our next installation is in northern Italy on a Komori LS40 in early May, we then travel to the USA followed by the Far East. Exciting times!

If anyone has any information or questions or has tried any different products, (foils ,adhesives etc.) whether they’re good or bad, please drop an e-mail to me at phil@foiltone.com

We will be at Drupa Printing Exhibition, May-June 2008 in Hall 6 Booth 6A25-2.