Partners look to ‘break the boundaries’ of using cold foil in labels and packaging

The swatch booklet includes imagery produced using Innovia Films’ Rayoface, UltraFoil and Plus label facestock films, available in clear and white variants for use on both rigid and squeezable containers, and API Foils' TA cold foil, which is a high speed over-printable foil designed to be as versatile as possible across machines and substrates while delivering the best combination of fine detail and broad area coverage.

Containing a variety of decorative images, the swatch booklet illustrates cold foiling techniques, with the images created using a single silver foil which has then been overprinted to create a spectrum of metallic colors.

The booklet was successfully showcased at Labelexpo Americas 2014 in Chicago. The foils in the booklet were supplied by API Foils and printed in full HD on a Mark Andy Performance Series press. Other partners in the project included Cheshire Anilox Technology, JFM Plates, GMG Color, Reprobrand and Color-Logic.

David Carruthers, technical services and development specialist at Innovia Films, said: ‘We have been developing this project for a while now with a number of key industry partners including API and Mark Andy and we are extremely pleased with the results. 

‘Combining our new Rayoface, Ultrafoil and Plus films with the new TA cold foil from API Foils has produced sharp and distinct high definition images which highlight the true graphic potential of UV flexo print.’

The booklet is intended to challenge designers to expand their use of cold foil into high definition imagery to add a ‘wow’ factor to packaging.

Richard Fowler, technical support specialist at API Foils, said: ‘Many designers do not realize that recent advances in film and cold foil technology have really expanded what is possible.  It is time for brand managers to get hold of this technology to add extra depth and quality to their packaging.’

Phil Baldwin, European aftermarket manager at Mark Andy, added: ‘Mark Andy was pleased to work on this project with other market leaders. We pride ourselves on being a total solutions partner, not only a manufacturer.

‘Projects like this allow us to remain current with market trends and offer responsive technology which provides new business opportunities for our customers.’