SubscribeThe labelling industry is dynamic and fast growing with an increasing number of manufacturers recognising the value of labelling as a powerful advertising medium. With a variety of labels available, manufacturers need to take into consideration cost, design and application complexity before selecting a label. API Foils explains how dieless foiling can lower costs and improve packaging.
Of all types of labels, pressure sensitive, (or self adhesive) labels take around 52% of the European label market and in the USA, comprise two thirds of a label market that has a projected worth of $14 billion dollars by 2004. In addition, there is a growth from non-paper rolls, which increased by almost 18% of the total self-adhesive label stock last year. This reflects the increased demand for filmic material, typified by the popular no label look.
Labelling is a critical factor in the packaging process and is often a consumer’s first exposure to a product, particularly in the cosmetic and retail markets. In today’s competitive climate, a product must make a memorable impression; linking high quality with reasonable pricing that will reflect the superiority of the product inside. One only has to scan the shelves to see a strongly emerging trend of foil decoration, which is featuring in a plethora of applications, including toothpaste tubes and wallpaper borders.
Perhaps the best example of this is the wine industry where virtually every wine producing country in the world has accepted self-adhesive foil labelling as the preferred option. More and more manufacturers are recognising metallic foil as a premium commodity that visually enhances product value, either for short run products to gauge an instant eye-catching reaction, or for products with a longer shelf life where foil is used to reflect and promote the corporate identity of a particular brand or company.
“Whatever the application, metallic foil conveys a strong and positive image,” explains David Jarvis of API Foils. “Contrary to belief, the technology behind applying foil to self adhesive labelling is not prohibitively expensive or time consuming - especially when dieless foiling is used.” API Foils introduced dieless foil and the dieless foiling process into the marketplace six years ago and has since invested in research and development to improve the application technology and educate printers in the dieless technique.
“Having investigated the potential of hot and cold pressing, we have settled with the TD process to provide the optimum result,” continues Jarvis. “Self adhesive, narrow web production adapts extremely well to dieless foiling, allowing foiling to be used where previously it has not been available, either because of no hot stamp capability or where heat sensitive substrates precluded it.” The use of flexo plates instead of expensive engraved rotary dies accommodate versioning, promotional product requirements and short runs of foil printed self adhesive labels without incurring dramatic cost increases.
Although there are several dieless foils available, API Foils was the original pioneer of the process, which according to Mr. Stuart Melish, Works Manager of Vista Labels, is an invaluable factor for customers. “There is an erroneous belief that foil manufacturers should be brought in only after the design and look of the label has been decided on but we involve API Foils much earlier in the planning process to ensure that the correct solution is reached and prior to any printing taking place. Foil has an added value perception with high on shelf visibility but if a foil is not applied correctly, this will impact significantly on appearance and quality. We use their expertise to recommend best processing and printing specification - both prior to and during the project.”
The dieless foil process was developed to make foil decoration easily and cheaply available to printers and offers an alternative to traditional hot foil blockers. The process itself involves applying a free radical UV adhesive using conventional printing equipment on the substrate before the foil itself is nipped on at a laminator immediately after the print unit. The foil is then passed through the UV lamp in contact with the adhesive where the waste carrier is discarded and the foil image removed.
Dieless foiling allows the possibility of metallic half tone, which were previously not achievable, colours and holographic effects. The popularity of the technique is reflected in the growth of dieless sales over the past three years in the UK with this success now spilling into the European market with significant success in Spain, Poland, France, Germany and South Africa.
With the twin attributes of flexibility and speed to market from concept and design through to finished product, self adhesive foil labels are offering an option to traditional packaging and with API Foils able to facilitate the production process, it is one of the most efficient innovations to emerge from the packaging industry in the past decade.
For further information on API Foils please contact 0161 789 8131.