BOBST – Still Innovating After All These Years

Ever since surface relief replication became the preferred means of mass production for holography, hot-stamping foil has been a principal method of application – particularly for packaging and secure documents. The machines used to apply holograms at speed and in register are an integral part of the job’s final appearance. Swiss machinery manufacturer, BOBST, has been involved in providing hot-stamp presses to the holography industry for many years, and continues to innovate to this day.

NOVAFOIL 106 H (© BOBST).

 

Regular hot-stamping foil typically comprises several layers consisting of a base made of polyester, a release layer applied on top of the base, a pigment or metal layer, and finally an adhesive layer – often referred to as a size coat. When the foil is pressed onto a substrate by a heated die the release coat detaches from the base and the adhesive layer bonds the foil to the surface, leaving the pigment/metal layer uppermost.