Page 49 - Print 21 Magazine Sep-Oct 2018

Finishing business
even being used for braille applications. With Scodix, JetVarnish and Duplo in the market, models paired to digital press formats are appearing at lower cost; adding value to the already better margins on digital sheets. Foiling – both hot and cold-applied – has been with us for many years, and is an excellent way to add value to print. Having run many auctions for closed-down print shops, I have observed that the first interest is always the letterpress machines that
have been converted for foiling, embossing and creasing - Heidelberg windmill platens and KS/SB cylinder presses are particularly suited to such conversion.
Companies overseas such as the UK’s B&H Engineering, and SF Services, are still rebuilding half-century-plus old Heidelberg (and Miller-Johannisburg, Bobst, Gietz ) foil blocking machines.
Foiled effects are popular on packaging, greeting cards, drink coasters and premium stationery, and can include holographic effects with materials from the likes of Leonard Kurz, Foilmakers/Milford Astor and API Group – with security printing and brand protection applications.
Incidentally, Leonard Kurz has an interesting product, first shown at PacPrint 2017, called Digital Metal where real metallic effects can be selectively applied
via a carrier-sheet, to pre-printed toner and liquid toner (HP Indigo) prints for brilliant results. It is worth checking out, along with Kurz’s amazing range of hot foils and effects.
Flatbed foiling and die-cutting is another option and capital costs have come down considerably from the high-end perception. Even the Swiss-made Bobst models are keenly priced these days, and Asian imports such as the impressive SBL 1060 Die cutter+Creaser+Embosser+Hotfoil are
finding their way into printers and packagers. Even roll-feed wide format inkjet printers
can be configured for value-add, such as Roland DG’s Soljet Pro4 XR640, which can include CMYK + white + metallic silver, and contour cutting, all in one unit.
On the trade foiling side, there are a handful of capable operators in Australia, including the national Avon Graphics, Bathurst, NSW-based Embellishing Group, and Melbourne’s Lorimier – a trade embellisher which has been around since 1876. If investing in your own foiling and embossing hardware and the wetware skills to operate it does not appeal then using trade embellishing is for you.
“The most elemental way to add tangible value to a printed piece is to laminate”
By no means the least of ways to add value to print is die-cutting. From basic round corners to intricate shapes and even laser-cut filigree patterns; die cutting is a value-add that is easier than ever with the modern breed of flatbed machines from manufacturers such
as Horizon, Zünd, Elitron, Esko-Kongsberg, Dyss, Mimaki and Aristo.
These devices are really good investments as they are so versatile and can convert large sheets into smaller products in short runs, for example drink coasters, that sell for good margins. With the right attachments, they can also rout, bevel, score, crease and edge-polish acrylic. Naturally, short run and prototype packaging cartons are a growth area using flatbed table cutters
Shakespeare may have written ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ but a Lily that is gilded will fetch a better price. 21
Clockwise from main:
Trade opportunity: Andrew Cester, CEO Whirlwind with the company's MGI JetVarnish
Special effects: adding value Perceived value: foiling Value: Emboss and deboss Opposite page -
Digital embellishment: Scodix
Print21 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2018 49