Olympus Labels, of Leeds, UK, is Europe's first narrow web installation of the new Uniflex rotary hot stamping technology. Claimed to offer significant cost and time savings, the system is integrated into the company's Nilpeter F2400 UV flexo combination press.
Developed by the US based, UEI Group, Uniflex is a flexible magnetic system comprising a 0.028in thick copper copper and steel plate joined with a molecular bond onto which the foiling design is etched. The plates are wrapped around a special heated magnetic cylinder, similar to flexible cutting dies. “Enormous benefits” are claimed, in that dies can be applied and changed within minutes, and their flexibility ensures easy positioning and change-over.
“This is an exciting development which will mean our customers will not have to think twice about choosing foil as a design option for their labels – even for short runs,” enthuses Olympus director Adrian Brown. “Uniflex offers the same premium quality as solid rotary foilers, but at a much lower cost, and has none of the pin holing problems associated with cold foiling.”