Foiled by Foil

But press speeds have a direct effect on how well a foil stamping unit functions, and if operators are only concentrating on speed and not paying attention to other logistics like the temperature at the surface of the die and web tension, the job will most likely end up in the scrap heap.

Speed and heat: Speed is a tricky issue, Rivera explained. "As always, speed has been a big issue especially when foil is applied on-line on a flexographic press. Since flexographic presses have a tendency for erratic registration tolerances at speeds lower than 125 fpm, a rotary hot stamp foil must be able to transfer at speeds higher than 125 fpm.