Stamp of Approval

Stamping and embossing suppliers also report a rise in the use of non-traditional foils to give packages special effects. Refractive foils, for example, are often used to give packages for products like computer software a holographic effect without having a true hologram.

According to Edgar of Brandtjen & Kluge, the customer base of stamping suppliers is also changing. "We are selling more of our machines to customers who we had not previously been involved with," Edgar reveals. In the past, Brandtjen & Kluge primarily sold units to trade finishers and specialty printers. That trend has ended. "We are seeing more business from packaging companies that are bringing foil stamping in-house," he says.