Daniel Ernie
GALLUS PRODUCT MANAGER, SALES AREA MANAGER, AFRICA, ASIA, AUSTRALIA & MIDDLE EAST
‘Metallic doming” describes a new effect in narrow-web label printing – a reflective, metallic raised structure manufactured using a relief in rotary screen printing. What makes metallic doming unique is the lasting metal-relief effect achieved on paper or plastic film, such as tube laminates or transparent self-adhesive material.
Metallic doming uses rotary printing to apply the printed image. A metallic foil is then laminated over the relief. It allows printed images with lasting metallic reliefs to be produced on plastic. It is the only procedure on the label market that can emboss effects on plastic. With the exception of hot foil embossing without lasting relief effects, plastic cannot be embossed as other materials can. Metallic doming fills this technological gap in the application market.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS IN DETAIL
During metallic doming, a thermo-reactive glue is applied using screen printing with Gallus Screeny DY, for example, and then dried with UV light. After that, the applied print image is laminated with a thermo-active, metallic foil. A soft, heated laminating cylinder presses the foil onto the glue. The foil wraps around the glue and, together with the glue, is heated by the laminating cylinder. This laminating process reactivates the glue and activates the foil. This thermal activation means the foil sticks to the glue. After this, the printed image cools to reveal a metallic relief effect – this is metallic doming.
What you need is a screen printing unit and a hot foil unit. And then we are getting packages that we are selling to you. You get free material, glue, foil and a lamination cylinder. We also do training and the know-how is transferred to you. We can do trials together, and we help you to integrate that into your running systems.
The advantage is that it’s a new creative way to create special embellishments and effects. Metallic effects increase the price, due to unique effects. Foiling in 3D was previously only possible if you did it on paper or cardboard due to embossing. There is a customer we have in South Africa; he switched most of his hot foil jobs to metallic doming. He achieved big savings as he could do everything in line with one machine. He cut waste by switching between machines, saved costs on embossing, and on tools, as well as reducing production time. We have several customers in Europe, Asia, and South Africa using our Gallus Metallic Doming already.
Biju George
GENERAL MANAGER, SALES HEIDELBERG GULF
There is no customer using this technology here in the region as yet, except for one client who has the right machine and technology equipped to print these kinds of jobs on special effects jobs in their machine. That said, we will be glad to offer the same to other clients in the region who are interested.