OFT Technology brings foiling on-press
June 10, 2006

Lancashire-based OFT Technology is hoping to transform the way printers embellish their foil enhanced, printed sheets following the launch of its latest product, Foiltone.

Foiltone, a four-axis module that can be added to B1 and B2 sheetfed presses, allows all embellishments previously possible with hot-foil stamping and those which are harder to achieve with the hot-foil method, to be created with a cold-foil single pass on the lithographic press.

The product's launch follows OFT's formation early this year, when it unveiled its Onepass technology, which allows foil and other embellishments to be added to substrates on the press.

The company claims that Foiltone produces many effects produced with ink including full sheet solids, small font reverse outs and a range of half tones, and that it can increase productivity, lower costs and expand design possibilities.

OFT Technology sales and marketing director John Hopkinson said: "This technology not only offers lithographic printers a printing process which lowers their overall operating and unit costs, but the options now available to designers are unlimited, as 3D images can be achieved directly on the litho press.

"Consumers will certainly see more 3D printing on carton packaging, cards, book covers and other printed materials over the coming months and this market looks set to boom over the next 18 months."

The firm has appointed Roger Preston as managing director and has moved to new, larger premises in Walton Summit, Preston.

Sales and service agents have also been appointed in the USA, Japan, China, UAE and Italy. The company is seeking agents in other regions.