In the graphic industry, cold transfer is a finishing technology that is characterized above all by particular versatility and is suitable for a wide range of substrates. Among other things, cold transfer can be used to create sharp-edged metallizations and holographic effects.
Cold transfer is suitable for both sheet-fed offset printing and long-grain flexo printing. To ensure high-quality finishing in both processes it is particularly important that all components - from the adhesive to the substrate to the transfer product - are ideally matched.
This process is primarily used for decoration of folding boxes, packaging, magazines, brochures, or wet-glue labels.
If you want to know what applications there are for cold transfer in long-grain flexo printing, read our corresponding FAQ.
In this efficient process, cold-foil adhesive is first transferred to the substrate areas to be decorated by means of a printing plate. The sheet with the freshly applied adhesive is then transported to the print module. Here, the ultra-thin transfer layer with the coating is applied to the substrate between a rubber blanket and an impression cylinder. The applied pressure ensures that the decoration bonds securely and permanently to the pre-printed sheet - and only in the areas where the adhesive was previously applied. The carrier is rewound after the transfer. The decoration can be overprinted (in multicolor) in the next step.
For more information, visit our cold transfer website.
Yes. The technical outlay for installing a cold foil transfer unit is relatively low. What makes sheet-fed offset printing so efficient is mainly the fact that this process combines printing and finishing. It is possible to carry out the cold transfer offline - this is particularly advantageous if a smaller or older plant is to be upgraded cost-effectively. For larger presses (with six colors or more), the cold transfer unit can be installed inline as an additional module.
On the one hand, cold transfer makes a wide range of metallization effects possible - both as fine lines and filigree lettering and in the form of full-surface decorations. In sheet-fed offset printing, in particular, the process is designed so that the metallizations can also be overprinted inline - with conventional as well as UV or hybrid inks. This creates special, metallic shades. On the other hand, diffractive and holographic effects are possible with cold transfer, which are in particularly high demand in label printing.
If you would like to discover our full range of cold transfer finishings, we would be happy to send you a brochure. Simply send us a message to request one.
Sheet-fed offset printing is particularly well-suited to finishing smooth, glossy papers. Furthermore, the technology is constantly being developed further, meaning more and more materials are being added. The KPS SX+ solution, for example, can also be used to finish recycled or ‘difficult’ substrates, i.e., those that are very thin or tend to delaminate or tear.
Both of KURZ’s finishing processes produce high-quality results and allow for a wide range of visual effects - from high-gloss decorations and edge-to-edge metallization to three-dimensional hologram effects. While haptic effects (relief finishes) are possible with hot stamping, cold transfer in sheet-fed offset printing only produces flat results that are applied with pressure and without heat. With subsequent blind embossing, cold transfer prints can also be given a tactile decoration effect . One advantage of cold transfer is the direct integration into the printing process - without the need for additional embossing tools.
Both cold and digital transfer offer an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional finishing processes such as lamination. With digital transfer, the focus is on glossy metallizations, even for small batches and special editions from as little as one piece. Cold transfer, in turn, impresses with an unrivaled range of different effects as well as a high printing speed. Up to 20,000 sheets per hour can be printed using sheet-fed offset printing.
If you want to know more about the digital transfer process, visit our website.
Absolutely! Because our finishes are not only extremely thin but also recyclable, in contrast to other finishing technologies such as laminates. With the KPS slim 2.0 (patent pending) we have developed a transfer decoration that is delivered to you on a 6 µm PET carrier - the thinnest in the industry. This slimmer backing material not only reduces material use and thus your carbon footprint, but it can be recycled after use thanks to our unique PET take-back system RECOSYS® 2.0. In this way, we reduce our Scope 3 emissions by up to 90%. The resulting RECOSYS® rPET granulate is an excellent raw material for technical textiles or secondary packaging, for example.
KURZ offers a wide range of cold transfer solutions that produce glossy results in sheet-fed offset printing.
