Graphic Art Systems, Inc, the leading developer and manufacturer of foil enhancement equipment for the printing industry for over 20 years, announced today that Foilmasters, a division of Colorpak Limited, a leading Australian packaging firm, will be adding a second Eagle foiling system in 2012. The new hot foil system will join the largest hot foil stamper in the world, an Eagle, installed at Foilmasters in 1995.
“2012 will be an exciting year for our company,” says Matthew Murcott, general manager at Foilmasters in Dandenong, Melbourne, Australia, a foil stamping and embossing supplier to the printing industry. “We’ll be moving next door to Colorpak’s headquarters to more efficiently service the needs of Colorpak production at close proximity. Likewise, we’ll be adding our second Eagle foiling system to keep up with Colorpak’s recent acquisition of folding carton manufacturer Carter Holt Harvey, which brings several new opportunities and additional high-end customers including the Cadbury Chocolate range producing in excess of 1.4 million sheets per month, printed and foil stamped, cut and glued. The acquisition also increases the number of Colorpak sites across Australia, and expansion into New Zealand market. We’ve also recently entered into the film lamination market with the purchase of a 1050 AutoBond laminating press.”

“We are honored to be a vital part of Foilmasters’ exceptional growth in 2012,” says Michael King, President of Graphic Art Systems.  “Our first installation at their facility in 1995 was a ground-breaking event with the largest hot foil stamper in the world and since then there has been no other like it. We believe that our second system will provide Foilmasters with the quality and speed that they need to supply their international customers.”

The current Bobst SP142E with Eco-Eagle  series HFM5600 large format foil stamper and Talon 8000 rewind at Foilmasters measures 56 inches, making it the largest in this region of the world. This press is used for the firm’s everyday production of packaging, general print finishing, embossing (with the highest rating of pressure than any other machine in Australia) and on occasion forme cutting of plastic materials.  

“We produce some of the most difficult foil-stamped products in the market on this press,” says Murcott. “The Eagle foil system provides us the most accurate and consistent stepping of all our machinery. We have found that we are able to service a section of our industry, the large format print market, to a degree that no one else can. Due to its size, we are able to offer possible cost savings to customers because we have the ability to place additional cartons on a larger sheet.”

Foilmasters is a key division at Colorpak offering its short-run production segments the ability to. focus on specific end-use markets where customers demand creative packaging solutions. “We are continually working on product development and new methods,” says Murcott. “Overprinting foil for special effects has again resurfaced and has become a very sought after foil/print option.”

Foilmasters is also a commercial finisher, which deals with printers, designers and everyday walk-in customers. The firm foil-stamps on plastics (point-of-sale to security cards), leather, postage stamps right through to top-end business and wedding stationery on hand-made cotton stock. Its machinery capabilities range from business card production to BO size sheets on the Bobst SP142E with Eagle series HFM5600 large format foil stamper.

“Our current Eagle is still running very well,” says Murcott. “We have only recently upgraded the heating elements to the latest standards and are preparing to make some further minor upgrades to catch up with the current technology. We’re anticipating the installation of our second Eagle New Platinum Series Eagle HFM4100 system to further enhance our capabilities. The new Platinum series Eagle will also give us registered hologram ability, something no other company offers in this region on such a machine.  This version of the Platinum series Eagle features robust components expected to last, even longer than its earlier versions, which to date is 21 years. The first Eagle is still in production today.  Other key features---new heat systems, the ability to switch from cold to hot stamping temperature in less than 10 minutes, and temperature maintenance---means higher stamping speeds throughout the run. The ability to hold temperature is key.  Our technologically-advanced components minimize failure of mechanical components. We have purchased this machine with all the latest technology available.”