“A large chunk of our work involves high degree of customisation, which requires printing of variable data on a variety of products,” said Khushman Shah of Swastik Prints.

‘To add a finishing kit that enhances the value of short-run print products in cost-effective manner’ was the one-point agenda of Shah’s visit to China.

The digital foiling machine imposes foil patterns onto a variety of substrates, including smooth and textured surfaces. It simplifies the foiling process by eliminating creation of dies and blocks for each design as required for traditional techniques of foiling.

Shah, who is a print technologist from Government Institute of Printing Technology, Mumbai, said that the machine will reduce the direct and indirect costs of foiling, as it will eliminate the set-up time, dies, screens, inks and solvents.

The machine is a standalone desktop foiling unit that has a movable printhead to apply foil directly to a substrate without the need for dies. It uses any computer generated graphic and text created using design software such as Corel Draw. It can print a minimum font size of 8pt.

According to Judy Jha of Zenghzhou Audley Digital Control Equipment Company, the digital foiling machine attracted a large number of Indian visitors at the show. Jha said, “We sold nine units of which three will be shipped to India.” Besides Swastik, Navi Mumbai-based Silverpoint Press and Vadodara-based Ashish Offset also invested in similar machines at the show.

The machine is suitable for personalised short-run products such as certificates and personalised promotional items such as diaries, conference folders, wedding cards etc. 

According to Shah, very few companies in India are using this technology and equipment. Shah claimed that Swastik Prints is the first printing company in Gujarat to own this technology. “The first mover advantage will be profitable to our business,” said Shah.

“With this new technology, we will be able to provide more innovative, creative, yet affordable printing solutions to our clients. The reduction in cost and time will benefit our clients and ultimately, our business,” concluded Shah.