07.14.14
After intensive development work, Leonhard Kurz, is commercializing its Digital Metal product, a system for applying metallic layers in the digital printing process. Kurz is offering an all-in-one solution comprising a transfer machine with the designation DM Liner, an associated web-based software, and a Digital Metal foil that has been specially tailored to this process.
The DM Liner transfers the Digital Metal foil at speeds of five to 30 meters per minute. It can process paper between 90 and 350 grams per square meter, and formats from 210 x 297 to 390 x 500 millimeters. The Digital Metal foil is available in gold or silver, as well as diffractive designs with a rainbow color play or holographic continuous structures. The Internet based software provides an overview of the consumption and available stock of the foils.
The Digital Metal process involves three stages: First the desired design is printed onto the paper substrate using dry or liquid toner. Then the DM Liner is used to transfer the Digital Metal foil to the pre-printed surface. Next digital or offset color printing is performed, whereby the Digital Metal foil can be overprinted in any desired manner, thereby enabling a wide variety of metallic color tones to be generated.
The Digital Metal transfer technology allows partial metallization, which produces a very high gloss level that is not achievable using metallic pigment inks. All the advantages of digital printing can be fully utilized. This process is economical to use for small-run jobs, and can also be used for personalization and serialization.
Kurz provides further information about the Digital Metal technique at www.digital-metal.net.