The COVID-19 crisis has upended industries across the globe. As government-mandated lockdowns were carried out, companies scrambled to identify key business areas and launch continuity plans. Manufacturing, transportation, and tourism were a few of the industries hit hard by the pandemic, but not all sectors told a sob story.

The hot foil stamping industry, for instance, shone through.

The hot foil stamping market has been increasing steadily despite the pandemic. According to a report published in Research and Markets, the global market share for this sector is expected to reach US$7.8 billion by 2027, from $6.8 billion in 2020. The study forecasts a 2.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2020-2027.

To understand how hot-stamping print businesses are surviving the pandemic, you have to look at the process.

How Hot Stamp Printing is Thriving during a Pandemic

The hot stamping process uses hot dies to press decorative foil onto the surface of an item. Traditionally, this printing technique was done by skilled craftsmen using hand-held tools. Now, businesses and entrepreneurs can lease or buy hot foil stamping machines that will work with different applications. They’re especially useful during the pandemic because of the following reasons:

Promotes Social Distancing

Social distancing measures advised people to keep a distance of 1.5 meters away from each other.  Printing facilities that use equipment like hot stamping machines were able to comply with these measures with only minor adjustments to their operations. These machines only require an operator to function.

Maintains Production Volume

Several companies carried out skeletal staffing to reduce the number of people in the workplace throughout the workweek. While this meant a slower production process in some industries, the printing and packaging industries didn’t face the same problem. Hot foil stamping machines are designed for bulk production, ensuring high levels of output even with only a quarter of the staff present.

Supports Competitiveness

One of the reasons this printing technology continues to be popular is it can be customized. Using special software, companies and individuals can make different designs. Foils are typically gold, silver, or copper, but special foils like rose gold, metallic blue or red, pearl, pigment and holographic are also available. This customization has helped the hot foil stamping industry remain competitive at a time when other industries struggled to stay afloat. Many companies chose to forego complicated designs to maintain their production volume and prevent losses.

Adapts to the Current Supply

Unlike other printing techniques, hot stamping is a highly flexible process. It is used to mark a wide variety of materials, including paper, plastic, leather, rubber, and fabric. Even as some companies switched to different materials for their packaging (plastic to paper), they were still able to maintain branding initiatives through hot foils.

What’s Keeping Hot Stamp Printing in Business?

Apart from these advantages, hot stamp printing is thriving because of the businesses that need it in their operations:

Packaging

Hot stamp printing on packaging, from paper bags to boxes, is common. But demand has gone up in recent months as online shopping behavior increased. A wide range of businesses, from supermarkets to retailers, required customized packaging to promote brand awareness for every purchase.

Personal Protective Equipment

Face masks and shields have become the regular gear when going out in public. As businesses worked to meet these needs, they employed the use of hot stamp printing to customize protective clothing and equipment. Since hot stamping is suitable for fabrics, manufacturers use it to transfer intricate designs onto face masks.

Signage

Foils used in hot stamping are reflective, so they are visible in the light. As lockdown restrictions eased, commercial spaces put up guidelines and wayfinders to direct people and promote social distancing. By using this technique in signage, businesses were able to attract consumers’ attention to warnings and instructions.

This printing method has not only stood the test of time but evolved to meet modern needs. With the last few months presenting several challenges to different industries and market sectors, the resilience of hot stamp printing has proven that it is here to stay.

If you’re interested in purchasing your own hot foil stamping machine, contact SBL Manufacturing.