Hot Stamping / Foil Stamping

What's Hot Stamping?

Hot stamping, also known as foil stamping, is an important method for surface decoration of plastic parts and is a common decorative process for household appliances and consumer electronics. It involves using a heated stamping head to transfer the metal or pigment layer from the stamping foil onto the surface of the workpiece to achieve decoration or marking purposes.

The material used for hot stamping is primarily aluminized paper, which is cost-effective, resistant to oxidation, and has a good gloss. Although its main material is not actually gold, people still habitually refer to it as “gold stamping.”

Hot Stamping Showcase

Headphones

Household item casing

Plastic bottle cap

Tooth Brush Case

Pros & Cons of Hot/Foil Stamping

优势

No ink residues on the fully stamped product.
No unpleasant odors from ink, resulting in no air pollution.
Color patterns are completed in one stamping process, reducing waste.
Simple procedures, smooth production management and workflow, ensuring high product quality.
Wide range of applications, suitable for paper, wood, plastic, leather, etc.

Disadvantages

Not suitable for stamping on uneven, textured, or matte surfaces.
Metal, glass, ceramic, and nylon products are generally not suitable for stamping unless they are first painted or screen-printed.
When stamping on a black background using lighter colors such as white or yellow, the coverage effect is not as good as pad printing or screen printing.

Comparison of Prices for Different Printing Surface Treatment Processes

Printing Process	说明	Price
激光雕刻	Uses laser beams to engrave patterns, text, or images.	$$
Screen Printing	Uses a screen to transfer ink onto a substrate.	$
Hot Stamping	Uses heat and pressure to transfer a foil or ink onto a surface.	$$$$
Water Transfer Printing	Uses a water-soluble film to transfer patterns onto objects.	$$$$$
移印	Uses a silicone pad to transfer ink onto a surface.	$$$