With its HoloPrint in-line hologram production process, Denmark-based Stensborg A/S is celebrating a win in the Innovation in Holographic Technology category at the 2011 IHMA Excellence in Holography Awards.
Pioneered for printing press producer Nilpeter by Jan Stensborg, founder and proprietor of specialist research company Stensborg, HoloPrint is described as: “A new development for the production of embossed holograms in-line on printed material.”
The HoloPrint unit is an additional station, which can be supplied with new presses or retro-fitted to existing presses. It spot-applies a UV-curing lacquer to the printed material, then immediately moulds the holographic surface-relief pattern into this lacquer from a master mounted on to a cylinder.
A notable feature is that the UV light source is mounted within the moulding cylinder, and both the cylinder and the masters carrying the surface-relief pattern are UV transparent, so that curing and hardening the production hologram takes place simultaneously.
Presenting the awards in Las Vegas in November, International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) chairman Adam Scheer, speaking on behalf of the Board, said: “The winners’ work reflects the creativity, design excellence and quality which were the hallmarks of this year’s crop of entries, reflecting how holography continues to push forward the holographic boundaries technically and commercially.”
German hologram company Rako was commended in the same category for its holo-inlay in shrink sleeves, as was Optaglio, Czech Republic, for its achromatic hologram with colour shift effect.
Situated next to the Danish National Laboratory, Stensborg’s commercial activities are solely focused on the printing industry, particularly in the field of security and brand protection. Since 2005, the company’s strategic focus has been on bringing HoloPrint to the global market.
The International Hologram Manufacturers Association is made up of 93 of the world’s leading hologram companies. IHMA members are the leading producers and converters of holograms for banknote security, anti-counterfeiting, brand protection, packaging, graphics and other commercial applications around the world.
In-line embossed holograms on printed material, using Stensborg's HoloPrint Stensborg HoloPrint
