Foil Simulation Attracts Cosmetic Company The lure of shiny packaging is difficult for some consumers to resist. That's why a cosmetics company met with sales representatives at Sandy Hook, Conn.-based printed packaging provider Curtis Packaging Corporation. "They wanted a very high-end looking carton, but they didn't want to break the bank when it came to the pricing," says Donald Droppo Jr., vice president of marketing. "They didn't need the entire sheet to be metallic. It was going to be in certain spot sections of the box." The client worried that producing the design would mean purchasing an entire sheet of foil per carton, then covering most of it with ink. Curtis reps offered another solution. A year ago, the company purchased a 51 x 38-inch, 8-color, UV press with two coating units from German supplier KBA. "What's unique about it is, you can put down a very shiny metallic color that simulates foil in the first station," Droppo says. "We could apply the silver in the exact 20 percent coverage that they needed." A second unit dries the coating as a piece moves through the press. The unit's wide-format capability and speed allows Curtis to run up to 15,000 sheets an hour. The cosmetic company inspected samples from Curtis' previous projects before deciding to move forward. They ordered several hundred thousand cartons for a product designed to support an existing brand. When the client received the new product, "They loved it," says Droppo. "It exceeded their expectations." Curtis since has developed a strong relationship with the client and received additional orders, he says. Curtis specializes in high-end packaging, serving the cosmetics, health and beauty aids, pharmaceutical, liquor, and entertainment industries. Droppo anticipates that the dispersion coater will bring new clients. "Some companies that are currently on foil right now might start looking at the possibility of switching over for a cost savings," says Droppo. "Or someone who thought he could never afford a foil look because it's so expensive, now we have a solution for that."