Blog

We are delighted to unveil our brand-new website. The new sfservices.com has been rebuilt from the ground up to be faster, fully responsive on mobile and tablet, and far easier to browse — bringing our complete range of new and used hot foil stamping, die cutting and creasing machinery, spare parts and aftersales services together in one place.

Highlights of the new site include detailed machine specifications with full image galleries, a streamlined enquiry process, and multi-language support for our international customers across 40+ countries.

The new website was designed and developed by Plan-IT. We would like to thank the team at Plan-IT for their work in bringing it to life.

Have a look around and get in touch if you have any questions about our machinery or services.

drupa — the world’s leading trade fair for printing technologies — announced revised dates of 20–30 April 2021 under the banner “embrace the future”.

As specialists in hot foil stamping, die cutting and post-press machinery, we always look forward to drupa as the place to see the latest developments in print finishing. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss new or used machinery for your business.

Our internal partner for consumables Profoil Systems produce their own range of hot stamping foil for use on most platen and cylinder presses currently for sale on the SF Services machine listings. Within the last few months some new colours have been added to the mix to help extend the ‘RP’ range to over twenty different shades.
The new colour range includes indigo blue, light copper, harvest gold and rose gold to name a few. These complement the standard range of matt and gloss silvers and golds perfectly and have helped Profoil become a top manufacturer of hot stamping foil.

Previously where a certain grade of foil would be required for a specific type of board, the RP grade works on both matt and gloss laminated surfaces – making it a universal foil for all substrates and circumstances. The foil comes supplied in 122m and 305m roll lengths, plus 640mm width. If smaller rolls are required then a cutting service is offered for free. As mentioned previously, the foil works on nearly all platen and cylinder presses and has a workable temperature range of between 90 – 130 degrees. It has a proven record of success where other leading market grades have failed, including its suitability on a wide range of paper, board and laminates.
The Profoil website gives the user the option of buying securely in GBP, EURO or USD and has worldwide shipping options at excellent rates. Foil prices start from as little as 16p per sqm with discounts available for bulk orders.
For more information see, hot stamping foils.

The hot foil stamping and die cutting & creasing machine repair and servicing specialists SF Services have added to their fleet of vehicles with the addition of a new van.
The van will increase the coverage of the servicing department throughout the UK and encourage manager Richard Ivatt and engineer Aaron Hutchings to attend separate jobs.

“The servicing team were previously restricted to one job at a time, but with the addition of the new van, myself and Aaron are able to service or repair two machine at the same time. This then means machine operators will experience much less downtime in the UK which overall is great news for the print finishing industry”. Richard Ivatt, Servicing Manager.

All models and sizes of hot foil blocking and cutting & creasing presses are catered for and the majority of the work can be carried out on-site. However, there is still the occasional need for parts to be taken away or replaced. All work is carried out as an emergency and the machine will be up and running as soon as possible.
SF Services also offer an extensive range of new and used hot foil stamping and die cutting & creasing presses from all the internationally renowned manufacturers. Bobst, Crosland, Gietz, Heidelberg, Johannisberg, MK (Masterwork), Polygraph, Saroglia and YAWA to name a few.

How important is it to regularly service or repair your hot foil stamping or die cutting & creasing press?

1. Keep the press in top running order Hot foil stamping machines need regular servicing and required repair work to stay in peak condition – they are similar in that respect to cars. Your hot foiling or die cutting machine should realistically be serviced every year to maintain productivity.
2. Maintain productivity Print finishing presses can run up to speeds of over 7,000 sheets per hour. If a machine is out of commission for a full working day you’re potentially looking at 50,000 sheets not going through the press. Having your machine serviced will increase the efficiency.
3. Increase efficiency A happy machine operator will be more efficient. Operators will be uncomfortable dealing with a machine that constantly breaks down, so why let it happen? Having the press serviced regularly will minimise breakdowns and keep the operator happy.
4. Minimise breakdowns A breakdown can lower your output from 50,000 sheets a day to zero. Customers don’t wait around and will happily take their business elsewhere. Small repairs can take less than an hour and in the long run will improve the standard of your hot foiling and die cutting.
5. Improve the standard of foiling and cutting The standard of hot foiling on a non-serviced machine will drop, and registration will be more and more difficult. If your machine is effected by anything on this list give the experts at SF Services a call.
6. Give the experts a call Servicing manager Richard Ivatt has over 20 years’ experience servicing and repairing hot foil stamping and die cutting & creasing presses worldwide.

 

Servicing Manager Richard Ivatt, along with engineer Aaron Hutchings recently took on the huge task of assisting a top customer with a factory relocation. The print finishing company from Watford had been based at their location for 20 years but due to re-development were in need of moving to a new premises. So they asked the experienced SF Services team for help.
The relocation comprised of moving several large hot foil stamping and die cutting & creasing presses just 5 minutes up the road, over the course of a couple of days. Unfortunately for all involved the UK was suffering from a heatwave at the time but that didn’t stop everyone pitching in.
The move was, of course, succesful, and the company involved is now fully operational in the new building and the machines are up and running again.

“This move, to date, was the biggest factory relocation we’ve had the opportunity to participate in. The hot weather was a problem but the moving of the presses to the new premises went without a hiccup”. Richard Ivatt, Servicing Manager.

If you have an upcoming factory relocation or need a foiling or cutting press moved don’t hesitate to call.