This article appeared in a broader Technology Focus feature on Enhancing Print in the October 2022 issue of ProPrint, to view the magazine online, please click here.
It’s not just hard-rock musos who, in the words of Dr Hook’s 1972 hit, dream of making it onto the cover of Rolling Stone.
Print finishers have also had that ambition, and for Darren Delaney, general manager of Sydney postpress specialty provider AllKotes, that dream came true when the magazine’s publishers used its finishing products.
Some of Allkotes’ specialty finishes were used for the magazine’s April-May 2022 cover, featuring former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns.
“It was a clever use of our SoftMetal, Micromotion and SpotKote, combined to produce an amazing result for a Rolling Stone magazine cover – an iconic magazine title if ever there was one!” enthused Delaney.
“The client loved the options that Micromotion provided, using four different patterns on top of Soft Metal.”
It shows what can be done when the product mix responds to a client’s requirements. And it’s a bright spot on a somewhat grey post-Covid horizon. Delaney has found that with many print providers just managing to stay afloat, the take-up of new specialty finishing innovations has slowed. But that said, a sprinkling of new specialty finishes is appearing.
“With the lingering impact and effects of Covid still at our doorstep, the printing industry continues to fight its way up off the canvas,” he assures. “With so many people working from home these days, the focus of presenting new and existing finishes is met with a raft of different challenges.”
Allkotes is meeting the challenge, he says, and has the largest range of specialty finishes in Australia.
“From humble beginnings offering gloss and matte film 40 years ago, we’re now a company that proudly has over 50 different coatings, laminations, and special effects. Our gluing, die cutting and double-sided tape services are also providing our customers with a full-service option.”
AllKotes’ specialties range covers products such as WetKote, ThermoKote, PhotoKote, ScentKote, GlitterKote, SpyKote, and GlowKote. Add to this 3D Optix, LustreKote, UltraKote, BubbleKote, Soft Metal, FaceKote, ChalkKote and Micromotion. “All our amazing products come with experience and know-how. Allkotes has spent a lot of time and effort developing these products, so we are passionate about what we can do and offer,” he says.
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