Cold stamping foil quote checklist — the 12 fields we need

The 12 fields, in order

Copy the checklist below into your RFQ email. A complete brief means the quote comes back with pricing, lead time, sample plan, compliance dossier and freight all in one document — no back-and-forth.

• 1. Press make and model + cold-foil module (e.g. Nilpeter FA-22 with Prindor, KBA Rapida 106 with ColdFoil MK, Bobst M6 with Cold Foil).
• 2. UV adhesive brand, grade and cure system (e.g. INX AF-2110 with UV-Hg 200 mJ/cm², Actega Colorpoint EB with UV-LED 120 mJ/cm² cationic).
• 3. Anilox specification: BCM and lpi feeding the adhesive station (typical 5–8 BCM, 500–800 lpi).
• 4. Substrate: material (coated paper, SBS, FBB, BOPP, PET, PP tube laminate, PE, PVC shrink) and GSM or µm.
• 5. Target shade: Pantone Metallic reference (e.g. PMS 871 C), or a physical swatch photo. Note gloss/matte/holographic finish.
• 6. Slit width(s) in mm, and how many of each width you need per delivery.
• 7. Roll length in linear meters per slit width (stock 1,000–8,000 lm).
• 8. Core ID: 76 mm (3") standard, 152 mm (6") for jumbo B0 rolls; wind direction (face-out default).
• 9. Annual volume estimate in lm — drives price break and whether you unlock 24-month master pigment lock.
• 10. Incoterms + destination port: EXW Shanghai, FOB Shanghai, CIF Los Angeles, DDP Rotterdam, DDP US door, etc.
• 11. Compliance dossier required: REACH SVHC, RoHS 3, EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 175.105, California Prop 65, Nestlé / Unilever / P&G / Colgate supplier packs.
• 12. Timeline: sample dispatch date, press-trial date, first production PO date. Also flag whether sample is free (qualified converter) or paid custom Pantone pre-match.

Why each field matters

Press + module + adhesive together determine which foil chemistry (cationic vs free-radical release) to ship. A Prindor module with cationic adhesive on BOPP needs a different foil than a KBA sheetfed module with free-radical adhesive on SBS — same shade, different product code.

Anilox BCM decides adhesive laydown, which in turn decides how tolerant the foil release coat needs to be. Under-quoting BCM by 1.5 units is the #1 cause of first-run press-trial failure.

Substrate + Pantone shade drive the metallising OD and pigment recipe. Bright gold on SBS uses a different pigment loading than bright gold on BOPP because of substrate reflectance.

Annual volume and Incoterms drive commercial terms — orders above 30,000 lm/yr per shade unlock mill-direct pricing (20–35 % below trading houses) and DDP freight consolidation.

What you get back within one business day

• Product code, PET carrier µm, metallising OD, colour ΔE target vs your Pantone reference.
• Unit price per linear meter (EXW, FOB or DDP as requested), price break at 3,000 / 10,000 / 30,000 lm.
• Lead time: sample dispatch (48 h), production ex-works (7–14 days stock, 3–4 weeks custom Pantone), sea freight transit.
• Compliance dossier PDF pack: REACH, RoHS 3, EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR 175.105, Prop 65, and any brand-owner supplier packs you requested.
• Sample plan: free 200–250 mm × 50–100 lm roll on 76 mm core, with lot-specific CoA (colour ΔE, coat weight, ASTM D3359 adhesion) and DHL/FedEx Express tracking.

Ready-to-copy RFQ email template

Subject: Cold stamping foil RFQ — [Your company] — [press model] — [shade] — [annual lm]

Body: Press: [make/model + cold-foil module]. Adhesive: [brand/grade + cure system + mJ/cm²]. Anilox: [BCM]/[lpi]. Substrate: [material + GSM]. Shade: [Pantone Metallic reference]. Slit width(s): [mm × qty]. Roll length: [lm each]. Core: [76 mm]. Annual volume: [lm/yr]. Incoterms + port: [DDP Los Angeles / Rotterdam / etc]. Compliance: [REACH + FDA + Prop 65 + brand pack]. Timeline: sample by [date], press trial [date], first PO [date].