FAQs
What does Hazen do?
Hazen is known as a “foil laminator”; taking thin gauge aluminum foil and laminating to paper or board. The terminology is now dated and can be misleading, but it remains in use as an abbreviation or “short hand” reference
How do I choose the right stock for my project?
Contact customer service to figure out the perfect fit for your project and budget. Our staff is extremely knowledgeable in our products and their capabilities.
What is the typical caliper of the foil we laminate at Hazen?
0.000225” or “quarter-mil” foil, the metric equivalent is 0.005715mm.
What are the applications for foil laminated paper?
Labels, lottery tickets, greeting cards, blister packs, magazine and book covers, folding cartons, box wrap.
What are the benefits of aluminum foil?
It’s 100% opaque, which makes it ideal as a barrier layer for securing the data on lottery or scratch tickets. Foil has “dead fold”, which means that once bent or shaped, it will retain that new form or position. Foil is temperature resistant and water proof making it popular in label applications.
What are the limitations of aluminum foil?
Foil has surface finish limitations for total gloss and is the least shiny among reflective options. Aluminum is more susceptible to cracking at the score due to its limited elongation. Aluminum foil will oxidize (rust) over time, a top coat application after lamination is recommended to prevent this from happening and to impart printability. Modified acrylic water-based topcoats are most commonly used.
Are there alternatives to foil?
Yes, Hazen offers two options for traditional foil laminations: metallized polyester film and transfer metallization.
What is metallized polyester film?
Thin gauge (0.0005” or “half mil”) along with other calipers, typically 0.001” (“one-mil”) and 0.002” (“two-mil”) polyester film is metallized in a vacuum chamber which is then laminated to paper or board. The metal used at Hazen is primarily aluminum with a recent introduction of zinc sulfide. The terms “foil board” and "Mylar" may be used to describe this product, which is technically incorrect, the proper identifier would be “met-poly”.