Kurz, a company specialized in hot stamping and coating technology, stands as one of the most emblematic German companies among those serving the beauty packaging industry.

This still-family-owned Group employs more than 5,500 people in 14 factories around the world, including of course Germany, but also China, the United States and Malaysia. In addition, with 24 international subsidiaries and a global network of agencies and sales offices, the Kurz Group manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of products for surface finishing, decoration, marking and counterfeit protection, rounded off by an extensive range of stamping machines and stamping tools.

Producing as fine products as those coming out of the Group's production lines, does indeed require an often imposing, cumbersome and extremely sophisticated industrial tool. The company has taken part in the creation of a great deal of the packaging used in the Beauty sector, particularly concerning their finishing, but not only.

The main challenge for the months and years to come: Reconcile innovation and environment. Walter Kurz, president, says: “We take sustainable finishing and environmental protection seriously—which means taking the entire value-added chain into account.”

Concrete Answers

The German company has developed a particularly eco-friendly finishing process for plastic caps. Called CAP-tivate Luxury, this technique dedicated to the cosmetic industry, allows for the energy efficient, dry transfer of various surface films, compared to the electroplating process. Metallic and chrome finishings can thus be obtained. The CAP-tivate Luxury thin film technology remains in line with the recyclability of plastic components. Its composition can also be adapted to the environmental requirements and constraints of customers.

The aesthetic plastic closures perfectly reflect the eco-friendliness of the finishing process. Cosmetic manufacturers can choose between many natural designs, their coarse aspect fitting particularly well with products based on natural ingredients.

Textures or tactile effects can be added to wood- or stone-like finishes. Design elements can thus be combined with soft-touch finish surfaces, which are pleasant to the touch and help highlight the characteristics of the product. Several design elements can also be associated. The upper part of the cap can, for example, be decorated with a marble-like texture and its sides enhanced with bright and elegant metallic shades.

The films used for the CAP-tivate Luxury finishing process comply with the requirements of several national and international provisions, in particular the European Union Packaging Directive 94/62/EC or the CONEG standard (Coalition of Northeastern Governors).

At the Forefront of Innovation

Engineers are also working on other new techniques. They have for example developed some print finishing products with new translucent effects. The Lumafin series was presented in Nuremberg last September. It was designed to offer brand owners new options for differentiating their product from the competition, and for added value.

The Lumafin color layers, which can be transferred using hot stamping, cold foil transfer or digital finishing, feature the characteristic smooth surface of these finishing technologies and with a very high level of gloss and transparency.

On coarse and/or pre-printed substrates, this can result in attractive matte/gloss contrasts. Additional tactile accents can be added with the use of structured or relief embossing. In addition to its exceptional visual and haptic effect, Lumafin also offers the advantages inherent to foil stamping. The product range encompasses a variety of different colors. Changing the color is as simple as changing the foil rolls.

The special characteristics of the translucent stamping foil really come into play when it comes to under-printing. Printed motifs over-stamped with Lumafin offer a distinct new coloration or color depth and they appear as though they were behind glass or transparent plastic.

Inspired by Box in Box

Unearth new trends, capture the spirit of the future and create new finishing concepts: This is the main mission of the designers and trend researchers of the German company. In 2018, they imagined new finishing solutions, new trendy shades for metallic designs, unprecedented shades, miles away from the usual colors seen for metallic substrates.

Like each year, the 2018 Kurz Box in Box was eagerly awaited and this will also be the case for the 2019 edition. Four trends translated into boxes. Starting with a small one nesting in a larger one nesting in a larger one and so on, until the largest one is reached. These pieces of design illustrate high-end technologies and offer new ideas for hot stamped concepts. These artistically decorated boxes are an inexhaustible source of inspiration for graphic designers and packaging designers.