Hot-Stamping

At Secondary Solutions Inc. (SSI), we provide precision hot stamping services that create durable, high-quality graphics and decorative finishes on molded plastic components and engineered products.

Since 1996, manufacturers have trusted SSI to apply metallic and pigment foils with exceptional consistency, producing crisp graphics, long-lasting markings, and premium cosmetic finishes. From simple logos to complex multi-axis components requiring custom fixtures and precision registration, our experienced team delivers dependable results from prototype through full production.

Whether your product requires branding, identification, decorative accents, or functional markings, SSI provides professional hot stamping solutions tailored to your manufacturing requirements.

What Is Hot Stamping?

Hot stamping is a decorating process that transfers a thin layer of metallic or pigmented foil onto a component using a heated silicone die under precisely controlled temperature, pressure, and dwell time.

Unlike conventional printing, hot stamping creates a durable, highly opaque finish with exceptional cosmetic appeal and excellent resistance to wear, making it an ideal solution for demanding industrial, medical, and consumer applications.

Hot stamping is commonly used for:

• Company logos
• Product branding
• Decorative trim
• Metallic accents
• Control panel graphics
• Functional icons
• Safety markings
• Product identification
• Medical device graphics
• Consumer product decoration

Why Choose Hot Stamping?

Hot stamping offers manufacturers an attractive combination of durability, consistency, and premium appearance.

Benefits include:

• Bright metallic finishes
• Sharp graphic definition
• Excellent opacity
• Long-lasting durability
• Abrasion resistance
• No ink drying time
• Repeatable production quality
• Cost-effective manufacturing
• Premium cosmetic appearance

Whether using metallic gold, silver, chrome, black, white, or specialty foils, hot stamping adds lasting value to your product.

Our Hot Stamping Capabilities

SSI supports a wide variety of hot stamping applications, including:

• Injection molded plastics
• Medical device housings
• Industrial controls
• Agricultural equipment
• Consumer products
• Electronic enclosures
• Automotive interior components
• Decorative trim
• Instrument panels
• Product identification

Our capabilities include:

• Metallic foil stamping
• Pigment foil stamping
• Matte and gloss finishes
• Multi-location stamping
• Tight registration
• Prototype through production quantities
• Customer-specified foils
• Custom fixture development
• Process development and validation

Engineering Challenging Hot Stamping Applications

Not every hot stamping project is straightforward.

Many components feature compound curves, recessed surfaces, textured plastics, narrow stamping areas, or multiple decoration locations that require significantly more engineering than a standard hot stamping operation.

SSI has extensive experience developing production-ready solutions for challenging applications by combining fixture design, silicone die development, foil selection, and process optimization.

Our engineering support includes:

• Compound and multi-axis part geometries
• Rotational fixtures for curved components
• Multiple stamp locations on a single part
• Cosmetic Class A surface requirements
• Tight print location tolerances
• Fine-detail graphics
• Challenging molded textures
• Continuous process optimization
• Long-term production support

Rather than forcing every part into a standard process, we develop the process around the part.

Custom Fixture Design

Successful hot stamping begins with accurate and repeatable part positioning.

SSI designs and manufactures custom fixtures that securely locate every component during the stamping cycle, ensuring consistent registration and foil placement throughout production.

Our fixture designs improve:

• Print consistency
• Registration accuracy
• Production efficiency
• Repeatability
• Setup time
• Operator consistency

Whether the component is flat, curved, angled, or irregularly shaped, proper fixturing is essential for producing professional cosmetic results.

Custom Silicone Dies

Every hot stamping application requires a silicone die specifically designed for the component being decorated.

SSI works with industry-leading die manufacturers to develop custom silicone dies that maximize:

• Uniform foil transfer
• Consistent pressure distribution
• Graphic sharpness
• Registration accuracy
• Extended die life
• Reliable production performance

Selecting the correct die geometry is one of the most important factors in achieving repeatable cosmetic quality.

Foil Selection & Qualification

Not all foils perform the same.

Different substrates, molded textures, environmental conditions, and product requirements often require different foil technologies.

SSI evaluates and qualifies foils based on:

• Plastic resin compatibility
• Surface finish
• Adhesion performance
• Metallic appearance
• Pigment quality
• Environmental durability
• Customer cosmetic requirements
• Long-term production consistency

This process helps ensure the selected foil continues performing throughout the life of the product—not just during initial production.

First Article Samples & Process Validation

SSI works closely with customers during product development to verify both cosmetic appearance and manufacturing repeatability before production begins.

Our development support includes:

• Prototype samples
• First Article Inspection (FAI)
• Customer approval samples
• Engineering builds
• Pilot production
• Process validation
• Production readiness reviews

Early collaboration minimizes production risk while helping customers move confidently into manufacturing.

Continuous Process Improvement

Every production program teaches valuable lessons.

SSI continuously monitors production to identify opportunities for improvement throughout the life of a program.

Areas of ongoing refinement may include:

• Fixture improvements
• Process optimization
• Foil qualification
• Registration improvements
• Cycle time reduction
• Cosmetic consistency
• Scrap reduction
• Repeatability enhancements

This commitment to continuous improvement helps customers maintain consistent quality across both short production runs and long-term manufacturing programs.

Quality Inspection

Hot stamping is often one of the final cosmetic operations performed on a product, making inspection critical.

SSI verifies:

• Graphic quality
• Foil coverage
• Registration
• Print location
• Cosmetic appearance
• Adhesion
• Customer-specific acceptance criteria

Our quality-focused approach helps ensure every finished component meets customer expectations before shipment.

Integrated Manufacturing Services

Unlike many decorating companies, SSI offers complete secondary manufacturing services.

Customers frequently combine hot stamping with:

• Pad printing
• Assembly & kitting
• Ultrasonic welding
• Spin welding
• Heat staking
• UV adhesive application
• Adhesive bonding
• Conformal coating
• EMI/RFI shielding
• Functional coating applications
• Inspection & packaging

Performing multiple manufacturing operations under one roof simplifies logistics, shortens lead times, and improves overall quality.

Industries We Serve

SSI supports manufacturers in:

Why Manufacturers Choose SSI

For nearly three decades, SSI has earned its reputation by solving difficult decorating challenges that require more than simply operating a hot stamping press.

Our customers value our ability to engineer complete manufacturing solutions through thoughtful fixture design, silicone die development, foil qualification, process validation, and continuous production support.

Manufacturers choose SSI because we provide:

• Manufacturing experience since 1996
• Prototype through production support
• Custom fixture engineering
• Silicone die development
• Process optimization
• Experienced operators
• Responsive customer service
• Competitive pricing
• Minnesota-based manufacturing
• Consistent cosmetic quality

We don't simply decorate parts—we develop repeatable manufacturing processes that produce reliable results year after year.

Production Experience

Since we began tracking, SSI has hot-stamped more than 700,000 parts. Our experience ranges from simple logos to complex multi-axis components requiring custom fixtures, precision registration, and foil qualification. These figures are only what we have recorded since we started keeping track; actual production totals are higher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Partner with SSI for Precision Hot Stamping

At Secondary Solutions, successful hot stamping begins long before the first part enters the press. It starts with understanding your product, engineering the right process, validating every detail, and continuously improving production over time.

Whether your project requires premium metallic finishes, durable product identification, or complex decoration on difficult molded components, SSI has the experience and manufacturing expertise to deliver dependable results.