42 Hot stuff Vincet Wilson, Business Development Director of Metallic Elephant Limited talks to Craft Focus about the upcoming launch of their two new machines in 2024 Tell us a little bit about the company. Where are you based? When did the company start? We’re based in Frating, a small village near Colchester in Essex. Who founded the company and why? Ros and Karl French are the cofounders, both with a passion within the print industry, Ros within the plate making side and Karl in the engineering, machine building side. They both had an enthusiasm for the hot foil industry and wanted to share this as a new type of provider, introducing new parties to hot foiling along with working with established companies supporting a community built on quality products and a community engagement feel. How has the company evolved? The company initially started producing magnesium dies and servicing or repairing John T Marshall machines. They’ve since added to their die production side, brass dies, brass type for bookbinders and personalisation/ monogramming and polymers for counterforces and letterpress printing. On the machine side, they started full manufacture of their own range of hot foil presses. There are currently four models, with over 2,500 machines sold globally with the introduction of a further two models next year. What do you specialise in? We specialise in the creation of hot foil and letterpress blocks along with the manufacture of hot foil printing presses. Talk us through the current products you’re particularly excited about. Do you have a favourite? We offer printing presses that can be integrated into a home business but that
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