The envelope manufacturer, which is part of the Encore Group, has begun using UV LED technology to create new coatings on envelopes, such as spot hi-gloss, matt, soft touch, and textured finishes.

The company has also developed an inline embossing unit, allowing it to either emboss images in register or create an all-over embossed pattern.

Russell Croisdale, managing director of the Encore Group, said the firm was keeping precise details about the technology being used under wraps.

“We’ve been working on this for some time, and it’s involved a lot of ingenuity from within the company, as well as time and money,” he said.

“We have always had a reputation for being innovative with our production methods, and we are known worldwide for our printing process for direct mail envelopes.

“Customers who have seen examples of these processes are excited by the end results."

The new offerings, which have been in development for 18 months, are hoped to improve the level of customer response, as more people notice the different look and feel of an envelope, encouraging them to open it.

“We have also received some positive interest from clients who are transactional mailers, as they like the idea of having their envelopes embossed with their logo or name to increase awareness of their brand," said Croisdale.

“We believe that we must continue to find and offer our customers new ideas for what they can do to enhance their mailings.

“The question is how to make the envelope stand out in the post.”

Encore Envelopes is the UK’s largest independent manufacturer of printed envelopes and operate 18 envelope machines supplying envelopes for direct mail and transactional markets.