Fundamentals of Hot Stamping

by Laurie Barcaskey

If you're exploring part marking options and hot stamping has come up, but you're not quite sure how it works—you're in the right place.

Hot stamping isn't just for large-scale metal forming. In fact, it’s a powerful, controlled way to permanently apply logos, labels, serial numbers, and decorative finishes onto all kinds of parts—especially those made from plastic, wood, or leather.
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Let’s break down how it works and why it might make sense for your marking applications.

What is Hot Stamping

At its core, hot stamping is a heat-and-pressure-based marking process. A heated die (or branding iron) is pressed against a foil or directly against the part’s surface. That combination of temperature, time, and pressure transfers a crisp image—whether it’s text, a graphic, or a logo—onto the part.

​Depending on your setup, you can either:

• Stamp directly onto the surface (think wood or leather), or
• Use a foil—a heat-activated film that deposits a thin layer of pigment or metallic material onto plastics or coated parts.

The result? A permanent, clean, and professional mark—without ink, without drying time, and without worrying about smudges.

How It Works: The Basics

Here’s a simple breakdown of the hot stamping process:

1. Die gets heated to a specific temperature—often between 250°F and 450°F, depending on the material.
   
2. Part is positioned under the die, either manually or using a pneumatic press.
   
3. The die presses down with a set pressure for a brief dwell time (usually under 2 seconds).
   
4. If using a foil, the heat activates the adhesive backing and transfers pigment from the foil to the part surface.
   
5. The die retracts, and your mark is complete—crisp, permanent, and ready to ship.
   

Types of Materials You Can Mark

Hot stamping works best on materials that can respond well to heat—without burning, melting, or distorting.

• Plastics – ABS, PVC, polycarbonate, and acrylics all take well to foil stamping
  
• Wood – Raw or lightly finished wood burns in a clean, controlled way
  
• Leather – Real and synthetic leather mark well with brass dies
  
• Paper & Cardboard – Especially popular in packaging and branding applications
  

Each material has its own quirks, so it’s important to dial in the right temperature, pressure, and dwell time.

Key Variables to Control

Hot stamping is all about repeatability. Once you find the right settings for your material and application, you’ll get consistent results. The three big factors you’ll adjust are:

• Temperature – Higher for harder materials or metallic foils; lower for soft plastics or thin substrates
• Pressure – Needs to be firm enough to transfer the foil or brand the surface, but not so high it deforms the part
• Dwell Time – Typically under 2 seconds; too long and you risk warping or scorching

You’ll also want to consider die dwell consistency, especially in automated or semi-automated setups.

Tooling Options: Dies and Equipment

Your results depend a lot on the type of die you use. Here’s what you’ll typically see:

• Magnesium Dies – Great for short runs and graphic details; not as durable, but cost-effective
• Brass Dies – Long-lasting, excellent for high-volume jobs and detailed logos
• Steel Dies – Most durable; ideal for very high-pressure or automated applications

For equipment, you might use:

• Manual presses – For low volume or one-off parts
• Pneumatic or hydraulic machines – For high-volume production or tight repeatability

Some setups use roll-on machines for large or cylindrical surfaces, while others use vertical presses for flat items.

What Makes Hot Stamping So Useful?

There are a lot of part marking methods out there—inkjet, laser, dot peen—but hot stamping holds its own. Here’s why:

• Permanent marks that won’t smear, fade, or scratch off
• No drying time—your parts are ready immediately
• No solvents or inks, so there’s no mess or cleanup
• Works on non-metallic parts like plastic, wood, and leather
• Easily adaptable to logos, serial numbers, date codes, and more

It’s also a good match for decorative or branding applications—metallic foils, high-gloss logos, or embossed designs stand out cleanly.

Common Applications

You’ll find hot stamping in shops that need clean, consistent marking without investing in high-end automation. Typical use cases include:

• Tool or gauge marking (with logos or company names)
• Branding wooden or leather components
• Decorative finishes for consumer goods
• Data plates, tags, nameplates
• Electrical housings and plastic enclosures
• Awards and promotional items

Is It Right for Your Shop?
​If you’re marking plastic parts, wood packaging, leather components, or any high-volume job that requires a sharp, durable mark—hot stamping is worth a serious look.

It's simple, scalable, and easy to integrate into most shop environments. And with a bit of testing, it’s easy to fine-tune for different materials and product lines.
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Have questions about how hot stamping could fit into your marking process? Reach out to us at Leading Marks. Laurie Barcaskey and our team can walk you through machine options, dies, foil choices, and help you get dialed in with confidence.

Applying identification on to substrates such as plastic, leather and wood for decorative purposes or where other marking methods are not most feasible.   Marking methods represented include: Branding Irons, Presses and Marking Dies & Foils.

• Branding Irons are available in electric or fire heated. Marking results in indented or darkened impressions. The use of foils that match the substrate enhance the mark appearance.
• Presses are available with electric temperature control and can be independent work stations or mounted in-line for automated marking with foil feed arrangements.
• Marking Dies & Foils are customized based on customer requirements. The marking dies are available in magnesium, brass and steel. A wide variety of foil color options available.

This article is part of the Fundamentals Series, a collection of in-depth guides covering essential marking technologies and processes. Explore the full series here to gain deeper insights into industrial marking solutions.

About the Author

Laurie Barcaskey of Leading Marks is an authorized manufacturer’s representative with 30 years of experience and shop floor knowledge of solutions for industrial identification, part traceability and pipe testing. Laurie is the third generation of one of the marking industry’s most innovative and enduring family legacies, tracing back to 1889.