Established in 1987 and now part of Japanese hot stamping manufacturer Washin, Foilco is one of the most technically rigorous and creatively engaged foil suppliers in the world, offering over 1,400 products, complimentary testing services, and a genuine commitment to the print and design community.
There are foil suppliers, and then there is Foilco. Founded in 1987 by David Hornby in Lowton St Mary’s, Warrington, and still guided by the Hornby family today, Foilco has spent nearly four decades building a reputation based not just on the breadth of their range but on the way they work with the people who use it.
The numbers are significant: over 350 shades in stock, more than 1,400 products on the shelves, and the broadest spectrum of foil colours, effects and finishes available in the printing industry. But what distinguishes Foilco from its competitors goes beyond catalogue size. They are the only foil supplier to offer complimentary testing of their products with any material or substrate on the market, through three core services: test cards for showing clients larger foiled examples, specified stock samples for demonstrating foil and stock combinations, and grade testing to identify shades available for a specific project. That commitment to supporting the decision-making process before the order is placed is, as they put it, part of going the extra mile.
Quality control is taken seriously. Every factory roll handled by Foilco staff is batch-tested for colour, shade and release at their own state-of-the-art Quality Control Centre. They were one of the first foil companies in Europe to achieve ISO9001, earning the accreditation in 1991 and maintaining it ever since.
For the creative community specifically, Foilco runs two ongoing initiatives worth knowing about. Multiplicity is a design event series that brings together the community of creatives and suppliers to explore new ideas, innovations and to inspire. Workshop is an educational programme that gives designers and students in the creative arts hands-on knowledge of what foil can do and how to specify it correctly. Both exist because Foilco understands that there is often a knowledge gap between supplier and specifier and this is where good projects can go wrong. A sense of community and conversation brings a level of support to help the project’s end result.
On the environmental side, Foilco runs Zero Foil 2 Landfill, a scheme through which they collect foil waste from customers and process it through specialist waste management systems. It is part of a broader commitment to sustainability that runs through their operations, reflected in their B Corporation certification.
The next chapter
In April 2026, Foilco announced a significant milestone: the business has been acquired by Washin, a prestigious Japanese hot stamping foil manufacturer with an archive of more than 3,000 colours and over 300 grade formulations. Directors Matt and Paul Hornby, who have guided the business for years, were clear from the start that any acquisition would only proceed with the right partner. Washin, they say, is exactly that.
“The product range is an incredible resource,” Matt Hornby said, “and their philosophy aligns closely with our own, delivering bespoke colours and technically advanced grades that meet every application in our industry with optimum results.”
For Washin, Foilco represents a major step into global markets. For Foilco, it means access to a manufacturing partner whose range and technical depth are unmatched. Both businesses remain committed to what has made each of them trusted within their respective markets.
For designers and printers working in luxury print, packaging, labels and graphic arts, Foilco remains the first call.
Website: foilco.com Instagram: @foilcoltd
Foilco Limited, Enterprise Way, Lowton St Mary’s, Warrington, Cheshire, WA3 2BP. +44 (0) 1942 262622 · hello@foilco.com
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