Every year the Austrian Post AG issues a stamp on the subject of technical innovation. This year, this stamp honours Austria’s long tradition as a “Skination”. This theme can be found in the form – an imitation of a ski-tip – and the implied mountain panorama in the background and the skier also make it clear what this is all about. What makes this stamp special, however, is its way of production: it is made with a real ski coating.
This stamp uses a similar production technique to that used for ski production. A real ski is usually made of different materials and this has now been recreated by the stamp. A thin aluminium-plastic composite was cut out in the shape of a ski tip by means of a CNC-controlled milling machine. The silvery surface of this aluminium composite is brushed and looks like the edge of a ski when viewed from the side. A special acrylic adhesive was then used to apply the original yellow ski coating, the thickness of which was adapted to the brand. As in the actual ski production, the base was printed mirror-inverted on the back, so that the motif appears on the surface through the ski base.
Series: Technical innovations 
Nominal value: 7,00 Euro
Date of issue: 23.10.2020
stamp size: 43,00 x 42,00 x 3 mm
Graphic design: David Gruber
Printing: Variuscard Produktions- und Handels GmbH / Screen printing
Edition: 150,000 stamps in blocks of 1
Why is this my stamp of the month? With such innovative production methods, you can also inspire non-philatelists and perhaps even young people with the topic.