Technology of the Year

Applied Films Corporation
Technology: LMS4X-OD Optical Density Monitor

The Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators, honored Applied Films Corporation, Longmont, Colorado, with its Technology of the Year Award for its LMS4X-OD optical density monitor at a banquet on Thursday, March 17th during its March Management Meeting (March 16-19, 2005).

The LMS4X-OD works in line in vacuum metallizers to monitor the optical density, or transparency, of film. Since the closed-loop system works across a wide range of transparencies, metallizers can run an entire spectrum of films without changing monitoring systems. This reduces down time, permits metallizers to guarantee the quality of the material in both the cross web and machine direction, and improves consistency roll to roll. Operating within an accuracy of 0.1%, the LMS4X-OD system allows a calibration of base films with an optical density as high as 2.0 and measures the deposited aluminum layer with an optical density of up to 4.0 for a total measuring range of 6.0. Recent tests show the same system also can monitor metallized paper in weights of up to 70 grams per square metre. Available as a standard option on TopMet metallizers from Applied Films, the system also may be retrofit to older units. The judges were particularly impressed by the unit's ability to handle such a wide range of optical densities and unanimous in the selection of the LMS4X-OD device as Technology of the Year. "It's extraordinarily useful for metallizers and roll coaters to be able to measure optical properties in the range listed without having to change monitors," explained one judge. "It's technologically novel," said another.

Material Category: Technical Excellence Award

DuPont Teijin Films
Product: Melinex White Light Block Film

The finalist in the Material Category is DuPont Teijin Films, Hopewell, Virginia, for Melinex White Light Block film. Available in both a standard grade 6364, as well as grade 6368 with pretreatment on both sides for solvent adhesion, these totally opaque coextruded white/gray polyester films are designed for imaging applications such as banner stands, point-of-purchase displays, signage and backlit displays. An in-film process applied coating makes the film suitable for direct printing and eliminates the need for costly off-line process steps, while the gray layer ensures opacity and eliminates the impact from rear lighting and shadows on front side image quality. A replacement for more complex laminated materials, the patented film is dimensionally stable and does not stretch, deform or delaminate in use. It also hangs flat, resists curling and is tearproof, crack resistant, waterproof, chemical resistant and heat tolerant. Judges ranked the light block material as a significant development. "I see lots of potential uses," said one.

In the Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product Category, two finalists were named, one in Food and one in Security.

Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product Category - Food: Technical Excellence Award

Graphic Packaging International
Product: Microrave™ QuiltWave®

On the Food side Graphic Packaging International, Marietta, Georgia, was recognized for its Microrave™ QuiltWave® flexible packaging with built-in microwave susceptor, first used by Sepp's Gourmet Foods Ltd, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, for a microwaveable grilled cheese sandwich. Produced at Graphic's facility in Wausau, Wisconsin, the patent-pending QuiltWave material maximizes the utilization of microwave energy. The unique structure expands when exposed to microwave energy to form the "quilt." The inflated cells conform to the surface of the food and insulate it from the environment, thus increasing the sensible heat flux to the food surface, resulting in maximum browning and crisping. At the same time, channels between the inflated cells allow moisture to quickly evaporate from the food surface and migrate out of the package, further enhancing crisping. After cooking is completed, the package quickly cools but the cells remain inflated to insulate the consumer's hand from the hot food inside. The judges thought the use of the moisture inherent in the paper layer was technically sophisticated. Susceptor packaging for grab-and-go products "opens a new area for microwave products," noted one judge. "This is an innovative way to solve the old problem of [microwave] crisping," commented another.

Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product Category - Security: Technical Excellence Award

Flex Products Inc.
Product:SecureShift® MetaSwitch™ Label

The prize for Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product-Security recognized the SecureShift® MetaSwitch™ label from Flex Products Inc., a JDS Uniphase Company, Santa Rosa, California. The patented, pressure-sensitive security label provides an easy way to visually verify whether a branded product is genuine. Used by a major pharmaceutical company to protect prescription drugs in Europe, the polyester label depends on multiple station printing and a combination of matching color-shifting and non-color-shifting inks to create a difficult-to-duplicate graphic design, which is only visible at certain viewing angles. Key to the anticounterfeiting capability is the ink's incorporation of SecureShift microflakes, which are based on optically variable pigment. The judges were impressed by the difficult-to-duplicate nature of the label and the availability of different color pairings, currently jade/violet, rose/green, blue/bronze and silver/purple.