2004 Award Winners

Peter Rigney Package Of The Year Award

Celplast Metallized Products Ltd.
Product: Cellofoil®

The Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators honored Celplast Metallized Products Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, with its Metallized Product of the Year Award at a banquet on Thursday, March 11th during its March Management Meeting (March 10-14 at the Hyatt Grand Champions, Indian Wells, California). The award honors the late Peter Rigney, former publisher of Paper, Film and Foil Converter magazine and long-time champion of the competition, who passed away in 1997.

Celplast metallizes Cellofoil® low-density polyethylene for bread bags used by Canada Bread Co. Ltd., Etobicoke, Ontario, for its Dempster's* brand white bread. Leco Industries Inc., Saint-Laurent, Quebec, supplies the film, which is converted by Allied Halo Industries Inc., Toronto, Ontario. Surface-printed graphics were designed by another Toronto-based company, Corporate Visuals Inc.

Introduced in March 2003, the silvery bag differentiates the bread on the store shelf and supports a "fresher longer" positioning. Sales have significantly surpassed expectations. A consumer survey indicates 76% of consumers believe the package looks like it keeps the product fresher longer, 84% agreed or strongly agreed they would notice the product because the package stands out more, and 59% would choose the bread in this package versus others.

The judges viewed the package as an expansion in the use of metallized film and a breakthrough for the category. "A loaf of bread in a metallized film bag is new and unusual," notes one. "It's a new way to differentiate the product in the category," adds another. Judges also recognized the positive effect the metallized structure has on shelf life and appreciated the high quality metallizing and surface printing on the film. Although the bag wrinkles where it is gathered to be closed by the tie wrap, "there is no flake off," observes one judge.

Nonfood Category: Marketing Award

Unifoil Corp.
Product: Holographic Box for Power Distance Golf Balls from Nike

In the Packaging: Nonfood Category in the 2004 AIMCAL Vacuum Metallized or Coated Product Competition, Unifoil Corp., Fairfield, New Jersey, took home the Marketing Award for a debossed, holographic box for Power Distance Golf Balls from Nike, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon. Unifoil converts the acrylic-coated, Custom Radius pattern, 0.5-mil polyester/18-point, coated-one-side solid bleached sulfate (SBS) structure using a substrate from International Paper, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Other project participants include Holosource, Livonia, Michigan, which performed the metallizing, and contract packager Shorewood Packaging, Newport News, Virginia.

The bursting bull's-eye radial holographic pattern is optically registered around the image of a large golf ball printed in the center of the top panel and moves across the surface and down the four sides of the box top. "This particular design went from concept to production inside four weeks," recalls Joseph Funicelli, Unifoil president/chief executive officer. The durability of the metallized film prevents cracking along score lines, while an ultraviolet topcoat imparts scratch resistance. Different colors identify different types of ball.

The judges were impressed with the three-dimensional effect and impression of movement provided by the tightly registered holographic pattern. "The holographic image communicates the product's high-tech positioning as well as the rotation of the ball," notes one judge. "The embossing in register is so dramatic, it looks like a shadow box," another comments.

Nonfood Category: Technical Award

Hazen Paper Co.
Product: Er'Go Candle Cartons

The Technical Award in the Packaging: Nonfood Category went to Hazen Paper Co., Holyoke, Massachusetts, for cartons it converted for candles from Er'Go, Dallas, Texas. The carton stock Hazen converts consists of 20-point SBS from MeadWestvaco, New York, New York, laminated to different colors of 92-gauge Rainbow pattern polyester with an ultracure acrylic coating. The new packaging replaces plain white paperboard cartons. The rainbow hologram not only delivers a more eye-catching shelf presence, but also imparts a natural glow reminiscent of a lit candle. The 92-gauge film also strengthens the carton and offers better protection for the rather heavy candles, which are popular with entertainers like Elton John and Oprah Winfrey. Day Manufacturing, Sherman, Texas, performs contract packaging duties.

Healthcare, Cosmetics and Toiletries Category: Marketing and Technical Awards

Unifoil Corp.
Product - Marketing: Tommy Hilfiger Fragrances Holiday Cartons Product - Marketing: Candie's Cartons

Sweeping the Packaging: Healthcare, Cosmetics and Toiletries Category, Unifoil captured both the Marketing Award and the Technical Award. The Marketing Award recognizes holiday cartons featuring holographic stars for Tommy Hilfiger brand fragrances from Estee Lauder Inc., New York, New York. Unifoil converts optically registered lone star and multistar designs on Unilustre material using 80-pound, coated-one-side litho paper from MeadWestvaco Corp., Covington, Virginia, which has been metallized by Crown Roll Leaf, Inc., Paterson, New Jersey, or Toray Plastics (America), Inc., North Kingstown, Rhode Island.

The judges particularly liked the striking star images, which change appearance as one's vantage point shifts. Describing the packaging as "young, fun, cool, and upscale," judges note that the custom designs are a "brand-building image."

The Technical Award winner in the Packaging: Healthcare, Cosmetics and Toiletries Category, a new optically registered holographic carton for Candie's, New York, New York, replaces an embossed heavy-gauge, clear, tinted Roland Film that had to be scored, glued, and wrapped around the folding carton, a costly, hard-to-handle process. Unifoil converts the acrylic matte-coated, tinted Candie's Moiré pattern, 0.5-mil polyester and laminates it to the coated side of 20-point, coated-one-side SBS from JS/CCA, Brewton, Alabama. Optical registration ensures the pattern is positioned properly on the one-piece folding carton blank. Metallizing is performed by Crown Roll Leaf or Toray Plastics (America), while Hub Folding Box Co., Inc., Mansfield, Massachusetts, contributes design and contract packaging services.

"The regular customer will recognize the new package immediately," note the judges. "The new design is more readable and cuts manufacturing costs dramatically without changing the perception of the package," they add. "The new design achieves what it set out to do and probably improves margins," they conclude.

Label-Retail Category:Marketing and Technical Awards

PROMA Technologies, Inc.
Product - Marketing: Holographic Label for Santa Sweets
Product - Technical: Molson Commemorative Labels

Another sweep, this one by PROMA Technologies, Inc., Franklin, Massachusetts, occurred in the Label-Retail Category where the Marketing Award went to a holographic label used on polystyrene containers for Santa Sweets brand grape tomatoes from Ag-Mart Produce, Plant City, Florida, and the Technical Award was captured by a series of four commemorative labels for Export beer from Molson Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PROMA metallized the HoloPRISM holographic paper for the Santa Sweets label using a substrate supplied by Connemara Converting, Bensenville, Illinois. Other participants in the project included Spinnaker Coating, Troy, Ohio, which served as the converter, and Consolidated Label, Longwood, Florida, which performed contract packaging duties. "This is the first time a holographic label has been used on a produce product," says Ruth Kemp, marketing programs, PROMA. Sales appeal is provided by the eye-catching movement and sparkle of the holographic, flexo-printed label as well as kid-friendly graphics featuring three grape tomato characters. An ultraviolet varnish protects the five-color, pressure-sensitive label. "As a produce company, we would never have dreamt that we would receive emails from people about the product, but by creating a holographic label and characters, we're accomplishing just that," reports Robert Meade, executive vice president at Ag-Mart.

The judges saw this as a bold step beyond what is expected in the produce aisle and note that it brings "metallization into a whole new area." The label also provides immediate recognition for repeat purchasers that Santa Sweets is the brand they bought before and liked. PROMA also supplied HoloPRISM holographic paper for a series of four labels commemorating the centennial of Molson's Export brand. The 50-pound partial wet strength paper is top-coated with a water-based coating and printed by Inland Printing, La Crosse, Wisconsin, based on graphic designs by Pigeon*Branding+Design, Oakville, Ontario. "The customer wanted to show the historical evolution of the product with four distinct designs that echoed label graphics from 1903, 1955, 1962, and 2003," says Kemp. "All designs were adapted to take advantage of the holographic effect provided by HoloPRISM standard pattern #752," she explains, noting, "Initial consumer reception was so positive that the promotion was extended several months." Inland supplied the labels in mixed bundles so there was a high probability that each 12-pack would include all four designs. Application of the holographic labels required no major equipment modifications, and labels also met specs for easy removal during the cleaning process returnable bottles undergo before being refilled. "The holographic pattern ties the four labels together and imparts a contemporary feeling to the historic artwork," comments one judge. The judges also appreciated the challenge of designing an adhesive/material combination that would apply without bubbles and wrinkles yet still remove easily during the cleaning process.

Decorative/Display Category: Marketing Award

PROMA Technologies, Inc.
Product: TV Guide Lord of the Rings Collector's Covers.

PROMA also took home the Marketing Award in the Decorative/Display Category in recognition of the latest in a series of collectible covers for TV Guide Distribution, Inc., Radnor, Pennsylvania. PROMA served as substrate supplier, metallizer, and converter for the Souvenir Collectors Edition covers commemorating the 2003 release of the Lord of the Rings movie. Other project participants include Challenge Printing, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, which performed contract packaging duties, and TV Guide Distribution, which created the graphic design. The metallized holographic paper was produced by embossing lacquer-coated HoloPRISM paper with custom holographic images designed to enhance the mystical qualities of the Lord of the Rings characters. Metallization and application of a printing primer followed. The large rolls of material were then slit, sheeted, and printed to register to align the print with the holographic images. A combination of opaque white ink, print graphics, and the holographic layer helps capture fine details. "The intentional interaction between the holographic layer and the color layers creates unique effects, which are only possible through the patented print-to-register approach," says Kemp.

"This is a really sophisticated selection of image and material to create a dramatic look and entice sales," says one judge. "The fact that TV Guide has used this technique before indicates holographic covers are a significant sales builder," adds another.

Decorative/Display Category: Technical Award

Flex Industries Limited (Film Division)
Product: Stand-Up Zipper Pouches

The Technical Award in the Decorative/Display Category was presented to Flex Industries Limited (Film Division), Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, for a line of metallized, biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate/polyethylene stand-up pouches with slider zippers, which are designed to provide shelf impact and boost sales by providing a reclosable package for multi-use/multi-serving products. Flex Industries serves as substrate supplier, designer, metallizer, and converter. After opening the slider the first time, consumers must break a tamper-evident film diaphragm to access the product. Transparent inks impart color while preserving the holographic effect. Judges were impressed by the combination of value-added features, the anticounterfeiting potential of the holographic material, and the absence of distortion in the gusset area despite sealing through many layers of material. "The metallized stand-up decorative pouches provide an opportunity to bring holographic material into more mainstream usage in this market," comments one judge.

Other Category: Marketing and Technical Awards

FLEXcon Co., Inc.
Product: egrips®

In the Other Category, FLEXcon Co., Inc., Spencer, Massachusetts, won both the Marketing and Technical Awards for its role in egrips®, a non-slip applique from Flexible Innovations Ltd., Fort Worth, Texas, which is designed to prevent cellular phones and other electronic devices from slipping out of hands, pockets or purses, or sliding off the dashboard. The complex structure consists of a gloss-top-coated, clear, 1-mil polyester overlaminate supplied by FLEXcon using a substrate from Dunmore Corp., Newtown, Pennsylvania. Flexible Innovations digitally prints the polyester on demand on an Indigo printer from Hewlett-Packard, San Jose, California, and laminates it to a 2-mil tinted holographic or metallized film. Metallizing is done by Spectratek, Los Angeles, California. The laminate is coated with a permanent/removable adhesive and backed with a 3-mil matte polyester release liner. A clear elastomer overlaminate is then applied to create a decorative, non-slip surface, and the multilayer structure is custom laser cut to the appropriate shape for cell phones, laptops, CD players, and other handheld electronic devices. Marketed and sold solely through Flexible Innovations website, egrips are available in a variety of color tints and holographic patterns. The permanent/removable adhesive ensures appliques stick tightly to the device, yet remove easily when the consumer wants to change colors or patterns.

Judges loved both the technical and marketing innovations inherent in this product. Not only does it represent a new market for metallized material, but it also encourages repeat purchases by allowing consumers to change colors and patterns. Finally, it's an extremely sophisticated structure requiring an adhesive that bonds well in use, yet removes easily to permit consumers to switch to a new look.