Peter Rigney Package Of The Year Award

Graphic Packaging International, Performance Packaging Division
Product: Nabisco Entertainment Crackers Four Star Collection

The Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators bestowed its Metallized Product of the Year Award on Graphic Packaging International, Performance Packaging Division, Marietta, Georgia, at a banquet on Thursday, March 16, 2006, during its March Management Meeting (March 15-18, 2006, at Wild Horse Pass Resort and Spa, Phoenix, Arizona). 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.

Graphic Packaging serves as converter, metallizer and substrate supplier for a club store size carton for Nabisco Entertainment Crackers Four Star Collection from Kraft Foods, East Hanover, New Jersey, which holds four different crackers in eight sleeves. First marketed in spring 2005, the Composipac Z-flute club pack carton consists of reverse gravure-printed, metallized oriented polypropylene film laminated to 24-point clay-coated solid unbleached sulfate (CCSUS). "Kraft wanted to create a value-added premium club pack for a premium product launch in the club channel," recalls Andrew Johnson, senior marketing manager at Graphic. The carton, which was designed by Chuck Tarlton, Marietta, Georgia, self palletizes, eliminating the need for distribution packaging and maximizing the billboard display. The Z-flute corrugated board is reinforced with 16-point CCSUS so pallets can be stacked two high throughout the distribution chain. Other structural design features such as jump cuts up the glue seam and glue notch cuts on dust flaps help manage memory and improve machinability. The carton runs on existing filling equipment.

Judges rated the appearance of the package and its execution "outstanding" and observed the metallized film contributes to the richness of the graphics. The panel agreed this package gives the product "a premium position in a competitive environment." Noting that the "product is designed to sell itself," one judge commented, "It took extra effort to make sure it works without secondary packaging." Added another, "The graphics are way above most club packs. Every printer will say, 'I wish we had done that.'"

Food Category: Technical Award

Vacumet Corp., Plastics Division
Product: POPZ Microwave Popcorn

In the Food Category, the Technical Award went to Vacumet Corp., Plastics Division, Wayne, New Jersey, for a liquid-tight paperboard tub that doubles as a cooking/serving bowl and provides six-month shelf life for POPZ Microwave Popcorn from Soller LLC, Bennettsville, South Carolina. The package base consists of 17-point solid bleached sulfate (SBS) adhesive-laminated to a high barrier aluminum-oxide-coated polyester equipped with a demetallized Camcrisp susceptor manufactured by Amcor Flexibles-Camvac, Thetford, U.K., and distributed exclusively in North and South America by Vacumet. The base is attached to a 20-point sleeve of clay-coated-one-side SBS flexographically printed in five colors plus varnish using water-based adhesive at the front and heat sealing at the back in a patented process on a custom-built machine. Popcorn is filled on top of the susceptor and covered with an opaque heat-sealable barrier film, which seals to the circumference of the base and up the sides of the sleeve. As the popcorn pops, the film balloons. The sleeve features a wavy diecut top edge, diecut tab on one side, which is pulled up to serve as a handhold to aid in removing the film after popping. Other vendors involved in the project include converter Inline Packaging LLC, Princeton, Minnesota; substrate supplier Dupont (U.K.) Ltd., Dumfries, U.K.; and package designer Jeffrey T. Watkins, Princeton, Minnesota. The nestable design provides four side walls for graphics yet minimizes shipping costs.

Judges were impressed by the complexity of the package, its ability to contain liquid oil and its two-piece design, which provides a more economical way to produce the susceptor.

Nonfood Category: Marketing Award

Graphic Packaging International, Performance Packaging Division
Product: HP Vivera Inks

In the Nonfood Category, Graphic Packaging International, Performance Packaging Division, Marietta, Georgia, took home the Marketing Award for a holographic carton for new Vivera HP Inks from Hewlett-Packard Co., Palo Alto, California. The seal-end carton with hanging fifth panel and internal divider holds an ink cartridge for printing digital photographs. It consists of holographic polyester film metallized at the company's plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and laminated to recycled board produced by its mill in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The printing process is sheet-fed surface print with an ultraviolet coating. The carton also features a subtly embossed image. The holographic film, ultraviolet coating and embossing deliver a look that stands out on a wall of ink cartridges.

The judges felt the vibrant colors and sharp graphics make this a "standout package for the category" and noted the design and materials reflected the premium reproduction the ink cartridge would provide when printing treasured digital photos. "It really helps the brand achieve a higher level of quality," they agreed.

Nonfood Category: Technical Award

Vacumet Corp., Paper Division Holoprism®
Product: Pictionary 20th Anniversary Edition

The Technical Award in the Nonfood Category went to Vacumet Corp., Paper Division, Franklin, Massachusetts, for its role in metallizing material for a set-up box for the 20th anniversary edition of Pictionary, a game from Hasbro, USA, East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. To celebrate the milestone, Hasbro commissioned a unique, custom hologram with two different patterns, one for the background and one for the body of the pencil. Using a substrate from New Page, Rumford, Massachusetts, Vacumet's patented HoloPRISM process produced a 70-pound, coated-one-side litho sheet suitable for sheet-fed, offset printing at Seneca Printing and Label, Inc., Franklin, Pennsylvania. The background holographic pattern, created by designers at Hasbro, is based on doodles that typify the quick sketch nature of the game. The holographic images show through both tinted and untinted areas to create a dynamic presence on store shelves, while the textured pattern on the pencil makes it stand out. The finished box also meets the strict size requirements set by retailers.

The judges noted that "the scribbles in the background are really effective" and this package takes good advantage of holographic technology. Judges also were impressed by the multilayered nature of the design and the skillful application of ink, which is transparent in some areas and opaque in others.

Cosmetics Category: Marketing Award

Hazen Paper Company
Product: Elizabeth Arden Provocative Woman

Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, Massachusetts, swept the Cosmetics Category, capturing both the Marketing and Technical Awards.

The Marketing Award in the Cosmetics Category honors a holographic set-up box for a Provocative Woman gift pack from Elizabeth Arden, New York, New York. As the converter, Hazen laminates 48-gauge rainbow holographic polyester, metallized by Spectratek Technologies, Inc., Los Angeles, California, to the coated side of 20-point SBS using water-based adhesive. Hazen also coats the film with its Ultracure acrylic lacquer. Hub Folding Box, Mansfield, Massachusetts, served as package designer and contract packager and also enhanced the strength and appearance of the box with 48-gauge reflective silver, metallized polyester film on the inside. The criss-cross effect of the rainbow and overall black print on the exterior provide an eye-catching presentation under the high-intensity lighting found at cosmetics counters in department stores.

Judges liked the subtle effectiveness of the design and were impressed with the execution and the large embossed area, which essentially encompasses the entire top surface of the box. "Nicely printed," said one. "Powerful," commented another.

Cosmetics Category: Technical Award

Hazen Paper Company
Product: Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds

Hazen Paper Company, Holyoke, Massachusetts, swept the Cosmetics Category, capturing both the Marketing and Technical Awards.

The Technical Award in the Cosmetics Category also honors Hazen Paper, which converts 48-gauge polyester metallized by Adherent Technology, Granby, Connecticut, to produce a polyester/water-based adhesive/20-point coated SBS for a gift box for Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds from Elizabeth Arden. The metallized polyester not only enhances the box's dominant metallic red color, but also imparts the sparkle to the glittering holographic bow embossed by Hub Folding Box, which also served as the project designer. Embossing such a large area is normally quite challenging but aided in this case by the polyester/SBS structure, which is coated with Hazen's Ultracure acrylic lacquer.

"This one is complicated," agreed the judges. "Registration is perfect," observed one. "There are no breaks at the score lines," noted another. The judges also liked the brand-building graphics: "The bow sparkles with ‘diamonds,'" they concluded.

Healthcare/Toiletries: Marketing Award

Unifoil Corporation
Product: Colgate-Palmolive Luminous Toothpaste

In the Healthcare/Toiletries category, Unifoil Corporation, Fairfield, New Jersey, took home the Marketing Award for a holographic carton used by Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, New York, for its new Luminous brand of toothpaste. Unifoil laminates, acrylic topcoats and optically sheets the registered holographic 60-gauge metallized polyester/16-point clay-coated light pack newsboard combination, which is printed offset with ultraviolet ink. The 60-gauge Lumbrite U6E film from Toray Plastics (America) Inc., North Kingstown, Rhode Island, is metallized by ITW Holographic and Speciality Films, Bloomfield, Connecticut. The film features two holographic patterns, one Colgate's standard Pillars of Light pattern tilted 11 degrees to match the angle of the L in Colgate, and a secondary diamond pattern registered behind the embossed diamond at one end of the carton. In fact, the Colgate Luminous carton is "the largest volume registered holographic package in the world," reports Joseph Funicelli, Unifoil chief executive officer and president. Cascades Boxboard Group U.S. Inc., Hebron, Kentucky, Cascades Cartons Plats Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and Specialized Packaging Radisson, Inc., London, Ontario, Canada, convert the carton itself, which also includes a scratch-and-sniff label to allow consumers to smell the three flavors. The carton, designed by Colgate-Palmolive, supports the launch of the pearlescent product and its innovative tube, dispenser and cap, matches the graphics and colors on the tube to boost brand awareness, and helps the consumer pick the correct item when repurchasing the product.

Judges viewed the design as a dynamic change of pace from Colgate's traditional packaging, and believed it will really pop on store shelves in a crowded, highly competitive segment. "We like it," the panel agreed.

Decorative/Display: Marketing Award

Unifoil Corporation
Product: Scott Paper White Cloud Ultra Holiday Tissue

Unifoil also took home the Marketing Award in the Decorative/Display category. It recognized holographic 48-gauge polyester/20-point SBS holiday cartons for White Cloud Ultra tissues from Scott Paper Limited, Streetsville, Ontario, Canada. Although graphics are markedly different, all three holiday cartons use the same holographic snowflake patterned board. Unifoil laminates a Snowflake holographic film and applies an acrylic top coat to the metallized, embossed polyester from Crown Roll Leaf, Inc., Paterson, New Jersey. Toray supplies the F65 polyester film. The acrylic top coat ensures the holiday carton blanks will run on existing packaging lines and bond as well as plain board cartons without any adjustments. Ling Industries, Warwick, Quebec, Canada, served in a dual role on the project as printer and graphic designer.

The judges were impressed that the holographic packaging improved margins for a commodity product like tissue. "This encourages impulse purchases," commented one judge. "I really like this. It's so pretty," said another.

Industrial Category: Marketing Award

Dunmore Corporation
Product: Soft Metal by Alkor

A decorative, pressure-sensitive film that makes it possible for do-it-yourselfers to create the look of stainless steel on appliances, cabinets or furniture won the Marketing Award in the Industrial category for Dunmore Corporation, Bristol, Pennsylvania. Dunmore metallizes the proprietary film, which is converted by Boekelo Décor, part of Alkor-Venilia GmbH, Gräfelfing, Germany. Sold under the SoftMetal by Alkor brand name by Alkor-Venilia's Alkor Deco Design, the metallic appearance is created by brushing the polyester before it is metallized. The resulting effect gives the appearance of stainless steel without the expense and upkeep involved with the metal. The metallized, brushed polyester is scratch resistant, durable and compatible with temperatures ranging from -10 C to 50 C.

"This is a new use of metallizing," noted the judges. "It expands the market for metallized materials and encourages consumers to try something new," explained one judge.

Industrial Category: Technical Award

Vacumet Corp., Plastics Division
Product: Insul~Bright

The Technical Award in the Industrial Category goes to Vacumet Corp., Plastics Division for another product for do-it-yourselfers and crafters, an insulating material with potential application in potholders, oven mitts, cushions, pillows, window treatments and other household items. Insul~Bright fabric converted and sold by Warm Company, Seattle, Washington, consists of hollow, polyester fibers needle punched through a nonwoven substrate through a 23-gauge metallized polyester. The needled material is breathable and won't break down when laundered. The hollow fibers resist conduction while the metallized polyester reflects radiant energy -- heat or cold -- back to its source. Vacumet metallizes material supplied by Terphane, Bloomfield, New York.

Judges were inspired by the combination of technologies and the fact that this product also moves metallized polyester into new markets. "The beauty is on the inside," one noted.