Brand Management - Design

Beverage labeling is hot, or maybe cold, but either way it represents one of the real dynamic segments in package printing. If a labeling method or configuration exists, you’ll find it on a beverage container somewhere. Whether it’s pressure-sensitive, shrink-wrap, cut-and-stack, wraparound, glue-applied, thermal, or even the package itself in the form of a pouch, you’ll find it being used to help sell a liquid refreshment of some type. What makes beverage labeling so robust? Nick Van Alstine, president of Macaran Printed Products says the reason is simple. “Beverages are really high-profile. They’re a part of our everyday life, and visible pretty much

CINCINNATI, Ohio—Ampac Flexibles, a unit of Ampac Packaging, LLC, is launching PureFlex, a new clear stand-up pouch structure for water and other taste- and odor-sensitive beverages. The technological breakthrough brings a new packaging alternative to the growing beverage sector. Traditionally, water has been one of the most challenging beverages to package because of its odorless and tasteless qualities. With the trend toward market-differentiating packaging, developing structures that do not add undesirable odor and taste characteristics to organoleptically-sensitive beverages has become critical. The latest offering from Ampac Flexibles is a seven- to nine-layer proprietary coextrusion featuring an organoleptic sealant layer, nylon, and an optional ethylene vinyl alcohol

CINCINNATI, Ohio—The launch of Ajinomoto USA’s Amino Vital Jel marks the first time a reclosable pouch is being used to market a nutritional, energy, and recovery enhancing gel product in the United States. Ampac Flexibles, a unit of Ampac Packaging, LLC, designed a custom 140-ml (4.73 fl. oz.) QuadPAK side-gusset, stand-up pouch that features a resealable closure. The pouch’s structural advantages give athletes and other users more consumption flexibility than previously available in this product category. “The packaging had to reflect the uniqueness of our Jel and had to appeal to all healthy and active people, not just endurance athletes. We also wanted a

Every day, people walk the aisles of stores. No matter what they are looking for, somewhere during their shopping trips metallic glimmers are likely to catch their attention. Thousands of products sit on store shelves, but the ones that are likely to stand out the most in the competitive world of packaging are those adorned with foil. To achieve such an alluring look, package printers must make effective use of the hot foil stamping process. What glimmers is gold Brand owners know that adding hot foil stamping to packaging will elicit a second glance from consumers. “The primary reason to use expensive, shiny materials

Specialty inks come in many forms and can provide added value in many different ways for consumer products companies. A partial list of inks falling into this category includes phosphorescent, fluorescent, thermochromic, optical variable, magnetic, and metallic. Theses inks can be used to simply improve graphic appeal or add an additional sensory experience, provide brand security, or protect the product and/or end users. Bob Lorenz, vice president of business development for Sun Chemical Corporation, is seeing more and more interest from product/packaging designers for what specialty inks can add to the product. He especially sees opportunities for enhanced brand protection in the tobacco, cosmetics, and

EVEN THE MOST seasoned marketing guru has most likely been stopped in his or her tracks by the sight of some of the incredible lenticular print jobs out there on the shelves. "Oohs!" and "Aahs!" can be heard in an aisle that holds a product packaged in this eye-catching manner. But there's a lot a printer needs to know about lenticular products to achieve the right look within the right budget—and keeping the design simple is the best place to start. Keep it simple Let's start from the very beginning. Lenticular images are digital files that are printed onto a plastic material made up

Paperboard has been an effective packaging option for many years and continues to provide eye-catching, functional appeal on the store shelf. IT CAN BE folded into many forms. It can stand-up, be flat, or it can be folded into a six-point star figure. It can enhance your customers' marketing plans, as it has potential to make merchandise just fly off the shelves with new and innovative customizations. No, it's not some magical potion from the new Harry Potter book, it's paperboard. Paperboard options Only a converter, in concert with its customers, can make such a cost/benefit decision on new substrates. However, paperboard can offer

Today's packaging needs to sell itself, and metallic inks and metallized paper and films are making that job a little bit easier. IT'S BEEN SAID, "All that glitters is not gold." However, a glittering package can defy that age-old adage. With the help of metallic inks and metallized substrates, a package can pop off the shelf, attracting consumers and leading to sales. In the end, that's money in the brand owner's pocket and repeat business for a package printer. But how important is it really, to add glitz and glamour to a package of razors or a bottle of iced tea? Very, according to

A wave of innovate pouch packaging is sweeping over North America, but will the U.S. flexible packaging industry catch it? VISIT YOUR LOCAL supermarket and you can see a major packaging shift taking place—the use of flexible packaging is prevalent down every store aisle. Cartons and canisters are being replaced or partnered with stand-up pouch packaging that use reclosable zipper features. Retort pouches are being introduced to create a value-added line extension to mature products traditionally marketed in other packaging formats. Things are changing and flexible packaging appears to have the "right stuff" at the "right time." Form and function Just a few short

Color, glitz, and sparkle will be all around you in your stroll down the store aisle. By Tom Polischuk Editor-in-chief LOOK AROUND THE store shelves next time you drop by your local supermarket. Chances are, what catches your eye will be any number of products whose packaging literally sparkles on the shelves, or gives you a 3D view of the product's image, or changes its image as you look from different angles. Much of what you'll see comes from the use of holographic substrates. These materials can provide colorful, sparkling images with 3D and motion effects. Not quite as prevalent at this time,