Consumables-Substrates - Film

Metallized papers and films add pizzazz and value to products. PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED to shiny objects. It's innate. And whether they know it or not, people carry their fascination of luster into the grocery store where they tend to opt for products in sparkling packages. It's that gloss and glimmer catching the consumer's eye that makes metallized papers and films ever increasingly popular materials with brand owners and package printers. "Metallized substrates are proven substrates in helping to gain market share," said Robert Hazen, executive vice president of sales and marketing at Hazen Paper Co. (Holyoke, Mass.). "The emerging trend

No longer limited because of price and availability, holographic substrates are going mainstream. While the idea of holograms and holographic materials have been around for years, most converters—as well as suppliers—have ignored the technology for mass market applications because it was expensive and hard to get. As interest has grown however, suppliers now realize that holography has grown from niche products, seasonal promotions, and security applications to more mainstream packaging. Once reserved only for premium packaging marketers, holographics are enabling marketers of food, consumables, and more common products to boost shelf appeal and sales. Applied Extrusion Technologies (Newark, Del.) has fully committed

The following suppliers offer printing materials, from label stocks, paperboard, and films, to thermal transfer ribbons and hot stamping foils: Acucote Pressure-sensitive labelstocks with environmentally-safe, water-based, permanent, removable, and specialty adhesive formulations. Specialists in thermal transfer media. Visit www.acucote.com API Foils Hot stamping foils and supplies: metallic, pigment, pearl, specialty, and holographic foils. Visit www.api-worldwide.com Avery Dennison, Fasson Roll N.A. Innovative self-adhesive solutions for consumer products and label products. Fasson-brand pressure-sensitive and non-adhesive coated papers, films, and foils in roll form are widely used in brand identity, bar code labeling systems, product identification, and other applications by

For many printers, the question is not whether to incorporate a specialty substrate, but which one? by Kate Tomlinson, Assistant Editor AS THE POPULARITY of packages incorporating metallized film, foil, and holography continues to rise, the "shiny look" is becoming almost commonplace on store shelves. So how are each of these substrates carving out individual uniquenesses? Metallized film has recently figured prominently in new flexible packaging constructions, including StarKist Tuna's recently released alternative to the alumimun can, the Flavor Fresh Pouch™ retort pouch. Foil is finding a new niche as a softer, subtler attention-getter on packages for products such as cosmetics, which may require

Acucote Pressure-sensitive labelstocks with environmentally safe, water-based, permanent, removable, and specialty adhesive formulations. Specialists in thermal transfer media. Visit www.acucote.com API Foils Hot stamping foils and supplies: metallic, pigment, pearl, specialty, and holographic foils. Visit www.api-worldwide.com Contract Converting Film product offerings include Plastiprint, a synthetic paper with the durability of plastic. Roll Express (TM) program offers various non-pressure-sensitive stock options, as well as the whitest, brightest, C1S on the market, and a 62# metallized paper for specialty applications. The program also includes 100#, 125#, 175#, and 200# uncoated tag. Arjobex Polyart (TM)—a unique clay coating on both sides

Suppliers and converters experiment with film combos to yield more-than-functional flexible packaging. by Jessica Millward, Associate Editor Heavy-weight champion Bearing in mind the enhanced structural demands of commercial packaging, Kapak Corp. has developed a specialty line of retort pouch materials designed for institutional packagers. Institutional pouches, typically several pounds in weight, must meet barrier, drop test, retort temperature (up to 250°F), and other packaging requirements. The Kapak retort pouch line therefore utilizes a unique film construction: transparent polyester/silica-coated nylon/cast polypropylene on the outside, and a polyester/aluminum foil/biaxially-oriented nylon/cast polypropylene inner layer. The pouches are manufactured on an eight-color Toshiba gravure

Are advances in film barrier technology to the point that multi-web structures could soon be obsolete? Or is multi-web still preferred to produce today's high-end packaging? By Chris Bauer PRODUCERS OF FLEXIBLE packaging materials are constantly on the lookout for products that help bring down costs while speeding up the process. film suppliers now have the ability to add more sophisticated barrier properties to a single layer of film. So does this mean single layers of film for packaging have the potential to replace common multi-web structures? "We are actually seeing more multiple layer structures being put together at this point," says Rich Eichfeld,

Suppliers respond to pP's readers' challenges and questions regarding polypropylene substrates. By Susan Friedman You asked, and polypropylene film material suppliers responded. After conducting a phone survey to collect pP readers' most-encountered challenges with this popular substrate, related questions were forwarded to suppliers for comment. Read on for their suggestions. Available Grades Q: Converters have expressed difficulty finding polypropylene below 60 gauge. Does 60 gauge meet most application needs, or will thinner gauges need to become more accessible in the coming year? A: Though 50 gauge films are available from a number of suppliers, including Mobil, most BOPP manufacturing and converting processes have better