Granwell Products, Inc.

Synthetic papers are tough, but that’s just one of two key attributes that make them distinctive. The other is their ability to support high-quality printing. All applications in which synthetics are used take advantage of these qualities in one form or another. Potential uses for synthetic papers include virtually any application that requires long-term durability, says Mike Mead, marketing manager for Wausau Coated Products. “Synthetic papers are chemical-resistant, ­water-resistant, tear-resistant, and generally more durable than paper.” In addition, synthetic ­papers provide an ease of printability, he says. Paul Mitcham, director of marketing and sales support for Yupo Corporation America, concurs with

In-mold labeling (IML) is a product decoration method that has grown in popularity over the past 10 to 20 years. Why? Because it can provide lots of apple-pie type of stuff—improved quality and shelf appeal, reduced waste, reduced cost, and better durability. Who can argue with that? The IML process gets its name from how the label is applied to the plastic packaging container. The label is placed “in the mold” as the container itself is being formed. Plastic containers are produced using several different forming methods, including thermoforming, injection molding, and blow molding. To a large degree, the forming method used is