In the News

Shiny Tin Is Attractive Option for Monopoly 70th Anniversary

Hasbro Games chose a shaped tin package by Independent Can Co. for a collectible edition of Parker Brothers' Monopoly board game for its 70th anniversary. The deeply embossed three-dimensional lid uses the natural reflectivity of the metal for a premium effect, and there are embossed elements on all four sides of the base container as well.

The Monopoly tin won a bronze award at the Cans of the Year competition held this year near Barcelona, Spain. "We are very proud of this package," says Neil DeFrancisco, director of sales for Independent Can.

DeFrancisco notes that the package had to meet Hasbro's rigorous drop test requirements. Hasbro and Independent Can together developed special tooling to create the correct size and shape with a bead and curl that make it sufficiently sturdy and dent-resistant. This tooling also resulted in an excellent lid-to-body fit.

Etam Concludes French Lingerie Promo In Metal

Etam, a French lingerie leader, recently concluded a successful, high profile lingerie and denim promotion with custom metal tins from Crown Specialty Packaging. Customers at Etam retail establishments in France, Spain, and Italy received their lingerie in elegant rectangular tins featuring images of prominent models. Denim jeans were sold in attractive cylindrical tins.

The limited-edition canisters reinforce Etam's premium brand image both at point of purchase and at home, where the long-lasting collectors' containers can be used to store personal care items. "Using innovative, metal tins from Crown allowed us to build on Etam's image as a modern, forward thinking brand that is full of surprises," says Marjorie Courtet, director of promotional marketing and special events at Etam. "Consumers were so attracted to the creative, limited-edition tins that the entire stock was sold out in just 15 days."

The canisters' images were reproduced in a large scale media campaign conducted in conjunction with the promotion. A distinctive 190 mm x 125 mm x 70 mm rectangular tin was created for each of the country-specific lingerie lines carried in France, Spain, and Italy. The 153 mm x 230 mm cylindrical tins for denim products were designed with special removable bottom ends to facilitate the packaging process.

New Decorative Tin Offers Holographic Flair

US Can recently introduced a brand new decorative "Holographic" tin for versatile packaging applications. The three-dimensional plaid design produces a spectacular array of colors from any angle. Every color of the rainbow is visible on this playful tin with matching cover and body, with total measurements of 6 5/8" x 113/16".

The US Can product catalog includes many lines of decorative tins, custom-designed tins, and Seamless, Hermetic, International, and Ellisco lines. The elegant "Burgundy Scroll" design by Lisa Poole released last year features a burgundy on gold contrast sure to attract attention. The Burgundy Scroll line is available in four sizes: 1-lb., 2-lb., 3-lb., and a tall tin perfect for wine bottles (3 1/2" x 12 1/2").

YUPO'S 2005 Wally Awards Recognize Durable Collateral

YUPO Corporation America's third annual Wally Awards recognized three entries that showcased creativity, originality, and functionality in leveraging the unique attributes of YUPO® synthetic paper. The judges also nominated twelve additional entries for a fourth Wally Award in the Designer's Choice category. Online voters at www.wallyawards.com will choose one winner in this category.

"We were extremely pleased by the number of entries and quality of this year's projects," says Paul Mitcham, national marketing manager for Yupo Corporation. "Designers continue to awe and inspire us. Each year I am amazed by the way they leverage YUPO's unique durability and color reproduction to create fascinating, eye-catching applications."

The Wally Award winners came from numerous entries ranging from brochures, labels, media kits, advertising inserts, menus, posters, and maps to watercolor and acrylic paintings. The three winners were Backpacker Magazine's Waypoint Maps, the Tisha Industries Media Kit, and Outside Magazine's 2006 Media Kit. The Backpacker Magazine's Waypoint Maps were a special insert to the magazine, and featured six perforated wallet-sized maps of the best hiking trails around the country. The durable and finely printed maps are designed to fit into a lariat to wear around the neck on difficult hikes.

The Tisha Industries Media Kit is a trapezoid-shaped, wax-sealed envelope with a butterfly theme. A New York-based graphic and interactive design, branding, and printing house, Tischa's media kit showcases the full capabilities of the company's expertise with methods including die cutting, perforations, and UV printing on YUPO 100-lb. cover stock and YUPO 62-lb. translucent stock. The third Wally Award went to Peter Hose of Unique Printers of Cicero, IL, for Outside Magazine's 2006 Media Kit. The wire-bound media kit features stunning outdoor photography and athletic models playing extreme sports, which dazzled the judges with the realistic skin tones and clarity.

Packaging Summit Conference Releases 'Power of Packaging'

The inaugural Packaging Summit Conference is a cutting-edge educational event aimed specifically to those involved in the containers, materials, and contract packaging and services sectors of the packaging business. This multi-layered event will run May 16-18, 2006, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, IL.

The Packaging Summit Conference program was developed in cooperation with the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) and will include several educational tracks across the three-day event. The Packaging Summit Conference is a major packaging conference with two trade show elements attached—the Packaging Containers & Material Expo and the Packaging Services Expo.

The Packaging Summit Conference will include more than 30 top-level speakers to deliver actionable ideas for professionals to achieve their packaging goals. Scheduled speakers include: Carl Olsmats, Ph.D., general secretary, World Packaging Organization; Philippe Roulet, head of global packaging, Nestech; George Kress, vice president innovation, Estée Lauder; Terri Goldstein, president, The Goldstein Group.

The Packaging Services Expo will expand upon 2005's mission of "services-only" exposition philosophy. PSE 2006 will target key decision-makers looking to partner with contract packagers and manufacturers; packaging consultants; research firms; package designers and marketing agencies; package testing labs; logistics, warehouse & distribution companies; package prototype developers; and quality assurance/compliance specialists.

The Packaging Containers & Materials Expo is a containers and materials exposition featuring companies involved exclusively in these packaging segments and will focus on package developments instead of machinery. Another aspect of the show is the Sustainable Packaging track, which will address and analyze this growing packaging trend. The track opens with a hard-hitting, insightful roundtable presented by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition called "Strategies in Sustainable Packaging."

Registration and more information about the Packaging Summit Conference, including program agenda and speaker listing, can be found at www.pkgsummit.com, or by calling 262-782-1900.

Trinity Springs Chooses Amcor's PowerFlex(tm) Hot-Fill PET Bottle

Trinity Springs introduces the first "certified organic" flavored water in 16-oz., PowerFlex(tm) PET bottles from Amcor PET Packaging. PowerFlex is Amcor's revolutionary patented panel-less design which greatly expands hot-fill (182°-192° F) bottle options. Amcor's structural design and proprietary base not only eliminate the panels, but the bottle also features a large, completely smooth label panel free of any ribbing.

"The pure, natural taste and properties of Trinity Springs water means that we can add organic essences and nothing else—no sugar, no artificial flavors—and have a fantastic, delicious, healthy beverage," says Andy Mitchell, president, Trinity Springs. Because Trinity prides itself on the purity of its product, it was critical to select a bottle for this first-ever launch that would support that image.

Amcor was launching PowerFlex during the time Trinity Springs was researching bottle alternatives. Trinity quickly settled on one of Amcor's two stock 16-oz. PowerFlex bottles—a long neck with a 38 mm finish. In addition to the two stock PowerFlex bottles, the panel-less, ribless technology enables premium profiles and is adaptable to many shapes.

"Bottles with panels create constraints that dramatically limit design options and therefore a brand owner's ability to use the container to creatively market the product," explains David Andison, vice president, business strategies, Amcor PET Packaging. Amcor's technical staff has created a patent pending bottle that absorbs vacuum via a specially designed base. The base has a unique diaphragm and geometric characteristics that enable the diaphragm to deflect upward as the vacuum is created.

Tetra Pak Introduces First Clear Aseptic, High-Barrier Package

The Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear is the world's first high barrier, totally clear aseptic package. In May, Mexican beverage company Jumex rolled out Nautix in a 6.75 oz. pouch, the first commercial brand to use the package.

Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear provides 100% transparency to see the product, a patented barrier technology to protect the product, and aseptic processing which seals in taste and nutrition. "The initial response in Mexico to this new product, distributed initially through Wal-Mart, has been great," says Jeff Kellar, vice president of strategic business development at Tetra Pak. "And the initial response from consumers surveyed in the U.S. has been equally promising."

The Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear allows for both high- and low-acid applications, making pouch-style, shelf-stable packaging a new possibility for the dairy and soy industries. Aseptic processing opens up new formulation potential not currently possible through hot-fill processing. Ergonomically, the Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear was designed with smooth sides and no sharp edges like current commercial stand-up pouches and its slim design allows small hands to easily handle the product.

At retail, the aseptic technology allows for distribution advantages and a long shelf life without the need for refrigeration, all the while retaining the nutritional value and flavor profile of the product. To facilitate easy straw insertion, the package is designed with a special straw hole pocket that guides the straw to the best position to puncture the straw-hole patch. The extra strength of the package material prevents the straw from puncturing the opposing side of the package, a common problem with existing pouches.

Environmentally, Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear is a best in class source-reduced package versus other pouches, bottles, and cans. "The demand for healthy beverages is increasing and Tetra Wedge Aseptic Clear can help fulfill that demand in an innovative new package," said Vanessa Solmaz, business development manager at Tetra Pak.