On Display: Cartons - Covering Cartons
Gravure Printing
Gravure printing can impart luxurious graphics to cartons. The company's sheet-fed 40-in. gravure press can print rich metallic and deep, solid colors. The press's standard 40-in. width makes it compatible with offset presses, so companies need only add cylinders where they are needed. The press's sheet size is also compatible with hot-stamping and embossing equipment. According to the supplier, three-color gravure printing is comparable in cost to five-color offset printing. Wilco Inc., Candiac, QC, Canada.
Stiff as a Board
A stiff laminate was designed to be durable while maintaining good printing properties. Invercote Duo is an ultrastiff board that comprises two paperboard sheets whose reverse sides have been glued together. It also features coating on the printing and reverse sides. A special grade of the board enhanced the luxury carton for Gucci's Eau de Parfum II. For the Gucci carton, the laminate was formed by gluing the smooth sides of the paper together, leaving the rougher reverse sides exposed. Iggesund Paperboard, Iggesund, Sweden.
Paperboard Canisters
Customized round and oval paperboard canisters feature an angled design to provide a unique look. The canisters can lend a soft, elegant appearance to luxury products. High-quality printed paperboard tubes can be designed and cut at various angles to create distinctive packaging. Custom styles are offered. Robinson Paperboard Packaging, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Stochastic Screening
A supplier uses frequency-modulated (FM) screening to print high-quality graphics from an offset printing process for Coty's Wild Musk cologne spray carton. According to the supplier, FM screening is unique in that it varies the number of dots used, as opposed to amplitude-modulated screening, which varies the size of the dots. The 20-micron FM dot eliminates issues such as dot gain and screen angles, resulting in smoother vignettes and softer color-to-color transitions not possible with traditional four-color process printing. Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY.
Magnetic Appeal
The Escada Magnetism men's aftershave achieved a high-end presentation thanks to a glamorous carton. The carton's deep purple background was printed with a prism effect obtained using diffraction film. The Escada name and logo were embossed on the carton's top flap. The Magnetism logo was printed in fluorescent orange. The supplier produced cartons for seven SKUs. Alliora USA, New York City.
Glowing Effect
Jacques Dessange's Gamme Expertise product glows with an iridescent carton. Designed by Cosfibel Creative Packaging, the carton is made from PVC 35/100 decorated with iridescent blue Flashilux film supplied by Engelhard Corp. Graphics were silk-screened in two colors. The effect is a package that is sure to catch a customer's eye. Roskoplast, Billére, France.
Setup Box Solution
To achieve higher-quality graphics for setup boxes, a supplier has designed a solution it calls the Evolution Box. The patent-pending design is a two-piece tray-and-lid structure that substitutes the lightweight paper wrap typical of setup boxes for a printed, finished solid-bleached-sulfate (SBS) paperboard blank. The blank is joined to a scored chipboard stiffener using the supplier's proprietary technology. The resulting tray is glued on all four sides to create a durable carton structure. The benefit of the SBS blank is a smoother, more substantial printing surface that accommodates demanding finishing techniques. In addition, the substantial blank accommodates significantly deeper embossing. AGI/Klearfold, a MeadWestvaco Resource, New York City.
Clear Cartons
A company specializes in producing eye-catching, transparent cosmetic cartons. Material options include PVC, PET, and polypropylene. Carton styles range from folding cartons to blister packaging and die-cut plastic sheets. Decoration can be added using offset printing, silk-screening, hot stamping, and frosted finishes. Custom packaging can also be provided, with styles and dimensions created according to a brand's specifications. HLP Clear Packaging Products Inc., Torrance, CA.