The Association of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) bestowed its Metallized Product of the Year Award on Graphic Packaging Intl., Performance Packaging Div. (Marietta, GA), at a gala banquet March 16 during its Winter Management Meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

A. Graphic Packaging (www.graphicpkg.com) serves as converter, metallizer and substrate supplier for a clubstore-sized carton for Nabisco Entertainment Crackers Four Star Collection from Kraft Foods (East Hanover, NJ). The Composipac Z-flute carton consists of reverse gravure-printed, metallized oriented poly-propylene (OPP) film laminated to 24-pt clay-coated solid unbleached sulfate (CCSUS). "Kraft wanted to create a value-added premium pack for a premium product launch in the club channel," recalls Andrew Johnson, senior marketing manager at Graphic Packaging. The carton self-palletizes, eliminating the need for distribution packaging and maximizing the pack's billboard. The Z-flute corrugated board is reinforced with 16-pt CCSUS so pallets can be stacked two high.

B. In the Food Category, the Technical Award went to Wayne, NJ-based Vacumet Corp., Plastics Div. (www.vacumet.com), for a liquid-tight paperboard tub that doubles as a cooking/serving bowl for POPZ Microwave Popcorn from Soller LLC (Bennettsville, SC). The package base consists of 17-pt solid bleached sulfate (SBS) adhesive-laminated to a high-barrier aluminum-oxide-coated polyester equipped with a demetallized Camcrisp susceptor manufactured by Amcor Flexibles-Camvac and distributed exclusively in North and South America by Vacumet. The base is attached to a 20-pt sleeve of one-side CCSBS flexographically printed in five colors plus varnish, using water-based adhesive at the front and heat sealing at the back in a patented process on a custom machine.

C. In the Nonfood Category, Graphic Packaging Intl., Performance Packaging Div. took home the Marketing Award for a holographic carton for new Vivera HP Inks from Hewlett-Packard Co. (Palo Alto, CA). The seal-end carton with hanging fifth panel and internal divider holds an ink cartridge for printing digital photographs. It consists of holographic polyester film metallized at the company's plant in Tuscaloosa, AL, and laminated to recycled board produced by its mill in Kalamazoo, MI. The printing process is sheetfed surface print with an ultraviolet coating. The carton also features a subtly embossed image.

D. The Technical Award in the Nonfood Category went to Vacumet Corp., Paper Div. (Franklin, MA), for its role in metallizing material for a set-up box for the 20th anniversary edition of Pictionary, a game from Hasbro USA (East Longmeadow, MA). Hasbro commissioned a custom hologram with two different patterns, one for the background and one for the body of the pencil. Vacumet's patented HoloPRISM process produced a 70-lb C1S litho sheet suitable for sheetfed-offset printing. The background holographic pattern is based on doodles that typify the quick sketch nature of the game. The holographic images show through both tinted and untinted areas to create a dynamic presence on store shelves, while the textured pattern on the pencil adds realism.

E. Holyoke, MA-based Hazen Paper Co. (www.hazen.com) swept the Cosmetics Category, capturing both the Marketing and Technical Awards. The Marketing Award honors a holographic set-up box for a Provocative Woman gift pack from Elizabeth Arden (New York). As the converter, Hazen laminates 48-gauge rainbow holographic polyester film, metallized by Spectratek Technologies, Inc. (Los Angeles), to the coated side of 20-pt SBS using water-based adhesive. Hazen also coats the film with its Ultracure acrylic lacquer. Hub Folding Box (Mansfield, MA) enhanced the strength and appearance of the box with 48-gauge reflective silver, metallized polyester film on the inside.

F. The Technical Award for Cosmetics also honors Hazen Paper, which converts 48-gauge polyester film metallized by Adherent Technology (Granby, CT), to produce a polyester film/water-based adhesive/20-pt coated SBS for a gift box for Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds from Elizabeth Arden. The metallized polyester film not only enhances the box's dominant metallic red color but also imparts sparkle to the glittering holographic bow embossed by Hub Folding Box. Embossing such a large area is normally quite challenging but was aided by the film/SBS structure.

G. In the Healthcare/Toiletries category, Fairfield, NJ-based Unifoil Corp. (www.unifoil.com) took home the Marketing Award for a holographic carton used by Colgate-Palmolive (New York) for its new Luminous toothpaste. Unifoil laminates, acrylic-topcoats and optically sheets registered holographic 60-gauge metallized polyester film/16-pt clay-coated, light-pack newsboard, which is printed offset with UV ink. The 60-gauge Lumbrite U6E film from Toray Plastics (America) Inc. (North Kingstown, RI) is metallized by ITW Holographic and Speciality Films (Bloomfield, CT). The Colgate Luminous carton is "the largest-volume, registered holographic package in the world," claims Joseph Funicelli, Unifoil chief executive officer and president.

H. Unifoil also took home the Marketing Award in the Decorative/Display category for holographic, 48-gauge polyester film/20-pt SBS cartons for White Cloud Ultra tissues from Scott Paper (Streetsville, Ontario, Canada). Although graphics are markedly different, all three holiday cartons use the same holographic snowflake-patterned board. Unifoil laminates a Snowflake holographic film and applies an acrylic topcoat to the metallized, embossed film from Crown Roll Leaf (Paterson, NJ).

I. A decorative, pressure-sensitive film that makes it possible for do-it-yourselfers to create the look of stainless steel on appliances, cabinets or furniture won the Marketing Award in the Industrial category for Bristol, PA-based Dunmore Corp. (www.dunmore.com). Dunmore metallizes the proprietary film, which is converted by Boekelo Décor (Gräfelfing, Germany). The film's metallic appearance is created by brushing the film before metallization. The resulting effect gives the appearance of stainless steel without the expense.

J. The Technical Award in the Industrial Category went to Vacumet Corp., Plastics Div., for another product for do-it-yourselfers and crafters—an insulating material with potential application in potholders, oven mitts, cushions, pillows, window treatments and other household items. Insul~Bright fabric, converted and sold by Warm Co. (Seattle, WA), consists of hollow, polyester fibers needle-punched through a nonwoven substrate, then through a 23-gauge metallized polyester. The needled material is breathable and won't break down when laundered. The hollow fibers resist conduction while the metallized polyester reflects radiant energy—heat or cold—back to its source.

More info: AIMCAL, 803/802-7820, www.aimcal.org