IMDA Announces 2017 Award Winners
Plastics Decorating
The In-Mold Decorating Association (IMDA) announced the winners of its 11th Annual Awards Competition, which honors the industry’s best in-mold labeled packaging and in-mold decorated durable products, during the 2017 IMDA Symposium, which was held in conjunction with the SPE Decorating and Assembly Division TopCon, June 19-20 in Lincolnshire, Illinois. The 2017 winning entries were chosen by a panel of judges based on creativity in design, engineering and innovation.
Best Injection Molded (IML) Package
Gold Award: Vegetarian Paté
Submitted By: Sonoco
Brand Owner: Allos Schwarzwald GmbH
Molder: Sonoco
Label Supplier: Rahning GmbH
For its line of 100% plant-based, meat alternative spreads, the Tartex brand uses specially designed PermaSafe® IML packaging by Sonoco. This solution combines maximum convenience and long shelf life with an eye-catching appearance at the point of sale. Allos Hof-Manufaktur produces the organic Brotzeit spreads at the company’s site in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany. Sonoco worked in close cooperation with Allos Hof-Manufaktur to develop a customized packaging solution designed to be user-friendly and re-sealable. The label, which is supplied by Rahning GmbH, features a special matte finish developed by Sonoco for a natural, paper-like feel. These qualities underscore the naturalness of the product and give it an appetizing appearance. After sterilization, the spreads have a 12-month shelf life without refrigeration, providing a modern and consumer-friendly alternative to metal cans.
Silver Award: Vibs & Wöw Oxo IML Container SuperLock® Pots
Submitted By: RPC Superfos Pamplona
Brand Owner: Cool Vega
Molder: RPC Superfos Pamplona
Label Supplier: Korsini-SAF
This packaging solution is a combination of an injection and autoclave-resistant, oxygen barrier IML labeled pot and injection molded twist lock system lid decorated with a standard IML label. The system’s most important features are the autoclave-resistant oxygen barrier properties which protect the product’s organoleptic characteristics, the pot´s transparency which shows the natural and fresh product´s quality at the final sales point and the easy opening and closing system for the end user. Convenience food products stay fresh far longer in the RPC’s SuperLock® pot. The combination of Korsini-SAF’s autoclave resistant oxygen barrier IML on all surfaces and a membrane seal with O2 barrier properties ensures an almost non-existent oxygen transmission rate. By using RPC Superfos’ plastic packaging with Korsini-SAF’s In-Mold labelling, the product can be fully branded on all surfaces for an attractive and excellent look. Increased shelf life makes this package competitive with products in glass jars.
Best Injection Molded Durable (IMD) Part
Gold Award: Telescopic Cylinder Cover for Industrial Trucks
Submitted By: Guarnitec SRL
Brand Owner: HYVA
Molder: Guarnitec SRL
Label Supplier: Korsini-SAF Italy
This award winning IMD part is a Dust Cover for Front End Telescopic Cylinders used on industrial trucks. HYVA required a replacement for the older silkscreen low quality print labels with a more attractive resistant cover, made to withstand both extreme weather conditions, with superior UVA and abrasion resistance. Molder Guarnitec SRL answered this challenging request making the cover visually more attractive with Korsini ‘s two-layer high resistant label, adding a strong reflecting silver band behind the logo. The end result is increased visual and functional quality with decreased production time.
Best Label Design
Gold Award: Düfa Zeolit Paint Bucket
Submitted By: Kayalar Kimya
Brand Owner: Düfa
Molder: Etkin Plastik
Label Supplier: Korsini-SAF
This is not your standard paint bucket for mineral paint. Everything about it is unusual, starting with its well balanced industrial-size oval shape with integrated handle that’s easy to hold for larger hands. While graphics are simple, they’re also elegant in shades of gray with spot UV coating that adds to the premium quality complemented by an artistic burst of color.
Silver Award: SNO-BALLS TO-GO
Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels/Berry Plastics
Brand Owner: SNO-BALLS TO-GO
Molder: Berry Plastics
Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
Packaging producer Berry Plastics has many years of experience and expertise in optimizing and developing packaging. Berry suggested IML packaging to brand owner Sno-Balls as an alternative to their previous packaging. The result is an IML package beyond Sno-Balls’ wildest dreams: Their product stays in perfect condition in the freezer and the contrasting IML labels from Verstraete IML attract attention on store shelves. The combination of Matte and UltraGloss IML is the perfect answer. Matte IML gives the packaging a Matte and natural look, while UltraGloss IML provides a high-gloss finish that intensify the colors. The contrasting combination of the two look and feel options highlights the details in the artwork of the IML label.
Best Part Design
Gold Award: Artemis Spectrum Sideplate
Submitted By: ZoMazz
Brand Owner: Logitech
Molder: Unique-Sill Precision PTE
Label Supplier: ZoMazz
The Sideplate is an interchangeable insert for the right and left sides of Logitech’s Artemis Spectrum wireless surround-sound gaming headset. It can be switched out by the consumer, providing literally endless possibilities for customization and branding with maximum flexibility. New graphic designs can be produced by switching out labels without so much as a tool or resin change, and can be on store shelves in just weeks to coincide with game launches. Manufactured to exacting tolerances to fit the curve of the headset, the Spectrum Sideplate featuring ZoMazz Digital-IMD graphics gives the brand owner and the consumer maximum flexibility to customize with a minimum investment of resources.
Silver Award: Eila® Lactose-Free Panna Cotta
Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
Brand Owner: Valio Ltd
Molder: RPC Superfos
Label Supplier: Verstraete I- Mold Labels
The Finnish leading dairy producer Valio Ltd presented a lactose-free panna cotta in a specially developed package that allows the consumer to serve this dessert quickly and attractively. A new customized pot with a convenient click-and-push feature at the bottom was developed by the well-known packaging company RPC Superfos. Valio was looking for premium quality and opted for an IML decoration. The IML labels of Verstraete IML are strong, hygienic and resistant to moisture and extreme temperature fluctuations.
Best Product Family
Gold Award: Pauluns & Lovemade Oxo IML Container SuperLock® Pots
Submitted By: RPC Superfos Besancon
Brand Owner: Orkla Food
Molders: RPC Superfos Besancon
Label Supplier: Korsini-SAF
Delicious baby food and soups packed in plastic packaging solutions with oxygen barrier protection. Thanks to RPC Superfos’ re-closeable SuperLock® solution, ambient shelf life of up to 24 months is possible for a wide range of products including baby food, ready meals, soups, sauces, nuts, jams, vegetable spreads and pickles. The SuperLock® solution in combination with Korsini-SAF’s autoclave-resistant oxygen barrier labels allows for post filling sterilization up to 120° C for 80 minutes, decoration flexibility and prolonged shelf life, all of which gives a great advantage for commercial purposes. You can choose to have decorations made anywhere on all surfaces and also decide to leave some space undecorated for transparency. The end-user gets the visual impression and feel of glass as well as all the great properties of plastic. This means it is possible to get a product placement in retail stores under ambient temperatures alongside competing products sold in glass. And like glass products, the pot can be re-used at home multiple times, which adds value to the product.
Silver Award: Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage Motor Oil
Submitted By: WS Packaging Group
Brand Owner: SOPUS Products
Molder: Graham Packaging
Label Supplier: WS Packaging Group
Product differentiation in the automotive lubricants space is an important tool in validating price point comparisons among multiple product offerings. During a global bottle re-launch the brand owner decided to use a single bottle color for all their individual brands’ product grades in the North American market, which made the decoration a critical component in communicating product line differentiation. WS Packaging’s in-mold labeling provided an aesthetically superior look, and this metallized in-mold label was chosen for the flagship brand’s top-of-the-line product because its visual appeal reflects a premium image for a premium product.
Best Prototype Part
Gold Award: Crystal Coaster
Submitted By: ZoMazz
Brand Owner: ZoMazz
Molder: Unique-Skill Precision PTE
Label Supplier: ZoMazz
The ZoMazz Crystal Coaster began life as a proof-of-concept part to demonstrate our ability to incorporate crystals from Swarovski (through our exclusive partnership with the Austrian crystal manufacturer) into the ZoMazz Digital-IMD process. Utilizing a clear film with crystals attached to the molded side allows for the secure display of crystals, as well as the appearance of different colored crystals based on the imaged color of the clear film. Our proprietary crystal placement/adhesion technology, combined with the ZoMazz Digital-IMD process, results in an eye-popping yet durable decoration for any brand or product.
Best Thermoform IML Package
Gold Award: Pillsbury Peanut Butter/Chocolate Frosting
Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
Brand Owner: J.M. Smucker
Molder: Tech II
Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
As a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry, J.M. Smucker partnered with Tech II and Verstraete IML to launch a new and exciting Pillsbury Peanut Butter/Chocolate Frosting product. Utilizing Tech II’s uniquely shaped Apollo thermoform in-mold labeled (T-IML) container, this package provides visibility of the product, an oxygen barrier layer to increase product shelf life, picturesque graphics and is fully recyclable.
Best Thin Wall Package
Gold Award: Country Fresh Ice Cream Package
Submitted By: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
Brand Owner: Dairy Maid
Molder: Dairypack Tubs
Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
Plastic packaging producer Dairypack Tubs, a Division of Polyoak Packaging, joined forces with Verstraete IML for the development of the new Dairymaid ice cream packaging. And successfully so, because the new Country Fresh IML packaging is the first ice cream packaging in South Africa with an IML label that covers the entire lid. The efficient stacking of the new IML packaging has made transport more stable. Thanks to advanced injection moulded technology the packaging weighs 10% less than conventional packages which reduces the ecological footprint. Thanks to the brand new IML packaging, the delicious Dairymaid Ice Cream receives the attention it deserves on the store shelves.
Best of Show
Vegetarian Paté
Submitted By: Sonoco
Brand Owner: Allos Schwarzwald GmbH
Molder: Sonoco
Label Supplier: Rahning GmbH
The judges were so impressed by this little but mighty submission from Sonoco. This plastic package connotes natural flavor with a graphic design and shape that mimics a wooden barrel. The design is conveyed via barrier in-mold labels that deliver more than premium graphics with strong shelf appeal. They appreciated that the IML also delivered high barrier properties that work in concert with the plastic package to provide a shelf-stable paté product that is good for a full year.
