Metallized Film For Insulated Shipping Case Captures 2018 AIMCAL Technology Of The YearCelplast Metallized Products, Ltd. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), has received the 2018 Assn. of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) Technology of the Year Award for its role in the northbox® insulated shipping case. The substrate provider was honored at an awards ceremony today during the group’s Annual Meeting in Charlotte, NC. Judges also bestowed two Technical Excellence Awards in the annual competition.

Celplast supplies the metallized film for the northbox® shipping container, which is manufactured by Cascades, Inc. (Kingsey Falls, Québec, Canada). The temperature-control box consists of a corrugated regular slotted case (RSC) with two C-shape honeycomb paperboard/metallized-film insulating liners. The first liner covers the bottom, top and one side of the case, while the second liner nests within to cover the other three sides. The reflective property of the metallized film improves temperature control and also acts as a barrier to condensation, thereby preserving the pristine appearance of the paperboard. The insulated shippers can be specified Level 1 or Level 2 temperature control and have been laboratory-tested under the ISTA 7E standard.

Considered more sustainable than traditional foam-based insulating panels or bubble wrap, the honeycomb paperboard and corrugated box contains 100% recycled fiber content and may be recycled curbside because the metallized film easily separates from the honeycomb paperboard during the recycling process. Applications include ready-to-cook/eat meal kits; live products such as lobsters, worms or plants; specialty meats/cheeses; online grocery orders; pharmaceuticals, blood and vaccines.

Judges liked the sustainable aspects of the patent-pending design and its potential impact in the marketplace given the rapidly growing use of e-commerce by consumers. “This design definitely reduces waste versus existing temperature-control shippers,” commented one judge. “It’s a breakthrough replacement for other materials that are less sustainable,” noted another. “It’s a product everyone can relate to,” the panel concluded.

The judging teleconference was moderated by AIMCAL Executive Director Craig Sheppard. Judging panel members were well-known experts in the converting field: Dr. Charles A. Bishop of C.A. Bishop Consulting (Loughborough, UK); Dr. Edward D. Cohen of Edward D. Cohen Consulting, Inc. (Fountain Hills, AZ); and Dr. Eldridge M. Mount of EMMOUNT Technologies, LLC (Canandaigua, NY).

More info: www.celplast.com, www.aimcal.org 

Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product
The judges also awarded two Technical Excellence Awards in this year’s competition.

Presented in the Coated, Laminated or Metallized Product Category, one award went to Flex Films (USA), Inc. (Elizabethtown, KY), a subsidiary of Uflex, Ltd., Packaging Business (Noida, India) for a sparkling, tactile sachet with three-dimensional (3D) embossing for Shudh Plus Ultra mouth freshener. This package was additionally honored with a Product Excellence Award in the AIMCAL Product of the Year competition for Flex Films (www.flexfilm.com) and Uflex (www.uflexltd.com).  

Glitter ink provides visual and tactile impact for the portion pack in a crowded retail environment. A specialized laser-engraved, gravure cylinder with customized cell geometry traps the high-solid content of the glitter ink, which transfers to the substrate with the help of capillary action and the tangential force of the impression roller. The sachet relies on several other technologies. The base design is printed on coated paper using gravure and flexographic technologies. The printed substrate passes through an electron-beam coating line in-register to create the embossed effect on the brand name. Hot-foil stamping transfers the 3D embossed effect of the logo. To deter counterfeits, the embossed effect is stamped in gold on one side and silver on the other, the first time different metals have been applied simultaneously.

The judges were fascinated by what one described as a “small, but mighty” package. Panel members were impressed by the eye-catching power and sparkly texture of the glitter ink and the multiple embossed effects. “There’s a lot going on in this little package,” they concluded.

Materials
The other Technical Excellence Award was presented in the Material Category and went to The Dow Chemical Co., Packaging & Specialty Plastics (Lake Jackson, TX) for its Adcote™ HP laminating adhesive (www.dow.com/en-us/markets-and-solutions/packaging).  

The greener adhesive contains no bisphenol-A (BPA), BPA epoxy or ortho-phthalic acid-based polyester. It is FDA 177.1395-acceptable Condition B through H (all food types) and registers a primary aromatic amines level of less than 2 parts per billion after a two-day cure at room temperature. It adheres strongly to polyester, polyethylene, cast and oriented polypropylene and oriented polyamide film and foil, withstands aggressive foods/chemicals and harsh application conditions.

The judges recognized the essential role adhesive plays in successful laminations. “This material is a step forward,” said one judge. “It will make laminate structures better products,” concluded another panel member.