Column: Up-to-date Topic – Packaging in Cosmetics
page 8
Aluminium tube as packaging is a quite unusual choice of cosmetics producers. Nevertheless, the packaging of natural cosmetic product should evidently correspond with the content. By using special colours and enamels, aluminium tube can acquire luxury or special look. Shining metal look and enamels with the addition of coarse metal particles are used predominantly in the field of men’s cosmetics. Glittery, pearly and soft to the touch, and velvet enamels then for ladies products. By means of right choice of case rigidity, appropriate colour printing and using simple shelf beds it is possible to achieve attractive, resistant and stable packaging which is place-saving and easily squeezable, the content of which can be dosed appropriately and – unlike plastic packaging – almost 100% emptied.
Column: Trade Fairs
Already 40 years of the EmbaxPrint Trade Fair
page 10
EmbaxPrint 2009 – 25th International Trade Fair of Packaging, Printing and Marketing Communication will be held in the Exhibition Centre in Brno between May 19 and 22, 2009 (the first EmbaxPrint took place 40 years ago, in 1969). Digital technologies and other key trends in the field of printing, packaging and advertising will be displayed there. Within the framework of this year’s accompanying programme the conference Food & Packaging will take place in Brno Congress Centre, May 19 – 20, 2009. The conference shall focus on the latest issues in the food industry, as well as on the packaging industry in relation to food production. The two-day conference is aimed at the representatives of companies carrying business in food and packaging industries. Our Publishing House is its co-organiser.
Column: Main Theme – Packaging in Pharmacy
page 12
Automated packaging lines for drug production in large volumes must comply with the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements. Currently in most cases are used integrated lines coping within one pass with the production of blisters as well as their packaging with package leaflet into boxes. Box printing is often designed inline as well. Embossing (in particular the application of Braille for the blind) can be introduced in connection with either printing or folding and adhesion of cartons. Technology innovations do not appear just as concerns machines, but also regarding suitable materials and packaging solutions. For example, as closure systems are concerned – the Multi-Grip Cap system used by the Superfos Pharma company (part of the Gerresheimer Group) for the production of packaging for drugs intended for the European market already has become an Evergreen. Other innovations in this area are expected to be presented also at this year’s Prague FOR3P and Brno EmbaxPrint Trade Fairs.
Application – the Most Frequently by Means of Embossing
page 14
Use of Braille during labelling pharmaceutical packages of new drugs is mandatory in EU member states. Currently it is possible to record this type through embossing, heat copying and screen printing. Each of these methods has its specific advantages. But the most frequent application of Braille continues to be embossing, whereas the paper sheet is relief-shaped by the action of pressure of the tools. Embossing quality is influenced by its execution, accuracy of embossing tool adjustment, properties of embossed material and pressure functions of embossing press. In addition to the classic embossing carried out before punching there are other new methods. Unique equipment which checks the accuracy of Braille embossing on packages is the Braille tester.
Marbach´s Progressive Solution
page 18
First information on prepared directive, introducing compulsory labelling with Braille on pharmaceutical packages, began penetrate in public at the end of the nineties. Approximately at this time the Marbach® company’s development site in Heilbronn, Germany, started its engagement in this issue more vigorously. Braille on labelling for certain types of printed matters as well as packaging had been already used, but it was realised only by printing or classic embossing. By the way, some producers continue to use this method until today. New tools, developed and later also produced by the company, are characterised not only by a high quality of various materials, but also by progressive patented production method. New types of tools occurred in the market from 2004. But the range of these tools has been substantially extended not sooner than in 2006, when the directive on drug packaging labelling entered into force.
Labelling Directly on the Product
page 22
Bottling Printing, s. r. o. delivers in the market progressive technologies for industrial labelling and coding. „We always solve problems at the customer and we strive after finding the most suitable solution for his/her demand, and this also from long-term point of view. This applies particularly in current period of the financial crisis, when the companies cut costs and reduce investments,“ says Hana Jaskmanická, marketing manager of the company. Ink jet printers LINX are ranked among the most modern and progressive. They are suitable for any segment, food, health, cosmetics or pharmaceutical industry, in particular. Other possible solution is laser technology.
Column: Packaging and…
PMA is Tip for Complex Solution
page 25
The abbreviation PMA (print management agency) used in Western Europe countries by the agencies specialised in technical consultations for pre-printing and printing management and data preparation for printing, especially in the area of packaging design. In the Czech market it is related to the new type of full service, for which would be probably more pregnant the indication “artwork & print management”, used in the field of marketing and press. What benefits provides this new service for the customer and for which type of orders is particularly intended, explained in the interview for the periodical “Svět balení” marketing manager of the company SILK, s. r. o., Michal Dobiáš.
Ever More Perfect Beverage Can
page 28
With respect to the increasing demands of contemporary customer, an advance in beverage can design has occurred, particularly recently. The changes can be traced up in the printing as well as in shape of the packaging. In addition to oval shapes it is pushed an imitation of glass bottle shape from metal plate. For emphasising the cans is used in majority cases multicolour printing (often five- or six-colour, even multicolour). In addition to screen printing and offset the digital printing found its application. For a change, paints and printings changing their colours are introduced. New printing technologies use fluorescent colours. Popular is also embossing. Just using embossing, there can be achieved three-dimensional effects on the coat of can that makes it more attractive for the customers.
page 32
PET bottles started massively their triumphal journey in the last quarter of the preceding century and since then, their quantity and possibilities of their use has been permanently growing. Of course, the development of such a marketing successful packaging has been also speeded up. It is focused directly on several areas. It is related to the development of injected pre-forms, bottle blowing, filling and last but not least also to the design and product recycling. There is no need to stress that the production quality is subject to the performance and
economic operation of new lines. The performance is limited by product processing.
Green Credit of Metal Packaging
page 35
Growth of the bio-foods’ popularity in short time gave rise to substantial increase of the new product development. But what is often disregarded is the issue of packaging, in which bio-foods are packed and in which they are delivered to the retailers. Nutrition, environment protection and saleability are the factors which directly influence the choice of material and packaging design. Packed bio-foods are more attractive for more consumers than it is in fresh bio-foods. And they are particularly metal packaging which, compared to other formats, offer guarantees, such as full product protection, convenience for the customer as well as established environment protection standards.
page 37
The fact, that the packaging makes sales, is valid more and more. Each of us is unwittingly influenced and when choosing among quite the same products we will make a choice of that one which we like more for the first sight already, i.e. that one which has more attractive and interesting packaging. Each producer, if he wants to sell his product, must sooner or later start to solve a problem in which material he will pack it. And at this moment, a duel between the idea of how the packaging should look and its price usually occurs. The more luxury the packaging is, the higher is mostly its price.
page 38
The packaging has not only a large effect on consumer’s decision about product purchase at selling point, but its role after the purchase is also very important. Unlike the advertisement impact, which can be relatively short, the packaging contributes to the brand value all the time the product is being used. Whereas the role of packaging is often a part of the consumer’s experience acquired during the product use and consumption, it has a power to create – as well as to destroy – the consumer’s relations with the brand. A significant consumer group are seniors, requirements of which should not be left out of consideration during packaging creation, but unfortunately, in many cases, they are. Elderly people usually have difficulties with opening some packaging or reading the labels. It should be noted that elderly people create, particularly in Western Europe, more and more important target group, which is expected to grow significantly in the Czech Republic as well.
Column: Suppliers
Corrugated Cardboard in Original Version
page 40
Plastic materials predominated unambiguously in the international packaging and technology exhibition Interpack 2008. Nevertheless, the producers of cardboard packaging also had a lot to offer. Even if they were in distinct minority compared to plastic material producers, they were able to second them very efficiently in the originality of presented novelties. Among cardboard packaging, selling-promotional stands stood out.
Column: Technologies
Packaging Foils from Biodegradable Plastic Materials
page 42
From the point of view of biodegradability four basic groups of plastics can be distinguished: non-biodegradable from petrochemical raw materials, biodegradable from petrochemical raw materials, non-biodegradable from renewable raw materials and biodegradable from renewable raw materials. However, the term “biodegradable plastics” is often only used for the last of the aforementioned cathegories. The demand for bioplastics increases by 20–30% annually. However, compared to the classic plastic materials, the recycling of bioplastics is more problematic, sometimes even impossible. Moreover, as is the case with biofuel production, there is a problem of energy demandingness of the bioplastics production, as this energy is still produced using fossil resources mainly.
Innovations in Flexographic Printing
page 45
Current flexographic printing represents number one in packaging printing. This fact is well known among developers, as well as machine, equipment and forme producers. Most recently it has been demonstrated at DRUPA International Trade Fair held in Düsseldorf last spring. This being mainly a polygraphic trade fair, offset was a natural dominant here but the exhibitors from the area of flexographic printing were not to be overlooked either, speaking convincingly about the need to implement new developmental trends into practice and demonstrating clearly that even from the quality point of view, flexographic printing is a match for traditional offset print.
Column: Congresses, Conferences
2 nd Czech and Slovak Packaging Congress
page 48
The second annual packaging congress organised by the SYBA Packaging Institute took place in the congress space of Artemis hotel in Karlín, Prague. The topics discussed corresponded with the specialisation of more than 80 participants, mainly from the branch of packaging and packaging material producers, whose products are intended predominantly for food and industry (especially export) packaging. In addition to main partners (EKO-KOM, a. s., ABF, a. s., OTK Group, a. s., THIMM obaly, k. s., SCA Packaging Česká republika, s. r. o.), the event had also media partners, the periodical “Svět balení” being one of them. Further details to be found in our report from the congress.