It comes by way of Unifoil Corp. (www.unifoil.com), specialists in
laminating, coating, and metallizing.
Unifoil took the original cover design by Packaging World art director
Dave Bacho and produced a custom holographic “origination” of it.
Unifoil then used this holographic origination—essentially a master
image used to make a microscopically embossed surface that diffracts
light at different angles—to manufacture a holographic UniLustre™,
which is a monolayer paper that delivers the intrigue and beauty of
holography in a manner considerably more sustainable than traditionally
possible. The proprietary UniLustre transfer-metallizing process
applies an extremely thin, 0.0003-in. layer of metal directly to the
substrate, which in this case is an 80-lb paper stock. This eliminates
the need to create the holographic effect on a separate film
substrate—typically a polyester—and then laminate that substrate to
paper.
Because it obviates the need for a multilayer structure, says Unifoil,
this process results in a material that is easier to recycle. In
addition, the transfer-metallizing process uses no solvents or water
and requires no drying, thereby saving the energy consumed by thermal
or infrared dryers. Finally, UniLustre paper and paperboard can be
recycled in traditional waste streams, is repulpable and compostable,
and is capable of containing recycled content.
The judges in the 2009 AIMCAL (Association of Industrial Metallizers,
Coaters and Laminators) awards competition were so impressed with this
technology that they named Unifoil one of two winners in AIMCAL’s first
Sustainability Award Competition. Part of a larger AIMCAL awards
program, the Sustainability Award Competition honors equipment,
materials, or processes that reduce environmental impact, minimize
energy usage or waste, and/or increase recycling. The judges viewed the
replacement of multilayer structures with direct-metallized monolayer
materials as a significant win for the environment due to the
combination of source reduction and improved recyclability.
Transfer-metallizing to produce UniLuster paper—or UltraLustre
film—also is a low-energy process. As one AIMCAL judge put it, “There’s
no heat involved, so that saves energy.”
When you’re done being dazzled by our cover (nice work, Mr. Bacho), be
sure to check out the story that spawned it, the 2008 Salary Survey. An
extraordinary number of people (1,637 to be precise) responded to this
Jan. 13-Feb. 13 online Survey, which was conducted jointly by The
Institute of Packaging Professionals and Packaging World magazine.
Developed in cooperation with Gros Executive Recruiters, and with
market research by Kane Consulting, the story on page 44 examines
packaging incomes by multiple factors. It also gauges job satisfaction
during the unprecedented economic times we live in today.
As Jim Butschli points out in his story about the survey, it’s nice to
see that packaging remains a place where the average total compensation
in 2008 was $101,879. But verbatim comments from respondents who
answered an open-ended question about the overall condition of their
employment in the packaging sector are troubling. It seems that
packaging professionals are still not recognized as vital contributors
to cost savings, speed-to-market goals, project implementation, and
bottom-line profitability. The sooner this recognition comes about, the
better.
