The selection of the film and the pouch decoration were done by ProAmpac, which used HD (high-definition) flexo printing along with a matte overlacquer “to achieve a three-dimensional appearance while keeping the organic, natural look and feel associated with organic foods,” reads the company’s FPA entry form.
The product was a new variety from Sunrise Growers, which approached ProAmpac once the fruit blend had been completed and the design elements finalized. According to Mark Koppang, ProAmpac National Accounts Manager, for the new blend, the frozen fruit provider wanted the natural look provided by ProAmpac’s paper-match film and overlacquer. “The film was originally presented to Sunrise Growers by us as an alternative to the standard gloss-finish films we had supplied them,” he says. The construction of the film selected, he adds, is a proprietary 2.75-mil white three-layer polyethylene coextrusion that provides a sturdy base for printing, resulting in strong shelf impact.
Among the challenges of printing the film, the material was difficult to control on press. Koppang attributes this to the fact that PE has less dimensional stability than the oriented PET and PET typically used for printed films. “As a result, we accommodated for this characteristic in the prepress process and by effectively managing web tension during production,” he says.
The film was printed on a Windmöeller & Höelscher flexo press in eight colors plus a matte overlacquer that not only provides a natural look and feel to the bag graphics, but also protects the print. The selection of ink was also important as the graphics needed to withstand the frigid temperatures of the frozen supply chain. “Rub resistance must be strong so ink remains even during shipping,” says ProAmpac in its entry form. “The ink must be durable and provide visual impact.”
The new product was launched at retail in 2017. While Sunrise Growers did not comment on the project and award, Koppang shares that “the package has been very favorably received in the marketplace.”
