Carton & Box Reporter

Published: December 01, 2009

AICC Awards Showcase Corrugated

ALEXANDRIA, VA | The Assn. of Independent Corrugated Converters (AICC) announced the winners of its 14th Intl. Corrugated Packaging Design Competition. Here is a look at the top winners.

Judges' Choice: Graphics | Fleetwood Fibre Packaging & Graphics wins the top graphics award for its En Route Winery Les Pommiers entry, which it described as bringing together, with the exception of gluing, all of the specialty aspects it could achieve in corrugated boxmaking. The lid is a total of seven colors with three hits of overall and spot coatings in addition to being debossed during die-cutting. The print-to-print registration is under 1/64-in. traps, and the deboss registration had to be the same. By creating a tinted varnish that flooded the kraft sheets in the first unit prior to the rest of the graphics being printed, the converter was able to achieve a consistent background shade.
Judges' Choice: Structural | With its Zyrtec Display entry that reduces shrinkage at the retail level, Bennett Packaging wins the top structural award. The package uses elastic bands to move product through the display for consumer dispensing. The design also uses a plunger that requires the consumer to use both hands to access the product and does not allow for the product to be “swept” into a larger container and smuggled from the retailer. The display was tested for one month in Wal-Mart stores, with staggering results. Each store went from losing about $800/mo to making $1,200/mo — a 250% increase in revenue. A patent is pending on this 100% recyclable display.

For a complete list of winners, visit www.aiccbox.org.

Strive Group Upgrades Business Software

LOMBARD, IL | Solarsoft Business Systems reports The Strive Group, Chicago, IL, has upgraded to the latest version of Solarsoft's corrugated business software, HRMS Gen/2, which includes a more versatile purchase order module, streamlined order entry, and enhanced functionality for estimating assembled and unassembled sets. It utilizes a role-based user home page and allows individual users to build their own queries and reports.

According to Rob Peterson, Strive Group's IT director, “One of the key benefits of the Gen/2 query tool is the ability to pull data from different tables within the Gen/2 database and combine it into one summary report.

Menasha Packaging, Neenah, WI, launches a rebranding effort with an enhanced logo design, refreshed color palette, and modified tagline. The evolution includes the consolidation of the company's divisions into nine operational groups.
Disc Graphics, Hauppauge, NY, acquires a NexPress S3000 with SE-Class upgrades to provide digital press technology to its customers.
Diamond Packaging, Rochester, NY, wins four awards in the 16th Annual Foil & Specialty Effects Assn. Awards Competition, including two gold, one silver, and one bronze award.
Heidelberg, Kennesaw, GA, introduces a two-year warranty to meet the repair and maintenance needs of its customers. Any Heidelberg Original Spare Mechanical Part is covered for a period of two years, provided the part is installed by a Heidelberg technician. Should the new part fail within the warranty period, Heidelberg will replace it at no charge, provided it also is installed by a Heidelberg technician. The electrical parts warranty will be extended to one year, subject to the same conditions on installation.
Masterpiece Graphix, Fenton, MO, reports its premium 10 pt C1S card stock (coated and uncoated) has been certified by the Rochester Inst. of Technology for use on HP Indigo 5000 and 5500 presses.
Stratus Group, West Chester, OH, a beta site for the PrintVision/Orion 100% automatic inspection system from Israel-based Advanced Vision Technology (AVT), reports excellent results for inspection of color, registration, type, and die-cutting of package blanks for a pharmaceutical client. The converter says delivery of millions of packages shows zero defects.