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IMDA Honors In-Mold Decorating Standouts for 2016

Published: May 19, 2016, By Yolanda Simonsis

The In-Mold Decorating Assn. (IMDA) recognizes stand-out entries in its annual competition for injection molded, blow molded, label design, part design, product family, and prototype.

SKOKIE, IL | The 2016 In-Mold Decorating Assn. Awards Competition honors the industry's best in-mold labeled packaging and in-mold decorated durable products. The winning entries were chosen based on creativity in design, engineering and innovation. Winners for this year will be honored at the 2016 Symposium/SPE TopCon, June 6, 2016, Franklin Marriott Cool Springs, Franklin, TN.

Holding the gavel as judges for this year's competition were Clare Goldsberry with Plastics Today; Rob Neilley from RN Marketing; and Yolanda Simonsis of Paper, Film & Foil Converter (PFFC).

Best Injection Molded (IML) Package, Gold Award

This tailor-made IML package was developed initially to replace classic paperboard packaging by improving the durability and presence of the products and brands. Because of its wide space in the front and back, it displays a significant amount of graphics to improve customer perception. The convenient package size and shape facilitate handling with a flip-up, tamper-evident lid.

Best Injection Molded Durable (IMD) Part, Gold Award

Judges considered this user interface (UI) a beautiful award-winning example of IMD film from Nissha Printing Co. and IMD molding at Eimo Technologies (a subs. of Nissha USA) in Southwest Michigan. The OEM design group explains it wanted to add a very challenging design to the surface of the UI—the Electrolux logo gradation fade from the outer edge towards the part’s center. It’s very faint, but was reported a “must have” for this user interface. Nissha and Eimo were able to achieve Electrolux’s requirements, resulting in award-winning recognition.

Best Label Design, Gold Award

Tupperware’s Sparkle Canister has an amazing 3D effect with a special glittering and sparkling look for a glamorous and modern impression. The Sparkle Canister with its Korsini-SAF three layer in-mold label passed 125 dishwasher cycles at 85oC.  This great product design also comes with great functionality. The canister is liquid tight and can also keep snacks and crackers fresh without losing crispness. Sparkle Canister is a new product to welcome Indonesia Tupperware’s 25th Anniversary in 2016.

Best Blow Molded Package, Gold Award

The Lebanese dairy giant and market leader, Taanayel Les Fermes, known for natural, authentic, and traditional dairy products, chose IML for blow molding from Verstraete IML for its Laban Baladi product range. The company reports the IML blow molding technique was strong, hygienic, and allowed the production of hollow plastic packaging with IML decoration in one step—considered a perfect choice for dairy product packaging. Verstraete IML labels are claimed moisture-resistant and can withstand temperature fluctuations. Laban Baladi yoghurt is sold in 500 g, 1 kg, and 2 kg contaienrs, all having an IML label from Verstraete IML. Taanayel Les Fermes opted for an authentic and "natural" look, since the packaging has the shape of a fresh milk bucket. The design is claimed to emphasize the authenticity and purity of the Taanayel Les Fermes DNA and image.

Best Part Design, Gold Award

The Scented Baby Wipes flexible package integrates an IML pop-up dispenser part to allow user-friendly, one-handed delivery of the product—adding convenience for the consumer. The judges felt the IML part had both a graphically superior design combined with a custom die-cut shape promoting functionality. The Scented Baby Wipes part is claimed one of the smallest commercially available cut-and-stack IML application products on the market today.

Best Product Family, Gold Award

  • Unilever Margarine
  • Submitted by: Verstraete In-Mold Labels
  • Brand Owner: Unilever America
  • Molders: PSPM Inc., Berry Plastics and RPC Bramlage Wiko USA
  • Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels

Unilever feels its margarine tubs and lids are a great combination of an upgraded packaging with the best of industry standards for production technology. Involving seven sizes (7.5 oz, 9 oz, 15 oz, 22.5 oz, 30 oz, 45 oz, and 80 oz), the photographic quality of the Verstraete IML labels allows all four brands to occupy a unique market position. These Unilever margarine tubs and lids were said to make an impressive changeover on two levels. First, the shape of the products changed from round to rectangular. Second, Unilever decided to switch its decoration technique from direct printing to in-mold labeling. Additionally, the wall thickness has been reduced to production limits while maintaining demanding technical specifications such as drop test and product stability. The margarine tubs are now fully decorated with Verstraete IML labels that attract consumers' eyes, reportedly making it a commercial success.

Best Product Family, Silver Award

  • SelecTE
  • Submitted by: Berry Plastics
  • Molder: Berry Plastics
  • Label Supplier: Verstraete In-Mold Labels

Berry Plastics’ SelecTE product family is a series of premium non-round, tamper-evident containers with three and five-sided IML options. This product family provides the solution for consumers to see the quality of their food through clear windows while the brand still has large graphic real-estate inside and outside the container. The total package is fully recyclable since the container, lid, and label are all made of polypropylene. The IML can also be clear or printed with metallic ink to help increase the brand’s shelf impact.

Best Prototype Part, Gold Award

  • IME Washing Machine Control Panel
  • Submitted by: Jabil
  • Brand Owner: Jabil
  • Molder: Jabil
  • Label Supplier: Duratech Industries

Jabil’s novel in-mold electronics (IME) washer control panel incorporates an in-mold label (IML) with capacitive touch electronics printed on a flexible film. The Jabil washer control panel is unique and innovative because it replaces a traditional printed circuit board (PCB), eliminating the need for post-molding decoration and hardware for illumination. As a result, production is simpler, less costly, and faster. Best of all, the decorative and fully functional panel can be easily modified to appeal to changing consumer tastes, language preferences, and more. It can even be quickly modified for use on a wide array of products, including stoves, refrigerators and other appliances.

For more information on the In-Mold Decorating Assn. and this competition, visit: www.imdassociation.com.

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