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A Wellington print and packaging company has won export business, using a process in which the packaging wraps around and preserves a pre-moistened bar of soap while also preventing the onset of mould.
Gravure Packaging, situated in Petone, produces the packaging for Pental Products, an Australian-based manufacturer of Soothing Body Soap. The packaging, which Gravure believes may be the only packaging of its type produced in Australasia, also features a heat seal layer with quality graphics from the gravure printing.
Thomas Kaffes, general manager at Gravure Packaging, says the packaging format, initially developed for Unilever and Colgate Palmolive Wellington products, was revitalised in design for the home care products FMCG market. He says, “As more and more FMCG manufacturers seek increased quality, high shelf impact, strong brand recognition, just-in-time purchasing demands, smaller minimum order quantities and more competitive pricing, the challenges for all printers continues to climb.”
“That’s just amongst us in New Zealand and Australia -- then once you throw in competition from offshore suppliers, the playing field changes again.”
He adds that the company achieves all the processes involved within one pass through the production line, enabling short lead times. He says, “Containing a specialty anti-fungal additive the paper is surface-printed with six colours and has an adhesive applied to that surface so a PET film can be laminated to it. The PET serves a few uses: it provides a strong exterior surface to minimise scuff and tearing; it is very glossy; and it stiffens the over-pack format. Then, once the PET is glued to the surface, the hot melt is applied to the other side of the paper in a molten liquid form before being passed over a chilled roller to solidify it again.”
He believes the process represents how print and packaging companies can move forward in tough times. He says, “Regardless of all the challenges, the opportunities continue to present for capable, nimble, service-driven companies to make their mark and thrive, even under current economic conditions. There are exciting times ahead as we seek to push our boundaries, diversify our offerings, strengthen our relationships and rise to meet the challenges presented.”
Gravure Packaging’s Soothing Body Soap job is one of the contenders in the Pride In Print Awards which take place at Auckland’s Langham Hotel on Friday June 29.
