Diamond Packaging Wins Five Awards in International Print Competition

Rochester, NY – Diamond Packaging won five awards in the 63rd annual Premier Print Awards competition, the graphic arts industry’s largest and most prestigious international print competition. Printing Industries of America (PIA) hosts the Premier Print Awards, which recognizes the creation and production of superior print communications. The event promotes excellence in printing and rewards companies and individuals who produce the very best in print media. Of the more than 2,800 entries received, Diamond's entries were among those chosen for exemplifying the highest standards in the printing industry.

Diamond won Certificates of Merit for its 2012 Calendar, Green Chic™ “Four Seasons” promotional packaging, and Elizabeth Arden's White Diamonds Gift Set. The total represents the highest number of awards Diamond has ever won in this competition.

“We are excited to have won this many awards,” said Karla Fichter, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Packaging. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the industry as a company that produces best-in-class packaging.”

Michael Makin, president and CEO of Printing Industries of America, notes, “Each year, the field of entries brings impressive work from some of the best printers in the world. Only a small number of companies receive any award. The craftsmanship and hard work of Diamond Packaging enabled them to produce several award-winning pieces in the face of some very strong competition.”

Diamond's three-month corporate calendar is a long-standing company tradition, and a popular promotional item given to customers and suppliers. This year’s jukebox concept takes people back to a nostalgic era — the golden age of rock and roll, drive-in diners, and sock hops. Although popularized in the 1950s, the jukebox is sure to make people of ANY age smile.

The calendar illustrates many of Diamond's capabilities, including creative design, Liquid Metal™ brilliant metallic UV specialty coating, Cast and Cure holographic effects, multi-level embossing, and intricate die cutting.

Environmentally-friendly techniques (Liquid Metal™, Cast and Cure, produced with 100% wind energy) support Diamond's message of creating innovative and sustainable packaging solutions.

Diamond recently introduced its new Green Chic™ packaging, a significant advance in the field of sustainable packaging design. Upscale or luxury brands can now support environmental concerns without sacrificing identity.

Green Chic™ incorporates multiple technologies, all applied inline: TruCOLOR™ expanded color gamut (ECG), specialty coatings (e.g., Emboss, Pearl, Soft Touch, Texture), and effects and decorations (e.g., Liquid Metal™ and MiraFoil® metallic UV coatings, Cast and Cure holographic effects). Furthermore, all components are manufactured using 100% renewable wind energy.

The upscale decorative techniques are a natural evolution of Diamond's greenbox initiative and exemplify Diamond's Green Chic™ model – “Beauty without Compromise” – by capturing the essence of luxury brands through more sustainable converting methods.

Diamond's new “Four Seasons” carton series demonstrates these technologies in beauty-inspired packaging representing each of the four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter). All of the samples were created utilizing its unique Synergy (tapered tuck and seal end) structure. The cartons also incorporate a QR code which, when scanned, directs users to Diamond's green website.

White Diamonds epitomizes singular star quality — radiant, extraordinarily rare, and overwhelmingly beautiful. Elizabeth Arden turned to Diamond for packaging as captivating as the product.

Diamond utilized its QuikSet™ hybrid design for the gift set packaging, providing an attractive alternative to rigid set-up boxes. The QuikSet™ structure consists of a lid and reinforced base that gives the feel and finished edges of a rigid set-up box. It also features direct application of graphics and stamping or embossing, flat shipping and storage, and easy set-up.

The carton features metallized polyester board and intricate embossing accents. The brilliance of the mirror-like finish of the metallized polyester film makes it a perfect choice for conveying the striking graphics.

The carton was offset printed with transparent gold, dense black, and opaque white inks, in-line with UV high gloss coating. Exquisite dome-embossed round diamonds add to the beauty and reinforce the White Diamonds brand.

Diamond Contract Manufacturing (DCM) provided fulfillment services, including adding pad stiffeners to the base and lid, fully assembling vacuum form trays, and polybagging the units.

The result is a gift set package that delivers impact in the retail environment, with the look and feel of a rigid set-up box, in a fraction of the time and at less cost.

About Diamond Packaging

Founded in 1911, Diamond Packaging is a WBENC-certified woman-owned business specializing in developing innovative and sustainable packaging solutions. Utilizing state of-the-art technologies, Diamond designs and manufactures paperboard and plastic folding cartons, and provides comprehensive contract packaging services for the personal care (cosmetics & skin care, fragrance, hair care), health care, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food and confectionery industries. Its client portfolio includes Bausch & Lomb, Beiersdorf, Coty, Elizabeth Arden, Estée Lauder, Godiva Chocolatier, Johnson & Johnson, L’Oreal, and Procter & Gamble. As part of the Global Packaging Alliance® (GPA), Diamond and its alliance members offer packaging solutions to companies operating on an international scale. Customers receive responsive, localized service, award-winning creative designs, identical product specifications and consistent brand recognition, resulting in unparalleled worldwide packaging support. For more information about Diamond Packaging, contact Dennis Bacchetta at (585) 334-8030 x229 or visit the website at www.diamondpackaging.com. For more information about Diamond’s greenbox initiative, visit the sustainability microsite at www.diamondpackaging.com/green.