Diamond Packaging Wins Three Awards in 2011 Gold Ink Awards Competition

Rochester, NY – Diamond Packaging won three awards in the 2011 Gold Ink Awards competition, the industry’s most prestigious print competition.

Competing against more than 1,000 entries from around the world, Diamond won recognition for packaging produced for Coty's Beyoncé Heat and McGraw Silver fragrances, and for its own 2011 Centennial Calendar. Winning pieces were chosen based on print quality, technical difficulty, and overall visual effect.

Diamond created striking new packaging for Beyoncé Heat, a sensual, sexy, and sophisticated fragrance that embodies the soul of Beyoncé's persona.

The overall presentation imparts unusual depth and distinction through innovative design, material selection, UV gloss spot coating, foil stamping, embossing, and debossing.

The structure incorporates a tapered die cut window on the front panel, allowing the products to show through, and correlates with the tapered shape of the eau de parfum bottle.

Gold accents create the ultimate touch of luxury and complement both the gold band on the eau de parfum bottle and the gold shimmer on the body lotion tube.

Combination stamping was utilized for the “Beyoncé Heat” logo on the front and rear panels. Foil stamping was used for the gold specks in red area on the front and rear, and for the inside of the rear panel showing through the window.

Embossing was used to create the textured pattern in the red areas on the front and rear, and debossing was used to create the “B” logo and decorative patterns in the corners of the top and side panels.

The McGraw Silver packaging features a combination of foilboard and embossing that augments the graphic design and creates a unique visual and tactile presentation.

The carton was offset printed with opaque white, black, and three PMS colors in-line with UV gloss spot coating (silver areas), and a UV dull stampable varnish.

The carton was embossed with a denim pattern, lending a distinctive look and texture to the product. Subtle accents, including an embossed logo on the front panel and a custom-designed silver embossed guitar pick on the top panel, tie the brand to the iconic star.

Diamond's centennial-themed calendar is the company's most ambitious to date, featuring twelve layouts: one for each decade that Diamond has been in business along with a futurevision layout and a 9-11 tribute. Each decade depicts memorable moments from that time period supporting Diamond's message that “We Were There”. The distinguished calendar cover protects the piece, which also serves as a capabilities book.

The calendar was decorated with the latest in package printing technologies, including specialty coatings (emboss, pearl, textured, soft touch), MiraFoil™ environmentally-friendly coating, Cast and Cure holographic effects, foil stamping, and multi-level embossing.

Diamond introduced several of its new specialty coatings (DiamondEmboss, DiamondPearl, DiamondTexture, and DiamondTouch) on the cover and several of its layouts. The goal was to produce unique decorative effects through an in-line process without requiring a separate stamping or embossing pass, thereby reducing material and energy usage.

The calendar cover and both the 1921 and 1991 layouts (inserts) feature MiraFoil®, a key component of Diamond's Green Chic™ packaging model, which delivers “Beauty without Compromise” by capturing the essence of luxury or upscale brands through more sustainable converting methods. MiraFoil® specialty metallic UV coating delivers “Foil on demand at print speed”. It is an economical, in-line alternative to film and foil laminates that enhances the brilliance of the printed surface while providing environmentally-friendly benefits.

Diamond applied its new specialty coatings and MiraFoil® in an initial flexo dispersion coater on its new state-of-the-art Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 offset printing press prior to printing up to eight colors and two additional specialty coatings — all in a single pass. The Heidelberg Speedmaster XL 105 offset printing press represents the state-of-the-art in package printing technology, providing Diamond with an unprecedented combination of cost innovation and sustainability. It offers the latest in coating capabilities, including a flexo coating unit upfront (to lay down eco-friendly metallic coating effects) and a dual flexo coating unit on the end to apply UV, aqueous, or specialty coatings.

Several layouts also feature Cast and Cure holographic effects. Diamond’s Cast and Cure technology is a cost effective, inline process that produces high-gloss, holographic finishes through the use of UV coatings and specialty film.

All of the components were manufactured using 100% renewable wind energy.

The Gold Ink Awards & Hall of Fame Gala, co-sponsored by Heidelberg, will take place Monday, September 12 at the Hyatt McCormick Place Hotel in Chicago during GRAPH EXPO 2011. For information on attending, visit www.goldink.com/hall-of-fame or contact Mike Cooper at (215) 238-5434.

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.