Metsä Board has launched a new range of samples to illustrate how a more attractive brand presentation can be achieved. The packaging samples show the numerous finishing processes and demonstrate how these can be enhanced by the cardboard surface - for impressive visual and tactile effects. The samples serve as visual aids for end-use applications in the food, cosmetics and healthcare, luxury packaging and graphics industries and are made from Metsä Board's new folding boxboard grades.
The packaging pattern for ecological cosmetic products features an uncoated surface with multi-layer embossing, creating a very special feel. White and gold hot foil embossing provide a noble finish. For the sample for chocolate packaging, a multi-layer embossing with a metallic look is also used, in addition to the CMYK print on silver-coloured laminate in the text field.
The most demanding pattern, however, is the headset packaging, which combines various effects that require cardboard qualities with versatile features. The lid of the box is first hot-foil embossed, then printed with white ink and CMYK inks, and then multi-layer embossed to achieve a special feel. On the front of the packaging, colour gradients with grey drop shadows can be seen, for which the cardboard must be particularly smooth. On the side of the box there is a silver hot foil embossing in the background with a CMYK print, combined with micro embossing, multi-layer embossing and deep embossing. For the intense black colour and the small white text printed on the back of the packaging, the board must have excellent printing properties.
The samples illustrate the desire for natural, ecological packaging and show how a genuine wow effect can be achieved with high-quality finishes such as multi-layer stamping, micro-stamping, high-gloss varnishing, hot-foil stamping, full-tone colour printing or holographic elements for everyday articles. "When developing the packaging samples, the requirements of the market were taken into account, such as the increasing use of uncoated qualities, especially in the cosmetics sector, with surfaces that are particularly suitable for special effects and finishing. Sustainability continues to play an important role, so our board grades are lightweight to achieve volume and stiffness while reducing raw material consumption," explains Ilkka Harju, Packaging Services Director at Metsä Board.
