The liner’s stiffness and bulk prevented the ‘washboarding’ effect, a common problem with corrugated materials.
A demanding graphic design meant Smurfit Kappa had to reconsider its initial material choice and switch to Korsnäs Design coated Kraft liner for use in a pre-print flexo process. The results? Better gloss and a more even print result. The liner’s stiffness and bulk also prevented the ‘washboarding’ effect, a common problem with corrugated materials.
For brand owners like Moët & Chandon, there can be no compromise. They are not just selling a luxury beverage; they are selling a lifestyle, a dream, and that’s what the packaging has to communicate. The brand’s positioning is top-shelf, with keywords like splendour, pleasure and prestige, so nothing but the best will do. For the ‘Be fabulous’ campaign at the end of 2006, they decided to make consistent use of diamond ornament against a black checked background – even on the transport packaging, which previously had simpler ornament (two colours on a beige printing surface).
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Korsnäs Design met tough requirements
The new ornamentation was a challenge for Smurfit Kappa, who suggested using a pre-print flexo process. The combination of black and diamonds demanded much of the liner, and a period of test printing ensued. They decided on six-colour printing and a white surface. The problem, though, was missing dots. The print results were unacceptable, so they kept testing with different materials.
Without changing any of the parameters of the printing process, Korsnäs Design yielded superb results. There were no more ‘holes’ and the gloss was significantly better. The next step was to test the printed material in a corrugating machine. As it turned out, Korsnäs Design yielded the kind of smooth surface that can be tough to achieve with corrugated board.
Excellent quality follow-up and service
But satisfying customers takes more than just the right product properties. ‘With Korsnäs, we knew we could count on good quality follow-up efforts and excellent flexibility and service,’ says Mr Laloux, Pre-print Sales Manager at Smurfit Kappa in France. ‘This served us well when Moët & Chandon needed quick deliveries for rush orders.’
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