SPE announces 2015 Thermoforming Parts Competition winners

A Canadian technology supplier has nabbed a Gold award in the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) 2015 Thermoforming Parts Competition.

Altona, Man.-based think4D won the Gold in the Roll Fed Consumer category for its Gillette Venus Swirl packaging, which incorporates think4D multi‐dimensional technology to print and form the silver “FLEXIBALL” on the package.

The Gillette Venus Swirl package.

The project is the first printed and formed blister packaging with think4D technology to be heat‐sealed in a fully automated environment. “Production challenges include the need for very tight tolerances on every packaging component and custom ink formulations to withstand the stresses of the 400 F heat‐sealing process without splitting or cracking. Heat‐sealing flat lids to an arched surface is very challenging and traditionally has higher scrap rates,” SPE said. “This challenge was solved by think4D using their innovative pack‐out system. The multi‐dimensional lids are packed hot right off the thermoforming line onto thermoformed packing trays and residual heat maintains the desired arc required; resulting in packaging‐line efficiencies, reducing scrap rate while increasing line speeds.” The packaging is produced using advanced HD printing on a Flexographic press using 10 stations, including holographic security features and new decorating effects. Made from PETG, rPET and paperboard, the final package is completely recyclable.

The award was given out at the 24th SPE Thermoforming Conference, held from Aug. 31 – Sept. 2 in Atlanta, Ga.

In the other award categories, two companies tied for the People’s Choice Award: Allied Plastics, Twin Lakes, Wis., for a mobile light tower enclosure; and Plastitel, of Chazy, N.Y., for PODs used for the Stryker IsoLibrium bed for the healthcare industry. Allied Plastics’ mobile light tower enclosure also won the Heavy Gauge TPO Gold Award.

As the runner-up to think4d, the Silver Roll Fed Consumer Award went to Placon, of Madison, Wis., for its Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall application.

The Roll Fed Food Gold Award went to Plastic Ingenuity, of Cross Plains, Wis., for its Sargento two compartment, yin yang tray design.

The Roll Fed Recycled Gold Award went to Innovative Plastech, of Batavia, Ill., for its half pallet sell‐stack 2 litre soda bottle dunnage tray. The Roll Fed Recycled Silver Award was given to Plastic Ingenuity, of Cross Plains, Wis., for its clamshell housing for Flonase allergy spray.

In the Roll Fed Innovation Gold Award category, Italy-based OMG won for its brick wall panel made from PVC.

The Heavy Gauge Pressure Form Gold Award went to SMI, of San Diego, Calif., for an operating room medical device assembly application. The Heavy Gauge Pressure Form Silver Award went to Productive Plastics, of Mt. Laurel, N.J., for its diagnostic test machine.

Productive Plastics also won the Heavy Gauge Value Add Gold Award for its MRI assembly application. The Heavy Gauge Value Add Silver Award went to Kintz Plastics, of Howes Cave, N.Y., for its top cover for a medical laser unit.

The Heavy Gauge Innovation Gold Award went to Wilbert Plastics, of White Bear Lake, Minn., for its MRI medical enclosure device. And the Heavy Gauge Innovation Silver Award was given to Medallion Plastics, of Elkhart, Ind., for its Class A motorhome dash top with automotive style stitching.

Finally, the Twin Sheet Gold Award went to Profile Plastics, of Lake Bluff, Ill., for an air duct for a medical diagnostic machine; and the Twin Sheet Silver Award was presented to ATI, of Berthoud, Colo., for its medical air duct device.