Print & Packaging Solutions Ltd. News

Packaging glossary

Aperture Handle:

Body of the bag has a punched out section to be used as a handle.

Art-Board:

Material that is slightly thicker than paper- has a smooth surface to create crisp print on.

Biodegradable:

Items that are Biodegradable have an additive built in them during the manufacturing process. This substance allows the plastic to break down quicker, by having the ability to be decomposed by living things or bacteria.

“Oxo-biodegradable” plastic can also be a great alternative to this – a more in depth explanation is listed further down this page.

Block Headed:

Bags are held together by heating the top header. Block headed bags are ideal where “easy- tear” is needed for quick packaging of goods. The head of the bags can be made with holes to fit a variety of display racking including euro-slots.

Bottom gusseted:

Added material to the bottom of the bag, creating more space and strength to its structure. Bottom gusseted carriers can normally stand up by themselves making them ideal for carrying food and drink.

Clear Film Window:

A transparent thin piece of polypropylene is inserted usually in the middle of an open-ended paper bag creating a “window”. This style is ideal for packaging baguettes, sandwiches and patisseries- as the food inside remains fresh and protected whilst still being visible.

Digital Printing:

A type of printing that does not need a printing plate made, as the artwork is sent directly to the printer. This is usually a faster way of having bespoke items made as there is minimal set up required. Ideal for start-up companies and/or smaller orders.

Die-cut:

Body of the bag has a punched out section to be used as a handle.

Flexi Loop:

“U” shaped handles attached to the main body of the bag. These handles can come in various colours and can be reinforced. Popular with fashion and clothing outlets.

Full Colour Print:

Uses the full spectrum of colours combined together in different ways to make up an image (it is also known as C.M.Y.K Print). Ideal for high definition/ photograph quality print work.

Gauge:

Unit used to describe the thickness of plastic. To convert this into micron, divide the gauge number by 4 for example: 500 gauge / 4 = 125 Micron. A list of grades are detailed below:

80 – 100 gauge: Very Thin (Ideal confectionary bags or dust covers etc.)

120-150 gauge: Thin (Ideal for confectionaries, dust covers, clothes and paperwork etc.)

180-200 gauge: Light/Medium (Ideal for carrying food items or household waste etc.)

250-350 gauge: Medium (Ideal for packaging warehouse, retail and industrial products etc.)

400-500 gauge: Medium/Thick (Ideal for items that are bulky or carrying weighty goods etc.)

600- 800 gauge: Thick (Ideal for products that have pointed edges, bulkier items and weighty goods etc.)

1000+ gauge: Very Thick (Ideal for times when ultimate strength is required, polythene sheeting in this thickness is used as damp proofing under concrete etc.)

GSM:

Grams per square metre is the unit used to describe the thickness of paper items.

HDPE/MDPE/LDPE:

HDPE- High Density Polythene- Economical/Cost-Friendly Plastic

MDPE- Medium Density Polythene

LDPE- Low Density Polythene- Higher Quality Plastic

Kraft:

Process used to make paper that is usually more durable and holds a higher strength than the average kind.

Litho Printing:

Ink is applied to a printing plate, which prints onto rollers or rubber blankets, from there it is then applied to the product. It is done this way to preserve the life of the metal plates and allow printing on any type of surface. Litho printing allows the use of a full range of colours to create high definition images at a faster rate than Screen Printing. This process is more suitable for larger orders and/or companies who have photographic artwork.

Low Noise:

Often used as a description for the adhesive used on tapes, meaning that there is a reduced amount of noise when tearing it. Ideal for busy or confined workplaces where sound should be kept to a minimum.

Micron/ Mu:

Unit used to measure the thickness of plastic.

See “Gauge” for a more in depth explanation.

Non- woven polypropylene:

Plastic fibres that are bonded together rather than “woven”. Ideal for those who wish to have cost-effective strong packaging for their products.

See “Woven Polypropylene” below.

Over Printing

Process of printing colours that layer on top of each other to create a special effect.

Oxo-Biodegradable Polythene bags

This is the most environmentally friendly option without losing the durability qualities of a standard plastic carrier. Oxo-Biodegradable bags have a unique material composition which allows it to degrade with prolonged exposure to air. These bags can also be recycled in a normal plastic waste stream.

Polypropylene:

A type of plastic that is versatile in many ways. Polypropylenes main properties is that can be made totally translucent and resistant to many chemicals. Polypropylene clear bags/film have a shinier appearance than standard polythene, making them ideal for displaying products and storing light-weight goods.

Polythene:

Is the most common plastic used in manufacturing. Polythene can be the ideal material for packaging heavier items and products that require reduced light exposure/ water resistance.

Reinforced Handle:

Handles that are made with added strength for carrying heavier items.

Glue patched: A strip of plastic is glued onto the handle. This provides additional strength when heavier items are placed inside.

Welded patched handle: A strip of plastics is welded onto the handle. This is ideal for when maximum strength is required.

Screen Printing

A fine mesh stencil is stretched out across the product which allows ink to be pushed through to create the artwork. It is the ideal cost-effective method of printing for those with simple artwork on a larger scale and/or those who wish to have the same print repeatedly.

Side Gusset

Added material to each side of the bag, which opens up to allow more room for packaging items.

Spot Colour

A solid colour print, which is applied during a single run requiring its own printing plate to be made. Ideal for simple artwork designs on a larger scale.

Square-base

A flat base at the bottom of the bag that allows items to stand up in.

Varigauge

This primarily pertains to polythene carriers where the bag is thicker in material at the top (near the handle) than the bottom to give added strength to it.

Woven polypropylene

Plastic fibres that are woven together to create an extra strong but lightweight material. This allows woven polypropylene bags to be reusable and durable.

PAPER BAGS, THE NATURAL CHOICE

A brand new fact sheet on the sustainability of paper bags has been published by Two Sides.

“Paper Bags, The Natural Choice” explores the concerns and issues around plastic bags and looks at paper bags as a viable, environmentally friendly alternative.

There is increasing concern about the over-use of plastic bags and particularly their contribution to marine litter. EU countries have taken action by introducing bans, charges and other initiatives to limit their use.

Whilst a general reduction in unnecessary packaging will be a valuable contribution to a circular and less wasteful economy, paper bags, because of their natural and renewable attributes, present an attractive and practical alternative. Studies show that they can be the natural and environmental alternative to plastic and textile bags.

You can read the full article here:

http://ow.ly/14Lj50v1CEd

The Complete Package

Five of the latest trends in packaging design, from sustainable and plantable, to tactile and tale-telling

Like all areas of product design, packaging is always changing, constantly adapting and developing new solutions to emerging trends and consumer needs. While the humble brown cardboard box still reigns supreme in its versatility, sustainability and ability to protect the most fragile of items, other packaging is being closely examined for its environmental credentials, as well as its marketing value.

So while you wait for that delivery, take a look at the latest trends in packaging design.

Sustainable packaging

The obvious and most widespread packaging trend is sustainability. Companies the world over are examining all aspects of their packaging and supply chains to ensure their products are sold in the most environmentally friendly material possible. Driven by consumer pressure and government legislation, product brands, supermarkets, coffee chains, food outlets and retailers are all developing new sustainable packaging solutions, as well as educating their customers on the importance of recycling and reusing. It’s a welcome development and one that’s not going to stop anytime soon.

Bio-packaging

The single-use plastics problem and a consumer desire to recycle and reuse has also led to the development of ‘bio-packaging’ – packaging that’s designed to be returned to the earth, in the process creating new plant life. Designed as egg packaging, Greek designer George Bonas developed the ‘BioPack’, which can be planted in the ground after it’s been used, breaking down completely and spouting seeds embedded in its paper pulp, flour and starch material. This takes the recycling step out of the circular packaging process and, according to the designer, also helps the soil to balance its pH levels.

“Packaging is always changing, constantly adapting and developing new solutions to emerging trends and consumer needs”

A tale to tell

Storytelling has long been a proven technique in marketing, but given the physical space and consumer time available, packaging tends not to go for long, drawn out tales. But a number of brands have started adding stories and literary quotes to their packaging to inspire nostalgia or curiosity in their customers, giving their products a finely tuned heritage angle. One example is Copperfield London Dry Gin, whose labels are designed to look like antique books and feature handwritten notes on the inside of the label.

Tactile design

Brands are beginning to understand the importance of tactility in their packaging, with a number of companies introducing unusually shaped packaging and textures that attract consumer attention and appeal to their love of physical objects. Beauty brands such as Dove and Kevin Murphy have played around with ‘wonky’ packaging and geometric shapes that set them apart in a crowded market, while clothing and sports brands such as Adidas use texture to add excitement to the unboxing experience. In an increasingly digital world, brands are using the tangible and touchable to inspire their customers.

Letterbox friendly

The subscription market has really taken off, with everything from coffee pods to contact lenses now able to be delivered on a regular basis for a fixed price. Part of the appeal is that the consumer doesn’t have to be worried about running out of product or being at home to receive the delivery, so a key part of the service is using packaging that can be posted through a standard letterbox. While small items are relatively easy to post, larger items such as wine can be tricky, so a ‘postable’ bottle and protective box has been developed, meaning that the wine enthusiast can come home to a new (and unbroken) bottle as often as they like.

Article by Sam Upton

Source: The Two Sides Team June 25, 2019

PAPER RECOVERY AND RECYCLING

PAPER RECOVERY AND RECYCLING

Print and Paper have a great environmental story to tell

Check out their fact sheet on paper recovery and recycling here:

B2B Marketing Exhibition

We were delighted to have had a highly successful exhibition at the London Excel Arena. Upwards of 15000 visitors did their best to keeep us fully occupied over the two day event. We had enquiries from fledgling businesses looking for budget conscious ideas for their packaging through to well established companies aiming to improve their profile through luxury packaging and innovative ideas. We also welcomed to the stand co exhibitors interested in our products for their own and their clients requirements. It was a very busy two days for the two teams of staff who attended but highly worth the effort. Please give us a call for any packaging you may require from modest and simple carrier bags to more complex and luxury bags and boxes.

Delighted To Announce The Launch Of Our New Website!

Since 1998 Print & Packaging has been trusted by some of the world’s biggest brands to create bespoke printed packaging that matches our clients’ exacting project vision, timeline and budget.

We take the time to understand our clients’ objectives and we share their desire to represent their brand to clients and prospects in a manner that demonstrates professionalism and high quality.

And it is our belief that ‘generic’ doesn’t grow brand equity that has led to the creation of our new website.

Knowing that websites influence the way the world sees a company, and may be the first point of contact with a prospective client, we knew there was a need to improve both visually and from a user-experience perspective.

Print & Packaging New Website

Built in partnership with web development company Dusza, our new website incorporates increased usability with a clean, modern and contemporary design, utilising professional photography to showcase just some of the printed packaging we have produced for our clients.

The website is suitable for all devices, and with an easy to use Get In Touch form, contacting us to discuss your project requirements is easier than ever.

Commitment To Progression

Co-founder, David Page said, “The website launch marks a significant time for Print & Packaging and the new design represents our exceptional standards. As the public face of our company we recognised the need to improve on our previous website and invest in our brand image to assist growth and support our considerable reputation.

We are proud of our new on-brand website that demonstrates our professionalism and commitment to progression, whilst better communicating our belief in providing the best service to our clients and prospects.”

Everyone at Print & Packaging hopes you enjoy the website and if you’re looking for bespoke packaging, from the simple to the luxurious, please don’t hesitate to contact our team today.

Luxury Print Finishing

This is Scodix Spot. Just one of the finishes available. Digitally applied spot gloss with perfect registration, a superior quality finish and no need for the conventional films & screens, thus massively reducing costs. ideal for high end packaging products

What Is Scodix?

The Scodix Ultra Pro with Foiling Station applies spot UV, high-build UV, foils, crystals, braille and lots of other exciting finishes, without the need for films, blocks or dies.

So What Does This Mean?

What this means is that processes that were very expensive for short runs are now accessible, affordable and carry far greater impact than previously seen. The commercial print & packaging market has an exciting time ahead of it!This digital inkjet process will also enable 'variable data' foiling which will provide countless possibilities for the likes of personalised invites or gift vouchers.

Print & Packaging Attend Packaging Innovations 2016

The recent Packaging Innovations 2016 exhibition at the Olympia London was a celebration of the packaging industry. With over 170 leading suppliers showcasing the latest trends and innovations, Print and Packaging were in attendance and gained fascinating insight into the future of packaging.

What Does This Mean
For Our Clients?

In order to provide the best products and service, we attended the exclusive event to meet suppliers, exhibitors and research any new opportunities and advancements in the packaging industry that could be of value to our customers.

Talking about the benefits of attending the exhibition, Chris Sober - a Senior Sales Executive at Print & Packaging - said, "We maintain a close relationship with our existing suppliers and take great value from meeting potential suppliers. Cultivating these relationships can help us achieve our wide range of customers' packaging needs."

Chris added, "Ensuring we know what is being developed in the packaging world means we can deliver the best products and service."

What else?

According to a Packaging News article, the number of visitors to London's only packaging event, increased from last year, including major brands such as Harrods, Burberry and Adidas launching their latest packaging products. A keynote speech by Mark Pawsey - MP & Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Packaging Manufacturing Group - opened the event.

Discussing the importance of the event, Mark Pawsey said, "It's clear to see just how fantastic the level of innovation on show is. We have innovative products, high end and high quality offerings, which shows the industry to be in great health."

Luxury Rope Handled Paper Bags

Print and Packaging were thrilled to be the trusted supplier of promotional bags for the launch of Jay-Z's celebrity fragrance 'Gold'.

Our Thoughts...

David continues: "The bags needed to be printed and delivered within two weeks, to meet the UK launch date. We were able to guarantee this as the bags are made in-house, enabling complete control over quality and scheduling. We worked closely with the agency, and the client, on agreeing the right finish, which resulted in luxurious high quality rope handled paper bags, a perfect fit for Jay-Z's new 'Gold' fragrance."

To date Print and Packaging has produced a number of luxury promotional bags for the likes of One Direction, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and many more. For more information on the range of promotional bags and packaging you can view our products here.

Luxury Branded Packaging for Virgin

Print and Packaging has worked with Virgin Atlantic for over 10-years and have produced a variety of branded merchandise for the global brand.

The Brief

For Christmas 2013 Virgin required a small volume of luxury branded wine bottle boxes, wine bags, and sweet boxes, to give to clients as Christmas giveaways.

David Crooks, Sales Director, comments: "We were given a strict two week turnaround for the items, but by producing the goods in-house we were confident of meeting the deadline. The boxes and bags were all delivered on time, to the great satisfaction of the client."

If you're looking for luxurious branded merchandise and packaging, Print and Packaging offer a range of promotional merchandise to suit short or large runs. For a full list of our products and services please click here.

UK Polythene Bag Charges - The eco-friendly carrier bag alternatives

Following restrictions imposed by the European Commission, (EC), many UK retailers are now charging for polythene carrier bags in a bid to reduce their usage.

How We Are Doing Our Part

Janez PotoÄnik, Environment Commissioner for the EU, said "We're taking action to solve a very serious and highly visible environmental problem. Some member states have already achieved great results in reducing their use of polythene bags. If others followed suit we could reduce today's overall consumption in the EU by as much as 80%."

The variety of eco-friendly carrier bags available, which include cotton bags, jute bags, canvas bags and woven bags, gives retailers the opportunity to offer their customers an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional polythene bag.

Another Perspective

From the view point of the consumer, nothing is more annoying than having a handful of goods and then being told you have to pay for a polythene carrier. We have seen a marked increase over the last year with retailers opting for eco-friendly alternatives.

Our range of printed fabric carrier bags demonstrates the high class finishes which can be achieved for a variety of different designs and branding.

Of course there are times when polythene bags are the only sensible option, such as when goods require weather protection. On these occasions we are delighted to offer our Biothene degradable film at no extra cost.

Print & Packaging Support Naomi House Charity

For the third year running Print & Packaging was proud to support the Annual Concorde Classic Car Show; a Hampshire based event, which donates all the money raised to Naomi House Charity.

How We Helped

Print & Packaging produced all of the printed materials for the annual show, which included the event programmes, leaflets and posters. The event attracts car enthusiasts from across the region and welcomed Saturday Kitchen celebrity, James Martin, to Eastleigh, Hampshire. The attractions included Super Car Displays, F1 Driver Simulation, Wessex Ferrari Owners Club and much more.

More Information

Find out more about the Naomi House Charity and see how you can help here.

Print & Packaging Named One Of Hearst Magazine's Preferred Suppliers

Print & Packaging is proud to announce they have been named as a preferred supplier for one of the UK's largest magazine publishers, Hearst Magazines UK.

Who Are Hearst Magazine?

Hearst Magazine's UK portfolio includes well-known household names such as Company, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Esquire, Good House Keeping, Men's Health and many more.

Our Role

Print and Packaging has been supplying printed promotional packaging, for a number of brands under the Hearst umbrella, over the last couple of years. Earlier this year they were given an opportunity to fulfil a significantly larger order, for four of Hearst Magazines. After successfully completing the order, Print and Packaging received huge praise for the printed merchandise they provided, and they were subsequently named as one of Hearst Magazines preferred print and packaging suppliers.

Print & Packaging Expand Sales Operation

Due to continued business growth and development, Print and Packaging has expanded their sales department, with the appointment of a Trainee Sales Apprentice.

Who We Work With

Print and Packaging work with leading B2C and B2B brands across the UK; producing iconic branded bags, merchandise and packaging. Their portfolio includes the production of stunning luxury paper carrier bags, for the launch of Rihanna's fragrance 'Rogue', as well as managing the bag design and production for SAS & Company, for the UK press launch of Kim Kardashian's, 'True Reflection'.

Who Else?

The name dropping doesn't stop there...They have also produced iconic printed bags and merchandise for Virgin Atlantic Airways, Giorgio Armani, L'Oreal and many more.

The company works with a diverse mix of clients, from international blue chip businesses, through to local and national SME's.

Due to the growing business demand the sales team is looking to fill another position for an Internal Sales Executive. The role will be to assist the company's growth ambitions, through client introductions and new business generation.

Foil Blocking Celebrity Client List

Since installing their large-bed foil blocking machine Print and Packaging has had the pleasure of working with the likes of Rivet & Hide, St George Developments, Elemis, Giorgio Armani, The Leaden Hall Building, Kim Kardashian, Covent Garden and Rihanna, to produce stunning foil blocked promotional items.

Here's What Andy Had To Say...

Andy Willison, Print and Packaging's Production Director, comments: "The large format foiling machine is now fully bedded in and producing outstanding images for our clients."

He continues: "The hot foiling machine offers a unique look and style. It is very versatile, with an unusually large bed allowing for images up to 410mm x 550mm. We have a huge range of foils including standard gold, silver, and coloured metallic, as well as pantone colours and holographic foils, which enables us to offer unique finishes for our varied client base."

Exclusively Designed Luxury Rope Handled Bottle Bags

Exclusively Designed Luxury Rope Handled Bottle Bags - Ideal for Christmas Promotions

Our Bottle Bags

Print and Packaging is offering amazing luxury rope handled bottle bags, printed with exclusive designs bespoke for your business. Send your corporate Christmas gifts in style this year with our amazing range of gloss and matt laminated luxury rope handled bottle bags.

Quantity	2 colour	4 colour
250 Bags	£2.78 per bag	£3.68 per bag
500 Bags	£1.68 per bag	£2.13 per bag

Available in a variety of sizes:

120mm x 390mm x 90mm / 100mm x 365mm x 90mm

Or talk to us about your preferred size.

Don't miss out on the amazing Christmas offers from Print & Packaging.

Personalised Christmas Cards

Join in the celebrations this year with bespoke Christmas Cards from Print and Packaging.

Print and Packaging is proud to announce this year's amazing personalised Christmas card offer.

You pick the design - personalise the message and font - we'll take care of the rest.

With over 50 unique designs to choose from, send your Xmas message in a personalised branded greetings card from Print and Packaging.

For orders placed before 15th November we are offering a £10 M&S voucher to help towards the Christmas champers!

A6 or A5 - Printed on 350gsm silk board - 50 designs to choose from - Complete with 100gsm envelopes

Quantity	A6	A5
50 Cards	£130	£135
100 Cards	£140	£150
150 Cards	£160	£170
250 Cards	£180	£192

Don't miss out on the amazing Christmas offers from Print & Packaging. Make an enquiry today!

Brand Addition Success

Brand Addition required 500 luxury rope handle bags within 2 weeks, for their launch event.

The Project

We were highly recommended to Brand Addition by another prestigious client.

Brand Addition also mentioned that they had heard of our excellent service through the pipe line.

After closely looking after this order I am please to say that we produced and delivered the bags on time, and accomplished the task successfully.

Brand Addition was so pleased with their bags and service, they sent us a picture of them enjoying their bags at the event.

Sustainable Packaging

Packaging has a key role to play in helping society live more sustainably. It is a crucial part of the system for delivering products from their point of production to their point of consumption. We already have policies on Sustainable Production and Consumption. The link between production and consumption is distribution, and packaging's role in Sustainable Distribution is vital.

What Does This Mean?

For packaging, Sustainable Distribution means: -

optimising the use of material, water and energy
minimising waste from both product and used packaging
maximising recovery of value from waste as material, energy or compost

To achieve this, packaging has to be designed taking into account its entire lifecycle and the characteristics of the product, the supply chain and the needs of consumers.â€¨â€¨Looking at packaging in isolation ignores the 'big picture' requirements of sustainability. We need to look beyond narrow considerations such as packaging waste and recycling to consider all of the aspects including product wastage, water consumption, energy use and transport impacts.

The UK under pressure

The UK is under pressure to follow suit after major supermarkets show remarkable results.

The Situation

With Northern Ireland and Scotland next in line to introduce the charge and even the potential of EU wide ban in the wings the single use plastic bag may soon be a thing of the past.

P&P think the idea of changing peoples habits is likely to require a stick and carrot approach and the problem with single use plastic carrier bags is exactly that - in the shoppers consider them to be a throw away item.

Stronger, more durable 'bags for life' have seen a huge increase in take-up from an eco-conscious public and are now becoming a popular promotional tool.

P&P are able to offer a wide range of eco-alternatives to the single use plastic bag from paper, jute and cotton to biodegradable polythene.