A seminar on the 'sensory experience of flexible films' was held in Melbourne last week.
The Ampacet Sensory Innovation seminar addressed ways of enhancing sensory cues other than sight in packaging to ignite a connection with the consumer.
The event, hosted by Ampacet's Douglas Brownfield, was attended by over 30 industry leaders representing major plastic converters from both flexible and rigid plastics segments.
Ampacet's sales and marketing manager, George Pasti, told PKN: “ We were overwhelmed with the response of attendees and certainly this was a testimonial of how innovation inspires Australian manufacturing”.
Specialty products discussed included: ReptypleFX, Paper 2.0, Synwrap, Syntear, Soft Touch Matte, Fauxfoil, and Anti-Skid.
“Using more senses in package design will initiate the buying process as you connect deeper into the consumer’s subconscious,” Brownfield said.
He said haptics, or tactility, was a highly underutilised sense in flexible packaging design.
“There are several new haptic additive and colour technologies innovated by Ampacet that enhance the experience of touch,” Brownfield said.
“These are actually extruded within a flexible film structure, not a printing or coating technology.”
Brownfield outlined several products:
ReptyleFx is a special effect additive that creates a unique faux snakeskin, multi-dimensional textured colour. The special effect additive, which is extruded into the skin layer, creates a controllable textured, cellular pattern on the outer layer of a flexible film that allows several layered colours to become visible.
Paper 2.0 and SynWrap are new synthetic kraft paper effect additives that create a highly textured paper feel along with superior dead-fold properties equal to paper and tissue wrap paper.
SoftTouch Matte is a new resin/additive compound that creates a true soft feel and matte effect that is extruded into a PE film structure. A soft pearl effect achievable with SoftTouch Matte can result in a high-end luxury look.
FauxFoil Silver Chrome is a new highly reflective silver colour additive that more closely mimics the look of metalised film or foil with the added benefits of a soft touch and quiet, low-noise film effect.
Anti-Skid is a highly rough, clear particle additive that creates a frosted or antique glass effect in PE films.
Ampacet can also formulate any possible scent or fragrance masterbatch for PE film structures.
