Diamond Packaging today announced that it won four awards, including all three in the Sustainability – Folding Cartons category, in the 30th annual packagePRINTING Excellence Awards, the industry's only competition recognizing the highest level of printing quality and technical achievement across the full range of packaging segments – labels, flexible packaging, folding cartons, and corrugated. Winners were chosen from hundreds of entries submitted in over 40 different categories. Entries were judged on print quality, functionality, and secondary converting and finishing attributes.

Diamond won two awards, including First Place in the “Specialty – Technical Achievement” category and Third Place in the “Sustainability – Folding Cartons” category, for its 2016 calendar, which marks the 25th anniversary of a long-standing company tradition. The grandfather clock theme, with its inner mechanisms perfectly balanced, represents the collaborative and precise nature of Diamond’s work.

The calendar was converted utilizing Clearwater Paper Candesce® SBS paperboard and offset printed with four color process inks, UV matte coating, and UV gloss spot coating.

The dimensional header features a multi-level embossed and debossed woodgrain pattern, and a striking clock face insert enhanced with UV gloss spot coating, cold foil, and multi-level embossing, creating a dramatic sense of texture and depth. It also incorporates an opening APET rigid window panel and foil embossed chimes that artfully simulate a real grandfather clock.

The middle backers also feature a multi-level embossed woodgrain pattern, and three unique sets of foil embossed gears enhanced with UV gloss spot coating. Metal Magic provided all of the embossing dies.

The tightly-registered foil accents, which lend authenticity to the piece, were achieved using state-of-the-art, in-line cold foiling technology. They also showcase the type of decorative effects that can cost-effectively elevate customers’ brands.

Diamond won First Place in the “Sustainability – Folding Cartons” category for L’Oreal USA’s Matrix Oil Wonders promotional packaging.

The carton was converted utilizing KapStone Kraftpak® high-yield, low density paperboard and printed with UV flexo white, opaque white, four color process, and dense black inks, in-line with UV varnish.

Printed opaque white dots provide a perfect counterpoint to the brilliant gold foil stamped dots, creating dimension and visual interest. Gold foil surrounds the die cut windows, framing the hair care products within and drawing attention to the free product sample inside. The interplay between the unbleached paperboard and foil accents create shimmering metallic effects that are very unusual for a kraft-type folding carton.

Diamond won Second Place in the “Sustainability – Folding Cartons” category for Gurwitch Products’ Laura Mercier Verbena Infusion folding carton.

The carton was converted utilizing FSC-certified Invercote G paperboard and offset printed with two PMS green and black inks, in-line with UV matte coating.

Printing on the reverse side of the board contributes to the product's natural aesthetic, while the subtle foil stamping and embossing accents on the front, side, and top panels infuses the visual with a rich, exotic quality.

All of Diamond’s winning entries were manufactured using 100% clean, renewable wind energy and produced in a Zero Manufacturing Waste to Landfill (ZMWL) facility.