Berlin Packaging – The World’s Largest Hybrid Packaging Supplier
This article contains paid-for content created in collaboration with Berlin Packaging UK.
In the UK packaging market, glass is considered to be a key segment – particularly in the beverage sector. Glass bottles are prized for their recyclability, reusability, and ability to protect the contents within from harmful gases and vapours that would otherwise lead to premature degradation and decreased shelf life.
Finding a partner that is able to design, specify, manufacture and deliver logistically is, for many brands, the ideal option, particularly when these elements are backed by knowledgeable experts with the ability to consult at every step of the process. From a decorative point of view, the options are many and varied, and hitting upon the best possible combination is more complex than many believe.
Start with the basics
From the outset, hand-crafted artwork sketches are the jumping off point, as designers work to a customer’s brief to create a variety of concepts to help with brand development. Customers can choose from a wide range of finishes, depending on the vision for the brand, which can include processes such as hot foil, which applies a metallic finish to the bottle, UV inks, frosted lacquers and a wide range of coatings – from opaque or glossy to vignette and transparent.
Following the fundamental steps of deciding on a decorative finish, to fully enhance a product’s packaging a range of embellishments exist that will add a 100% unique touch to the design. Processes such as embossing, debossing and engraving are all possible, as well as additions such as wax, inserts, badges, bottle collars or even tamper-evident watch straps. This is just the tip of the iceberg of course, and if a customer can imagine it the experts should have the capability to realise it.
“Following the fundamental steps of deciding on a decorative finish, to fully enhance a product’s packaging, a range of embellishments exist that will add a 100% unique touch to the design’’
Move on to the technological
Once decided, from vectorised sketches 2D drawings are developed in the highest quality to help evaluate prototype concepts and further refine the overall brand design. Then things turn fully interactive in the form of 3D CAD models, allowing the product to be viewed from all angles through 360 degrees. This helps to visualise the fine details, whilst the models can also be used to produce production glass moulds.
Photorealistic renders can then be produced, providing a rapid and cost-effective exploration of the concept with fully simulated finished decoration. Finally, high quality physical samples are made using a stereolithography 3D printer, which can be polished to look like real glass.
Finish with a flourish
No stone is left unturned in the process of strengthening a brand’s performance in the retail environment, therefore in addition to the above steps it is also possible to add complementary products to further the level of customisation. Pourer tops, screw caps and capsules are infinitely customisable, while T-stoppers, for example, can be added from a variety of materials; wood, plastic, metal, ceramic & stone, with a variety of finishes including embossing, etching, printing, inserts and more.
The options are so plentiful that customers will likely need a consultant to help them narrow things down, but the benefits of this level of engagement across the process are abundant. True differentiation comes from deep knowledge and experience, and when applied to a creative direction with the passion a brand has to succeed, an impactful and striking end product is the inevitable result.
For more information, email Info.uk@berlinpackaging.com, or visit their website.
