The service gives manufacturers specialized knowledge in the use of holography and 3D designs for packaging in the food and drink sector.
$642k investment
The announcement is part of API’s expansion of its holographic foil and film manufacturing capabilities after completing a £0.5m ($642k) investment at its facility in Livingston, Scotland.
David Peters, creative development manager, API, who is head of the Holonique Boutique said brand and category managers are becoming more sophisticated in their market segmentation and need holographic and diffractive patterns to differentiate themselves as part of the overall packaging design.
“We have helped a number of new and exciting holographic packaging designs launch in the market from a premium impact drinks gift box for a leading spirits brand, which highlights the interplay with the print, and a Fresnel holographic lens that enhances the branding device,” he said.
“Luxury packaging is becoming more and more segmented, and the differentiation is created by increasingly subtle and sophisticated designs.
"Combined with the latest materials and print techniques, holographic effects and diffractive patterns are taking pack design to the next level.
"We’ve set up Holonique Boutique to help brands integrate these new techniques, and by working very closely with them throughout the process, we aim to provide a premium edge to their final brand packs.”
The Holonique Boutique team works with customers and designers to develop a concept – from knowing how the light will catch a shopper’s eyes using the pack structure and print, to taking inspiration from the latest trends to deliver a dynamic impact.
OpSec Security Group
Peters added, while holography is often used to protect against counterfeiting, its eye-catching appeal using bright colors and dynamic movement of a hologram, together with the traditional print on a pack, can add the kind of depth and dimension with which consumers love to interact.
The facility in Scotland is the main holographic manufacturing site in Europe for API, offering customers decorative holographic foils and films from three coating lines and embossing.
The investment was made after API sold its security holographic business; API Holographics to OpSec Security Group last year.
The sale included commercial and production assets of the Salford, UK-based security holographics company, along with employees who transferred to OpSec.