All-Natural Water Enhancer 'Skyrockets' to Success with Supplier Help - Packaging World

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All-Natural Water Enhancer 'Skyrockets' to Success with Supplier Help - Packaging World

Berlin Packaging and an outside co-packer help Brite Idea Foods' all-natural product and innovative package top Amazon's Hot New Release list.

The liquid water enhancer market is only four years old, but this highly competitive category has become crowded with palm-sized packages that let consumers flavor their water, typically using squeezable rigid containers to squirt flavorings. Brite Idea Foods’ H2wOw sought to enter the category with what it believed to be the first all-natural water enhancer late last year. The company needed not only a unique package to establish a strong brand identity but a package design that allowed easy one-handed use and maximum label space to tell the product story. Company co-founder Tim Welch, a 25-year consumer packaged goods industry veteran whose achievements include major expansions of the Emergen-C vitamin C drink mix and Promax energy bar brands, turned to Berlin Packaging and its Studio One Eleven design agency for help. Among his directives: Give the packaging a “fresh fruit feeling” to convey the idea that H2wOw is flavored with real fruit extracts rather than the artificial ingredients used by competitors.

Packaging is done by a (yet) undisclosed contract packaging service. 

The company reports that within six weeks after launch last December, H2wOw had skyrocketed to #1 in its category on Amazon’s Hot New Release list aided by positive reviews as well as strong packaging.

Three Packages Designed by Studio One Eleven Team Selected by Editors for 44 Best Package Designs - Packaging World

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Three Packages Designed by Studio One Eleven Team Selected by Editors of 44 Best Package Designs - Packaging World

Three packages designed by Studio One Eleven division of Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, have been recognized in the 44 Best Package Designs - 2015 report just released by Packaging World magazine. All three were selected by the publication’s editors for outstanding structure and branding. The Studio One Eleven honorees were:

View the Armor All case study

View the Armor All case study

Armor All Wash & Wax + Protect – Designed to visually suggest the product’s power to protect vehicles against the elements, this 48 oz, non-handled PET bottle boasts a muscular silhouette with dynamic line work, clear resin that showcases the pearlescent color of the product inside, and an asymmetrical black overcap that seamlessly integrates with the bottle profile. The overcap protects a standard 38-400 CT closure, covers the bottle fill line, and can be used to dose the concentrated formula. The label panel is indented to shift volume to the bottle’s perimeter, boosting the size impression on the shelf. 

 

View the Fuller Brush Case Study

View the Fuller Brush Case Study

Stanley 100 Laundry Detergent – Fuller Brush owns this brand and wanted a package that evoked the milk jugs that were popular when Fuller Brush was founded over a century ago. The unique structure of this 50 oz transparent HDPE package, which contains 25% post-consumer resin, was designed to help the company penetrate mass market chains as well as appeal to younger consumers with a new concentrated formula delivering 100 loads per bottle. A novel ergonomic handle makes it easy to pour with one hand, a stock 43 mm drain-back closure system prevents leaking, a 1 oz dosing cap measures each load, and the bottle structure instantly distinguishes the product from competitors. 

View the Morton Salt Grinder Case Study

View the Morton Salt Grinder Case Study

Morton Salt & Pepper Grinders – In a first for grocery-store salt and pepper grinders, these custom glass packages are designed to sit on the dinner table like upscale giftware with no conspicuous brand label. The Morton Grinder branding on the full-body shrink sleeve completely disappears when the sleeve is removed, leaving a clear glass bottle with a custom white or black snap-on overcap embossed with the Morton name and logo. A non-removable grinder beneath the overcap is kept in place by interlocking ratchet-like lugs built into both the grinder and bottle, thwarting refills so that consumers will restock when the bottles are empty. 

 

 
Every project we handle presents unique design challenges, from structure to commercial viability, differentiation on the shelf, and ultimately product sell-through that helps our customers build their bottom lines. These three projects are a small sampling of the creativity and versatility of our designers, the range of customers we work with, and our ability to deliver design concepts that carry over to practical manufacturing solutions.
— Scott Jost, VP of Innovation & Design at Berlin Packaging

Premium Package is Inspired By Luxury Brands - Packaging World Magazine

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Premium package is inspired by luxury brands - Packaging World Magazine

Patrick Kidd had a very clear vision of the package design he wanted for his debut line of Patricks premium hair styling products for men—And nothing less would do.

His concept was a sleek and sophisticated container that would provide a luxury look and feel for his $60 product, while offering functional benefits. Among them, a double-locking lid to keep product from leaking, a shape that would aid access to the last bit of product, and a rubber base that would prevent container slippage on wet surfaces.

“It took an incredible four-year cross-collaborative effort between myself, designers, custom tooling specialists, engineers, and the factory to bring my packaging ideas into reality,” he says. “I think I drove everyone crazy with how perfect I needed to get everything, even the sound of the lid clicking closed.”

To design this custom container, Kidd worked with Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven. The end result is a rectangular black matte box made of polypropylene, with an integrated, locking lid, aluminum accents, screen-printed decoration, and a rubber gasket on the base. The container, supplied by Berlin Global Packaging Group, holds 85 g of product and was designed primarily for travel and for portability in gym bags and briefcases. The small size complies with airline regulations for carry-on products, while the double-lock latch keeps product from leaking in transit.

Many of the structural elements of the container were inspired by premium luxury brands, Kidd explains. For example, the “universally beautiful” design of Aston Martin’s One-77 coupe, based around the golden ratio, or Fibonacci sequence, drove the dimensions of the package. The main angle in the jar was inspired by the air vent in the side door of the Lamborghini Aventador luxury vehicle, the matte black finish by the Audi R8 coupe, and the simplicity of the design and the use of aluminum by Apple products.

Among the functional benefits of the structure, rounded corners inside the container make it easy for the consumer to get the last bit of product out—addressing a common complaint, especially with higher-priced products. To prevent slippage, protect bathroom surfaces, and ensure a gentle sound when putting the package down, a thin rubber inlay—inspired by an Apple MacBook Pro that uses rubber around the screen—is integrated under the aluminum base.

An especially important functional feature for Kidd was the sound of the double-locking lid. “We wanted the system to have a definite, strong click so the consumer would know it was securely locked,” he says. “We looked at many different variables to ensure the correct sound. This included plastic thickness, rivet placements, and quantity of rivets.”

Aesthetic touches include aluminum fused into the latch and base plate that provides strength, durability, and beauty. Labels are laser-etched directly onto the aluminum, eliminating the need for paper, stickers, and glue, and the matte finish on the outside of the container is “tactile, practical, and beautiful,” says Kidd.

Getting all these elements right was a painstaking process, for Kidd and Berlin. 

There were many times we had to completely rebuild the tool in order to achieve the quality we were after. Some consumers may never have noticed the tiny sink marks or internal ejector pin marks, but these small details were extremely important to us, and Berlin supported our relentless, perfectionist demands.
— Patrick Kidd

Patricks haircare products for men in four formulations were introduced in November 2014 through online retailer Mr Porter and are now being sold via premium online and brick-and-mortar stores worldwide.

Grandma Hoerner’s Big Slice Kettle Cooked Apples Get a New Look - Food & Beverage Packaging Magazine

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Grandma Hoerner’s Big Slice Kettle Cooked Apples Get a New Look - Food & Beverage Packaging Magazine

Packaging food products based on heritage recipes can be a tricky proposition. Put the product in a vintage-style container, and it can look stodgy. Update it, and you risk losing the handcrafted, good-for-you image. That was the challenge faced by Grandma Hoerner’s, a line of Big Slice Kettle Cooked Apples, jams, pie fillings and assorted other fruit- and vegetable-based products, when the company decided that its Mason-type jars and branding were past their prime.

The upgrade – facilitated by Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven design division – modernizes the package without losing the heritage positioning. Features include:

  • Custom square and rectangular bottle structures with pedestal-like detailing at the shoulder and base, marking a strong differentiation from the round bottles that dominate the category while also minimizing shipping costs from China by enabling more bottles to fit on a pallet.
  • Extra-large brand embossments on one side of each jar, bolstering the impression of a product with a special provenance.
  • A three-sided wraparound label that delivers the real estate required to tell the product story. The recessed label panel area created by the slight broadening of the jar at the top and bottom protects the label from damage as the jar is handled.
  • A custom deep twist closure that matches the dot pattern on the label.

With its premium look, the new package is helping Grandma Hoerner’s increase shelf space in the highly competitive fruit and jelly categories. 

Rocker Cap Speeds Handwash Dispensing - Packaging World Magazine

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Rocker Cap Speeds Handwash Dispensing - Packaging World Magazine

Mechanics and DIYers will appreciate the new disc-top rocker closure used for Fast Orange waterless hand cleaner that allows for one-hand opening and dispensing.

Permatex, an automotive repair and maintenance products company, has tipped the waterless hand cleaner segment in its favor with a clever new disc-top closure. Permatex’s Fast Orange is the number one-selling waterless hand cleaner. Recently, the company joined with Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven to refresh the package design for the product. After extensive research, Studio One Eleven determined that Permatex’s customer base, comprised primarily of mechanics and DIYers, preferred one-handed cleaner dispensing while washing their hands.

Using this knowledge, designers came up with a unique rocker design that places the disc top on the package bottom. With this design, users can simply tap the bottle on its bottom corner to open the spout and dispense, then tap the spout again to close.

Making the new design practical, however, required extensive engineering, particularly for the Pumice variety. Repeated testing and multiple design iterations were necessary to ensure not only easy-squeeze dispensing of the product, but also a clean, clog-free closure with a simple tap of the rocker closure on any flat surface, all with one hand.

Fast Orange, now sporting cutting-edge, eye-catching packaging, has reinvigorated Permatex’s 60-year history in hand cleaners and has strengthened its lead in the category. Promoted by the company through a YouTube video, the innovation has also formed the cornerstone of the brand’s recent marketing efforts.


Watch the Rocker Cap in action:


Studio One Eleven touts freedom, 'real-time awareness' in industrial design - Chicago Tribune

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Chicago Tribune: Blue Sky Originals
Studio One Eleven touts freedom, 'real-time awareness' in industrial design - Chicago Tribune

Designers at Studio 111, a unit of Chicago-based container manufacturing giant Berlin Packaging, work on packaging designs for clients such as Procter & Gamble, Walgreens and Coca-Cola. If a client likes the design or product, Berlin Packaging produces it for that client and reaps the revenue.

If a client doesn’t like the design, Studio 111 retains the intellectual property with the hope of selling it to another client, and no money changes hands.
“I waive hundreds of thousands of dollars of fees per job, in some cases, in exchange for the ability to supply the components that we’re working on,” said Scott Jost, vice president of innovation and design and the head of Studio 111.

Studio 111 has 20 team members who work mainly as industrial and graphic designers and market researchers. They’re all Berlin Packaging employees.

Jost, who started the studio in 2003, said he agreed to take on the project because the company would allow him to run it like a design studio.

He said Berlin Packaging, which Oak Hill Capital Partners acquired for $1.4 billion in late 2014, places no limits on what Studio 111 designers create because the company isn’t restricted by machinery.

“Berlin doesn’t make things,” Jost said. “We don’t own a single piece of injection molding equipment. We don’t own a single blow molding facility. We contract everything.”

He thereby describes Studio 111’s model as an “unlimited machine platform,” thanks to Berlin’s relationships with more than 700 suppliers. Jost said that frees designers to pursue what’s best for the brand or the end user rather than the manufacturer.

He said Studio 111 has reinvented packaging for Mel-O Honey, the brand that introduced the famous bear-shaped dispenser; created a patented device for measuring the correct amount of concentrated cleaner solution for Libman; and designed high-end packaging with aluminum accents for Patricks, a men’s grooming company.

Jost said he makes Studio 111 designers aware of the division’s budget and that they manage their design portfolios like investment portfolios, taking into account risk and opportunities for returns.

“They’re all managing their own portfolio and apportioning their time based upon that real-time awareness of what’s going on and all the moving pieces,” he said.

Some might liken Studio 111’s model to what is known in the creative world as designing on spec. For many independent firms or designers, it’s a tricky proposition because it can involve a major time commitment without guaranteed payment.

Ric Grefé, CEO of professional design association AIGA, said the unpredictable nature of traditional spec work breeds fast designing and prevents designers from working closely with clients.

Yet at Studio 111, Jost said, the design process is “time intensive,” sometimes stretching months.

“That element of it is respectful of design, the fact that designers are being paid to work with the client to develop an appropriate response over time,” Grefé said.

Richard Shear, a Connecticut-based chief creative officer of independent design firm Invok Brands, said it’s common for manufacturers and advertising agencies to have their own design studios. Yet he said the Berlin-Studio 111 model is a “lose-lose” for the design industry wherein independents must compete on whether they’ll work on spec, rather than on their portfolios, relationships or price.

“One way to look at it is that Berlin Packaging’s revenue comes from selling millions and millions of cans or bottles for revenue,” Shear said. “They use design as a sales tool to sell cans and bottles.”

Shear acknowledged that the model makes sense for Berlin and companies like it, but he warned that consumer packaged-goods companies are realizing that their model of shipping identical products across the world may be less attractive to future generations that crave more variety.

Nevertheless, Jost said he’s focused on doing design work that will drive manufacturing contracts to Berlin, and he said Studio 111 designs products with the assumption that Berlin will produce them.

He sees that time and work as an investment.

“It is absolutely not about getting somebody to pay for my design service,” he said.

Berlin Packaging Continues Its Unbroken Gold Streak at 2015 NACD Packaging Awards

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Berlin Packaging Continues Its Unbroken Gold Streak at 2015 NACD Packaging Awards

Packaging Leader Recognized with Medals in Six of Nine Categories Including Two Gold; Company Chairman and CEO Andrew T. Berlin Inducted into NACD Hall of Fame.

Berlin Packaging, the only Hybrid Packaging Supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, today announced its continued prominence at the NACD (National Association of Container Distributors) Packaging Awards. At the 2015 show, Berlin received seven medals spanning six of the nine competitive categories, including Gold medals for Walgreens Good & Delish Nuts and Permatex Fast Orange hand cleaner.

Also at this year’s ceremony, Andrew T. Berlin, Chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging, was recognized as the 2015 inductee into the NACD Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the packaging industry. Under Mr. Berlin’s leadership, Berlin Packaging has grown to be one of the largest and most dynamic suppliers of packaging products and services in North America.

2015 marks the fifth consecutive year Berlin Packaging has been awarded Gold medals at the NACD show. Its consistent record of excellence places the company among the most honored packaging suppliers in the industry.

The NACD Packaging Awards is a national competition recognizing compelling packaging released during the previous year. In addition to its two Gold awards, Berlin Packaging also received three Silver medals and two Bronze. Specific results included:


Walgreens Good & Delish Nuts (Gold, Food) is a clever combination of utility, user delight and effective merchandising. Realized in two cupholder-friendly sizes, the packages feature a shared screw-off closure that doubles as a single-serving bowl. Reflecting the trend insight that people often eat nuts in small portions as a “bridge snack” between meals, the palm-sized cap/cup makes snacking a neat and convenient experience. Tapered at the top and bottom to create visual interest, the packages are engineered for secure stacking on Walgreens’ shelves.


Permatex Fast Orange (Gold, Household Chemical & Automotive), a revolutionary packaging innovation for the #1 selling waterless hand cleaner, introduces a proprietary “rocker” closure. The disc-top, placed on the inverted package’s bottom, gives users a one-handed solution during hand washing. Users simply tap the bottle on its bottom corner to open the spout and dispense the cleaner, then tap again to close. The novel closure design, since promoted by Permatex via a YouTube video, has become the cornerstone of the brand’s most recent marketing efforts.


Haviland Stryker (Silver, General Industrial) proves that packaging for medical equipment cleaning products needn’t be boring. Taking its cue from Stryker’s Blu62 brand name, the new package features a stock cobalt blue bottle that instantly distinguishes the product from competitors. The trigger sprayer, selected after testing more than 25 options, delivers a foaming spray pattern that avoids atomization in the operating room and ensures that application is focused on the intended medical and surgical instruments.


Kirkland Optifiber (Silver, Drug & Pharmaceutical) is a package refresh for Costco’s private label signature fiber supplement. The new package structure replaces a wide-mouthed cylinder HDPE container similar to that used by competitors with a unique, pinched-waist silhouette that adds ergonomic benefits. A full-body shrink sleeve covers the 120mm megaflap closure to eliminate the visual break between bottle and cap.


Kenra Hair Care (Silver, Cosmetic & Personal Care) encompasses several package innovations for the brand’s Platinum haircare line sold in salons and upscale cosmetic retail chains. Kenra’s Blow-Dry Foam includes a custom oblong bottle with reverse taper, stock applicator and clear polypropylene cap with chrome neck finish. Kenra’s Texture Powder, a second product, employs a custom polyethylene oval bottle—the first in the category to depart from a stock round solution.


Celeste Airline Hand Soap (Bronze, General Industrial) features a scent-impregnated collar allowing the package to double as a soap dispenser and air freshener. Along with reducing bottle weight by more than 10%, the custom three-SKU refresh improves the appearance of the company’s airline lavatory soap bottles without requiring a change to the soap “pucks” already installed on airplane sinks. By creating a scented SKU, airlines can replace lavatory soap and air freshener simultaneously without replenishing air fresheners typically hung on the back of lavatory doors.


United Pet Group/FURminator (Bronze, Pet & Vet) creates competitive advantage via a slender-waisted bottle with pinch grip and scored texture finish that allows home and professional groomers to grab, open and apply the product easily with one hand. The custom HDPE and stock polypropylene closure, matched to the distinctive FURminator brand colors, not only created higher placement with virtually every retail chain, but also exceeded sales projections by 80%.


“Berlin’s winning entries in this year’s NACD Packaging Awards prove once again that excellent design can—and should—have a major impact on a customer’s bottom line profitability,” stated Andrew T. Berlin, Chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging. “Each of these winners solves real business problems and creates tangible competitive advantage. I’m proud of the efforts our employees make to uncover exceptional, innovative solutions for our customers, and to turn these solutions into reality with our unwavering focus on supply chain efficiency, operational excellence and customer thrill.”

Five Pitfalls to Avoid During Package Design

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Five Pitfalls to Avoid During Package Design

Studio One Eleven Shares Proven Approach, Expertise with Launch of New Website

Designing a package seems to be a straightforward process. Unfortunately when companies embrace this notion, they compromise their brand, their supply chain, and even their financials.

The professionals at Studio One Eleven, the design and innovation division of Berlin Packaging, have more than 150 years of combined experience creating successful packaging across all markets. Here are common pitfalls they see—as well as tips for avoiding them:

  • Jumping into ideation without a solid foundation. Brand positioning, consumer insights, competitors’ strengths and weaknesses, market trends—these factors and many others are the building blocks of a proper design process. But many agencies overlook or simply don’t seek out these critical inputs. Designing great packaging requires a full and accurate analysis of where, how, and for whom a package must perform, addressing factors from costs to merchandising to sustainability.
  • Designing without regard for the rest of the supply chain. A good package solution is much more than a compelling visual; it’s a well-reasoned response to a commercial opportunity that can be manufactured efficiently and flow smoothly through the whole supply chain
  • Thinking too narrowly. It’s important to appreciate the visual vernacular of the product category in which you’re competing, but groundbreaking solutions also take cues from outside the category and challenge conventions in ways that consumers appreciate.
  • Designing for the sake of design. Properly framed, design is the creative means to a commercial end. Marketers and brand owners want to engage partners and advocates who pursue a common-sense goal of building a successful brand.
  • Accepting misaligned incentives. Agencies that sell their time are, by definition, driven to take more of it, sometimes placing their financial incentives at odds with their client’s need for speed and efficiency. On the other hand, package manufacturers are incented to fill machine capacity, so their decisions aren’t driven by the best solution for the brand, but rather the best solution that they can manufacture. You should pay only for real performance and ensure that your interests and those of your partners are aligned.

“There are lots of players in the market today that say they’re qualified to develop a product or package. Very few, however, have the skills, the tools, the aligned incentives, and a certified process to do so properly,” said Scott Jost, Vice President of Innovation & Design at Studio One Eleven. “With all that is at stake, companies are wise to work with a team that is well-versed in every aspect of developing this critical business asset.”

Studio One Eleven’s newly-refreshed website, www.studio111design.com, features a huge array of content that informs package and product design decision-makers. The site includes information about the Studio One Eleven team, an overview of their practice areas and ISO-certified design process, examples of their work, white papers, and more insight on what sets Studio One Eleven apart.

“With hundreds of custom components developed every year, we offer our world-class services at no charge in exchange for the client’s packaging business. Packaging is the currency we use, which makes perfect sense given Berlin Packaging’s packaging expertise and entrepreneurial approach to doing whatever it takes to increase our customers’ bottom lines,” Jost noted. “We want to help our customers package more profit.

Scientific Bottle Theme Creates Chemistry for Micro-Distillery Customers

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Scientific Bottle Theme Creates Chemistry for Micro-Distillery Customers

Chicago’s first micro-distillery, CH Distillery, built its personality early on with the theme, “The Science of Alcohol.” It played out the theme in its downtown Chicago cocktail bar-cum-restaurant through a chic laboratory vibe complete with polished chrome pipes, a bar with steel detailing, and muted industrial lighting.

Establishing the same clean, scientific look in CH Distillery product packaging, however, took the skills of Berlin Packaging and its Studio One Eleven design group. Months before the club opened, Berlin began working with the client to create an innovative packaging concept that would span all 11 spirits in the CH Distillery line.

The resulting custom 750 ml 28/400 clear glass bottle features a thick bottom for an enriched, specialty look, while the long body and short neck creates an aesthetically taller appearance that also functions easily in the bartenders’ well. Making a clean break from see-through Grey Goose wannabes, CH Distillery bottles take an opposite approach via an opaque, blanketed label. The solution starts with a sprayed-on coating followed by four-pass silkscreening for the pearlized background, grey text, and a logo color-coded for each spirit. Silver bands at the top and bottom of the label soften the edges while the matching silver butylstyrene cap, sourced from France, displays an embossed CH logo.

In addition to serving as design consultant, Berlin functions as CH Distillery’s supply chain manager, warehousing the packaging for on-demand delivery. Launching just 10 months after initial meeting, the packaging is a hit with aficionados and a breakthrough for “The Science of Alcohol.” 

Using Color Psychology to Differentiate Packaging

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Using Color Psychology to Differentiate Packaging

Color is a differentiator on the retail shelf, but the absence of it can sometimes be a better choice. A white bottle can serve as a neutral backdrop for color-coded labels and closures. It can send a subliminal message of purity, wholesomeness and cleanliness. It can stand out amid a sea of brightly colored competitors and convey a premium image that instantly separates a brand from everything else in the category.

One company that has discovered the might of white is household cleaning products manufacturer Weiman Products. In the first 12 months after switching its floor cleaning SKUs from lime-green PET tapered bottles to a curvy custom 27oz white HDPE package — and simultaneously expanding the number of SKUs from two to five — Weiman tripled sales of the line and secured new placements in major chains like Walmart.

The new bottle was designed, engineered and sourced by the Studio One Eleven design division of Berlin Packaging. All design services were supplied at no charge in exchange for Weiman’s purchase of all containers and closures from Berlin Packaging.

The Studio One Eleven team recommended the use of a white bottle for Weiman’s floor care line after category analysis and requests by the client for a new pack with more room for artwork and product positioning. Designers also proposed a benefit-driven communication architecture that worked in conjunction with the white motif to transform the original pedestrian-looking bottle into an elegant, upscale package that shines on the shelf while communicating key product qualities.

Founded in 1941, Weiman Products sells products such as bathroom, furniture and stainless steel cleaners to some of the top mass market retailers, supermarkets, hardware stores and home improvement centers in North America. The company expanded into the floor cleaner category in 2008 with vibrant green bottles selected to send a “green” message about the products’ eco-friendly formula. 

By 2011, however, it became clear that the Weiman Floor Cleaner and Floor Polish products were underperforming. The company decided to replace those two all-purpose products with five SKUs segmented for use with hardwood, carpet and laminate/stone floors. They also elected to simultaneously relaunch the line with a completely new packaging aesthetic.

“Our product formulation was better than that of our competitors, but our market share wasn’t growing at the rate we wanted,” says Prachi Junnarkar, program director, Weiman. “We did a lot of internal marketing analysis and consumer surveys, and we determined that one of the stumbling blocks was our packaging and labeling. We weren’t communicating our brand quality, telling our product story clearly or differentiating ourselves from the competition. We needed a total package makeover to accomplish those goals.”

The Studio One Eleven team began by visiting stores to examine competitive products’ packaging, document merchandising standards and interview store employees about their perceptions of the Weiman product. After analyzing its findings, the team concluded that the bottle structure needed to be both modernized and feminized to pump up the shelf appeal. It also needed a communication architecture that focused less on cleaning power and more on the non-toxic formula that it is safe to use around children and pets.

The Studio then developed initial package concepts that used white bottles and aligned with the white bottle/black closure brand structure used with most other Weiman products.

The final design features an offset shoulder, curves and a tapered base that contribute to the softened profile. The narrow neck also enables ergonomic handling.

The shape of the shoulder was moderated during the prototype stage to allow the same bottle to be manufactured with both 28/400 and 28mm ratchet neck finishes for use with different SKUs requiring flip tops and trigger sprayers, respectively, saving Weiman the cost of building two different bottle molds. The shoulder modifications also ensured that the trigger would not cause trouble on the filling line by overhanging the base. Stock black trigger sprayers are used on the trigger bottles, and off-the-shelf flip-top caps color-coded to match product labels are used on the squeeze bottles.

The label panel covers most of the real estate on both the front and back of the package, accommodating pressure-sensitive labels that are die-cut to mirror the panel shape. The visual architecture, inspired by the Studio’s branding strategy and developed by Weiman Art Director Rhonda Fonk, is dominated by images of kids and pets on the floor surface corresponding to the relevant SKU.

Shortly before all design components were finalized, Weiman faced a critical deadline to present the relaunched line to Walmart. Berlin Packaging consultant Ann Fisher arranged to expedite production of starch models for the meeting, picked up the finished models and hand delivered them to Weiman in time for the presentation. Weiman managers walked away from the meeting with an order and barely two months to ship product — even though the production molds had not yet been built. 

Still, six weeks later, Weiman had the finished bottles in hand and met Walmart’s timeline.

“Our bottle is our No. 1 salesman, and our old package wasn’t doing the job. The growth in our floor cleaner line proves that the new bottle is sending the right message to shoppers,” says Junnarkar. “People may think of white as being a conservative package choice, but in our case, it really raised the bar. With a green package, consumers didn’t seem to take us seriously or even notice us on the shelf. Now we turn heads, and that drives sales.” 

New Floor Cleaning Bottle Triples Weiman's Sales - Packaging World

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New Floor Cleaning Bottle Triples Weiman's Sales - Packaging World

Replacing a lime-green oblong bottle with a clean, soft-edged, ergonomic container that clearly communicates the product’s use, Weiman’s new floor cleaner bottle triples sales.

By Anne Marie Mohan, Senior Editor

Color can be a great differentiator for product packaging. But in categories cluttered with a rainbow of bright bottles, sometimes a lack of color can be even more effective. In mid-2013, Weiman Products, LLC of Gurnee, IL, launched a reformulated line of five floor cleaning products, replacing its previous lime-green bottle with a clean, white custom container. In addition, lackluster label graphics were supplanted with bright, engaging images and copy. The result: Weiman nearly tripled its sales of the product in the first month after introduction.

But the redesign was not just cosmetic; Weiman was also looking for greater functionality and flexibility. “They needed to add sprayer bottles to the original squeeze bottles to accommodate the new formulations added as part of the floor cleaner line relaunch,” explains Ann Fisher, Senior Account Executive for Berlin Packaging. Berlin worked with Weiman to develop the new package structure and supply the components.

Modernizing and softening Weiman’s original oblong-shaped PET bottle, Berlin designed a new high-density polyethylene structure with an offset shoulder, gentle curves, a slightly pinched waist, and a tapered base, “all marking a sharp contrast to the straight sides of the outgoing package,” says Fisher. The narrow neck of the bottle also enables easy ergonomic handling, with grip indicators cuing consumers where to place their fingers. Berlin specified Poly Blow Moulding, Inc. to supply the bottle.

As Fisher relates, one manufacturing challenge associated with the new design was in adjusting the shape of the shoulder to ensure that the trigger sprayer would not overhang the base and cause problems on the filling line. “The original design was modified to ensure that the sprayer stayed within the width of the bottle,” she explains.

To accommodate two closure types—an Opus trigger sprayer from AFA Polytek, and a Simplicity Snap flip-top cap from Aptar—the bottle mold does not include a neck finish. The required configuration is dialed in on the assembly line to match the closure, using metrics supplied by each closure manufacturer.

Decorating the new bottle is a four-color flexo-printed pressure-sensitive film label converted byOrion Labels. Weiman’s in-house art director, Rhonda Fonk, designed the label graphics for the products, which include hardwood, carpet, laminate, and stone floor cleaners. Based on initial concepts and strategic direction from Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven, Fonk created bright designs that clearly communicate the specific product application. In contrast to the copy-heavy design of the previous packaging label, the new label is dominated by images of the floor surfaces, on which children and pets play, emphasizing the non-toxic nature of the formulas.

In addition to tripling Weiman’s sales of the floor cleaner line, the new package also has significantly reduced its unit costs, as it no longer must pay for colorants for its bottles, and has helped expand its distribution into key outlets, including Walmart.

East Meets West in Bruce Lee Tea challenge - Package Design

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East meets west in Bruce Lee tea challenge

BruceTea.jpg

Agility and resourcefulness were attributes Bruce Lee not only greatly admired, but totally embodied. When Lee’s daughter, Shannon, initiated a line of flavored teas based on her father’s personal recipes, those traits were called for again to make Bruce Tea a reality.

Beverage manufacturer Splash Beverage Group, Shannon Lee’s partner in the new venture, realized that only a highly experienced, global packaging company could source and furnish the line’s glass bottles and closures. Working from Shannon’s own designs, Berlin Packaging met the challenge with a multi-national sourcing solution.

Beginning with the glass bottle, Berlin Global, the company’s sourcing division, identified a Chinese supplier that could meet the demand. Very few stock alternatives exist for 15.2 oz glass containers; to solve the problem, Studio One Eleven engineered a custom mold. It also converted the client’s logo graphics for the custom-imprinted, 38 mm silver lug cap sourced in the United States by Berlin Global.

From design to initial production, Studio One Eleven served as liaison between client and supplier to ensure all specifications were met. Berlin continues to drive efficiency for Splash and Bruce Tea by warehousing the packaging for on-demand delivery to the filler.

Bruce Tea debuted successfully and the line is already into its second production run.


Fuller Brush Brand Boasts a New Look - Packaging World

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Berlin Packaging in Packaging World Magazine

The 108-year-old Fuller Brush brand is sporting a new look for its Stanley 100 detergent.

Best known for its original door-to-door sales force, Fuller Brush had already expanded into catalog distribution and a handful of online and retail channels. But it needed a makeover to penetrate mass market chains as well as appeal to younger consumers.

In 2014, as part of that strategy, new owners Victory Park Capital decided to replace separate 130-oz liquid and 10-lb powdered laundry detergents with a single reformulated liquid product that would be more concentrated to fit in a smaller container for easier merchandising as well as easier handling. Then they took a step they knew could make or break the initiative: creating a custom package for its new Stanley 100 detergent.

The result, designed by Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven, is a custom 50-oz HDPE 25% PCR bottle that helped get the company’s foot in the door with top brick-and-mortar retailers and set the stage for a major new market presence in 2015. The package contain [New package boasts 25% recycled content.] s enough detergent for 100 loads of laundry and features:

  • A milk-jug-inspired transparent bottle that pays homage to the company’s long history in the marketplace
  • A novel ergonomic handle that makes it easy to pour with one hand
  • A stock 43-mm drain back closure system sourced from India that prevents leaking during shipment
  • A 0.5-oz dosing cap that measures one load – no measurement lines are required inside the cap
  • Environmentally friendly packaging made from 25% recycled materials

Berlin Packaging Wins 3rd WorldStar Award for Innovative Floor Cleaner Package

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Berlin Packaging Wins 3rd WorldStar Award

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Unique ‘Squeeze & Measure’ Bottle for The Libman Company Honored in Global Competition

Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, announced today that its custom package for The Libman Company’s Freedom! Hardwood Floor Cleaner has been honored with a 2015 WorldStar Packaging Award. The squeeze-activated bottle with a patented pre-measured dosing mechanism was one of only 21 U.S. packages and 148 worldwide to earn the commendation, which recognizes the best packaging from around the globe.

The award marks Berlin Packaging’s third appearance on the prestigious WorldStar list in four years. The company was previously honored for its frog-shaped Pampers Kandoo hand soap package, designed for easy do-it-yourself dispensing by children, and for its work on Mission Athletecare’s Court Grip shoe traction product, featuring an extreme 45-degree neck architecture for athletes’ fast, one-handed application to sneaker soles during games.

The Libman project previously won a Gold Award in the 2014 National Association of Container Distributors (NACD) packaging competition in the U.S. It was created by Berlin Packaging’s Studio One Eleven innovation division with all components sourced and supplied by Berlin Packaging.

“The challenge in this project was to allow consumers to consistently and accurately meter a one-fluid-ounce dose of Libman Freedom! Concentrate and transfer it to Libman’s spray mop without spillage,” said Scott Jost, Berlin Packaging’s Vice President of Innovation and Design. “Awards from the NACD and now the World Packaging Organisation recognize our success in not only meeting that challenge, but in helping Libman deliver category-busting innovation in the household cleaning space.”

Berlin’s dosing package design features a translucent bowl-shaped measuring chamber that screws onto a squeezable PET bottle via a standard threaded finish. When users squeeze the bottle, they can watch as the dosing chamber fills and as excess product returns to the bottle to avoid over-dispensing. When the proper one-ounce dose is ready, users flip the cap open (where it stays due to a ‘lock back’ tab) and pour the concentrate into the Freedom mop reservoir for dilution with water.

The patented system eliminates an eight-pump process that would have been required with stock high-output pumps and the need for a removable dosing cap that could easily be lost. The bottle requires no custom preforms or fitments because the dosing system utilizes a standard neck finish, dramatically reducing total package costs. In addition, because the ‘stick goods’ planogram typically lacks shelves, the Studio design team integrated a hook into the dispensing closure to enable the bottle to be hung and merchandised alongside other Libman products.

The 2015 WorldStar winners were announced this month. Winners will be formally honored at a ceremony in Milan, Italy, in May 2015.


Berlin Packaging to Add 100 Employees in 25 Cities in 2015

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Berlin Packaging to Add 100 Employees in 25 Cities in 2015

Initiative Will Expand Sales Force 40% and Advance Company’s Industry-Leading Growth Rate

Our expanded team will be able to reach even more packaging buyers and help them be more successful with our broad, cost-effective offering and suite of services.

Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, today announced a significant hiring initiative that will add 100 employees to existing offices in 25 metropolitan areas in the U.S. by the end of 2015. Half of the new hires will be sales consultants, increasing the company’s current 120-person sales force by 40%. The other half will include support staff such as customer service specialists, buyers, warehousing personnel and package designers.

The initiative marks the company’s fourth and largest mass hiring program in the last five years. It is designed to take advantage of major opportunities in the $50 billion U.S. rigid packaging market by leveraging the unique business model that has built Berlin Packaging into a ‘one call does it all’ supplier with annual revenues approaching $900 million. That includes revenue growth over the past decade that is eight times higher than the overall packaging market and organic growth that is more than four times that of the market.

The company’s package design, sourcing, inventory management, logistics, profit consulting and capital financing portfolio of services has fueled that growth by enabling packaging buyers to streamline their supply chains and expand their bottom lines. Over the last three years alone, according to calculations required by Berlin Packaging’s ISO certification, customers generated more than $215 million of incremental profit as a unique consequence of working with Berlin.

Those factors as well as the ability to provide service levels such as 125 consecutive months of 99+% on-time delivery have yielded customer satisfaction ratings, as measured by the Net Promoter Score, that lead the packaging industry and are three times higher than the packaging industry as a whole.

The company’s performance also led Oak Hill Capital Partners to acquire a majority stake in Berlin Packaging in October for $1.43 billion. Oak Hill invested in partnership with Berlin Packaging’s management team to help drive the next stage of the company’s growth.

“We started hiring new personnel en masse in 2009 to accelerate our growth and increase our market share. This recruitment strategy, which we call Wolfpack, has already almost doubled the size of our sales force in five years and has made a major contribution to our growth since we initiated it,” said Chairman and CEO, Andrew Berlin. “Our representatives in Washington have had a hard time reinvigorating the economy. So we are investing in our own company and sponsoring our own ‘jobs bill.’ Our new resources will be a win-win-win – for our customers, our suppliers, and Berlin Packaging overall.”

“This new Wolfpack will take us to the next level,” noted Rick Brandt, Executive Vice President of Sales. “Our expanded team will be able to reach even more packaging buyers and help them be more successful with our broad, cost-effective offering and suite of services.”

Hiring has already begun and will continue through 2015. For sales representatives, the company is seeking smart, creative, driven people with sales experience and a demonstrated track record of landing new customers. For inside support positions, the company seeks smart multi-taskers with a strong customer-service mindset.

Once this new group of employees has been hired and trained, the company expects to launch a follow-on initiative to hire even more employees.

Postings for open positions are on BerlinPackaging.com and the company’s page on LinkedIn.


Oak Hill Capital Partners Completes Acquisition of Berlin Packaging

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Company Ready to Accelerate Already-Strong Growth Momentum

Oak Hill Capital Partners Completes Acquisition of Berlin Packaging

Berlin Packaging is a best-in-class business in a very attractive market with significant growth avenues.
— Managing Partner, Oak Hill Capital Partners

Oak Hill Capital Partners (“Oak Hill”), a leading private equity firm, announced today that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Berlin Packaging LLC (“Berlin Packaging”), a leading supplier of rigid packaging products and services in North America, from Investcorp. Oak Hill invested in partnership with Berlin Packaging’s current management team, led by Chairman and CEO Andrew Berlin, who retains a significant ownership position. Mr. Berlin and the current management team will continue to manage the business.

Founded in 1898 and guided by a company culture focused on growing the bottom lines of its customers, Berlin Packaging combines the best attributes of manufacturers, distributors, and income-adding service providers for thousands of customers, with an unparalleled track record of 99% on-time delivery, quantified results for customers, and industry-leading customer thrill. Berlin Packaging’s end-to‐end operations across the supply chain provide customers of all sizes in all industries with a one-stop shop for their packaging needs. Berlin Packaging’s broad offering of services includes structural and brand design, worldwide sourcing, warehousing and logistics, and capital financing.

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Tyler Wolfram, Managing Partner at Oak Hill, said, “We are delighted to have completed this acquisition. The investment in Berlin Packaging is representative of Oak Hill’s theme-based investment strategy and specifically aligns with one of our core themes targeting industry-leading, value-added strategic suppliers. Berlin Packaging is a best-in-class business in a very attractive market with significant growth avenues. We are excited to execute Berlin Packaging’s strategy in partnership with Andrew and his outstanding team.”

Andrew Berlin said, “The Berlin Packaging team is highly enthusiastic to take our business to the next level. Berlin Packaging’s customers, suppliers, and employees alike can look forward to new opportunities and enhanced growth. Importantly, as we pursue these opportunities, it’s business as usual. This means we will continue to offer the same outstanding products, solutions, and service levels, and there will be no changes to the team our customers and suppliers work with. Our new partnership with Oak Hill will create wins for all of the company’s stakeholders.”

In connection with the closing of the acquisition, Berlin Packaging also closed its previously announced first and second lien financing in addition to a revolving credit facility.


Oak Hill Capital Partners to Acquire Berlin Packaging for $1.43 Billion

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Oak Hill Capital Partners to Acquire Berlin Packaging for $1.43 Billion

Company Poised To Continue Industry-Leading Growth Trajectory

Oak Hill Capital Partners (“Oak Hill”), a leading private equity firm, announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Berlin Packaging LLC (“Berlin Packaging”), a leading supplier of rigid packaging products and services in North America, from Investcorp. Oak Hill is investing in partnership with Berlin Packaging’s current management team, led by Chairman and CEO Andrew Berlin. The transaction is valued at $1.43 billion.

Founded in 1898 and guided by a company culture focused on growing the bottom lines of its customers, Berlin Packaging combines the best attributes of manufacturers, distributors, and income-adding service providers to serve thousands of customers with an unparalleled track record of 99% on-time delivery. Berlin Packaging’s end-to‐end operations across the supply chain provide customers of all sizes in all industries with a one-stop-shop for all their packaging needs. Berlin Packaging’s broad offering of services includes structural and brand design, worldwide sourcing, warehousing and logistics, and capital financing.

Tyler Wolfram, Managing Partner at Oak Hill, said, “Berlin Packaging is a high-caliber business experiencing double-digit growth and targeting a large addressable market opportunity. We are excited to partner with Andrew Berlin and his talented team to support the company through its next phase of growth, as the company expands organically and through strategic acquisitions. The transaction is representative of Oak Hill’s theme-based investment approach and long history of partnering with world-class entrepreneurs and management teams.”

Andrew Berlin commented, “We are extremely pleased to be partnering with Oak Hill. Oak Hill has a longstanding history of building superior businesses and a reputation for strong partnership with management. It was important to join with a firm that shares the same culture and belief system as Berlin Packaging and that is committed to growing our company by offering increased value to our customers, suppliers, and employees. I know Oak Hill will be a tremendous partner for us. We would also like to thank Investcorp for their partnership over the last seven years.”

Berlin Packaging is a juggernaut that already grows
multiple times faster than the packaging industry
— Brian Cherry, Partner at Oak Hill Capital Partners

Brian Cherry, Partner at Oak Hill, said, “We have tremendous respect for Berlin Packaging’s heritage and are very excited about its prospects for continued strong performance. Berlin Packaging is a juggernaut that already grows multiple times faster than the packaging industry, and we look forward to further bolstering the company’s best-in-class business model and customer focus to continue its growth trajectory.”

Kevin Nickelberry, Managing Director at Investcorp, said, "Andrew Berlin and the entire Berlin Packaging management team have done an outstanding job of building a market leading company with a highly differentiated business model and a track record of strong financial performance. Over the course of our partnership, Berlin Packaging improved its profitability, delivered strong organic growth, and executed several strategic add-on acquisitions. We are proud of what we accomplished with the Berlin Packaging team and we wish them continued success with Oak Hill."

The transaction, which is subject to HSR approval and other customary closing conditions, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2014.

Barclays Capital and Deutsche Bank acted as financial advisors to Berlin Packaging in the transaction. Morgan Stanley acted as exclusive financial advisor to Oak Hill in the transaction. Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding Inc. have underwritten and will arrange first and second lien financing in connection with the transaction. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP is serving as legal counsel to Berlin Packaging and Investcorp. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is serving as legal counsel to Oak Hill.


Berlin Packaging Extends Streak of 99% On-Time Delivery to Ten Years Straight

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Berlin Packaging Extends Streak of 99% On-Time Delivery to Ten Years Straight

Unbroken Record Dating to June 2004 is Unparalleled in U.S. Packaging Industry

CHICAGO (June 2014) – Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, today announced that it has achieved a remarkable 120 unbroken months of 99% on-time shipping from its warehouses to customers. The record, unmatched by any other packaging company in the nation, is a standard of performance that others can strive to emulate—but that Berlin Packaging customers have already benefitted from since 2004.

“No other packaging company has ever accomplished what Berlin Packaging achieved last month,” said Andrew Berlin, Chairman and CEO. “When suppliers reach this level of dependability and efficiency, it becomes an asset that customers can plan on in their own operations. The ten-year milestone is a testament to the professionalism of our employees as well as to the long-term investments we have made in equipment and systems. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve achieved and will continue to achieve in the years ahead.”

In June 2004, Berlin Packaging became the first rigid packaging supplier to measure and publicly report its on-time shipping performance—and remains the only such company to do so. The record has been made possible, in part, by Berlin’s multi-million-dollar investments in enterprise business software, its strong processes and ISO 9001:2008 certification, and its culture devoted to customer thrill. 

 

 

Numerous Benefits to Customers

Berlin Packaging’s inventory stocking programs elevate thousands of companies across all markets. The impact is widespread:

  • Berlin now averages over 17,500 shipments per month to customers of all types located across North America.
  • More than 5 million square feet of warehouse space is owned and controlled by Berlin Packaging from coast to coast, with over 65 company warehouses and third-party locations in use.
  • In 2013, almost 90% of active Berlin customers utilized the company’s stocking programs. More than 7,500 customers conducted activities through Berlin warehouses—a reflection of the confidence customers have in Berlin to ensure supply of critical packaging items.

 Reliable delivery offers numerous benefits to Berlin Packaging’s customers. It helps improve their income statements in many ways, including:

  • enabling companies to realize revenue by filling purchase orders and shipping products on their own schedules;
  • boosting revenue by avoiding stockouts;
  • reducing operating expenses by wiping out carrying costs, facility costs and shrinkage; and
  • improving productivity by eliminating machine downtime, thereby refocusing employees on more value-added activities.

Customers’ balance sheets also benefit by reducing the amount of inventory sitting on their floor and releasing that cash to more productive uses.

 

 

Berlin Customers Speak

Berlin customers consistently cite on-time delivery as one of their most important service considerations. Many have spoken specifically about this critical requirement:

“Berlin Packaging is one of my most treasured suppliers of all time. The customer service is second to none. They are always concerned about getting our products to us on time. Our Berlin team always keeps us informed, in stock, and on time!”
– Miranda Pulliam, Chief Supply Chain Officer, My Fit Foods 

“Prior to Berlin, the lead time for my packaging was a minimum of two weeks. Now I’m able to consolidate my ordering and receive products the next day. My inventory turns are remarkable due to Berlin.”
– Tina Neish, Plant Manager, Root Candles

“Jost Chemical manufactures high-purity specialty chemicals. It is our mission to deliver on time. Thanks to our long and close relationship with Berlin Packaging, we are able to accomplish our mission consistently with our customers. Berlin knows if we don’t have our containers on site and on time, we will be at a standstill. Berlin provides us with what we need when we need it, even sometimes same-day delivery. It doesn’t surprise us that Berlin is able to celebrate ten years of 99% on-time delivery.”
– Guy Brantley, Packaging Manager, Jost Chemical Co.

“I have been buying from Berlin Packaging for 18 years. Their Dangerous Goods division has been excellent at meeting our delivery dates consistently. In the event we need to expedite an order, they typically can turn that around in 24 hours or less.”
– Guy Cloonan, Senior Buyer, Waters Corporation

“I recommend Berlin Packaging to others because of their reliability and outstanding customer service. Berlin’s inventory management is a key to our company’s success. Due to this, our operations run at a high level. Overall, working with Berlin is a great partnership.”
– Eddie Ochoa, Purchasing and Planning Manager, Jardine Foods

 

 

Program Origins

Berlin Packaging began analyzing its delivery performance in mid-2003 as a means of evaluating its customer service. The company discovered a strong 95% on-time shipping record and then implemented new procedures to improve performance even further, first breaking the 99% barrier in June 2004 and holding at that level or higher since then. More than 1.1 million shipments have been made with 99% on-time reliability.

More information about the company’s on-time record is at 99percentontime.com.

Berlin Packaging Scores Gold For Fourth Consecutive Year At 2014 NACD Packaging Awards

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Berlin Packaging Scores Gold For Fourth Consecutive Year At 2014 NACD Packaging Awards

Global Packaging Leader Also Sweeps Household Chemical & Automotive Category with Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards at April 10 Ceremony in Fort Lauderdale

Berlin Packaging, a leading full-service supplier of plastic, glass, and metal containers and closures, announced today that its packaging solutions had a strong showing at the 2014 NACD (National Association of Container Distributors) Packaging Awards ceremony. The company’s seven awards—three Gold, two Silver and two Bronze—were among the highest number won by any supplier.

“Once again, the Berlin Packaging team demonstrated the creativity and problem-solving acumen that place us at the forefront of the industry,” said Andrew T. Berlin, Chairman and CEO of Berlin Packaging. “We are delighted to be recognized for our efforts by the NACD committee. But we’re even more proud of how our packaging helps our customers succeed in the marketplace. We aim to boost the bottom lines of our customers, and packaging innovation is one of many ways we go about achieving this goal.”

The NACD Packaging Awards is a national competition recognizing compelling packaging released during the previous year. In addition to rivaling its company-record three Gold awards from last year, Berlin Packaging also swept the Household Chemical & Automotive category, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze, and took both Gold and Silver in the Food category. Specific results included:

E6000 Spray Adhesive

Gold, General Industrial

Changed the expectations for spray adhesives used for craft and home improvement products. Berlin created an hourglass-shaped PET container appropriate for customer Eclectic’s pioneering solvent-free adhesive. The product, which met Eclectic’s request for a “female-friendly” bottle well suited for smaller hands, also earned a Gold Packaging Design Award from the North American Retail Hardware Association.


Libman Freedom Floor Cleaner

Gold, Household Chemical & Automotive

Delivers both innovation and convenience to busy consumers through a translucent measuring bowl atop the bottle. Eliminating the manual pumping that conventional pump bottles require, users simply squeeze the liquid cleaner into the dosing bowl. Once the chamber is full, the consumer flips the cap open and pours the correct amount of cleaner into Libman’s FREEDOM mop, where it is diluted with water.


Morton Sea Salt

Gold, Food

In a first for grocery-store salt and pepper grinders, is designed to sit on the dinner table like upscale giftware with no conspicuous brand label. The package features a custom white or black snap-on overcap with a non-removable grinder beneath. Embossed with the Morton name and logo, the overcap is designed to maintain the sleek silhouette of the product.


Glutino Instant Pancake Mix

Silver, Food

A custom package accommodating Glutino’s gluten-free, single-use, just-add-water-to-the-bottle pancake mix. The package was engineered to let the batter flow freely when the mix is combined with water. The result is an easy pour, no waste or mess package with none of the clogging that plagues Glutino’s competitors.

 


Polaris 2 Cycle Engine Oil

Silver, Household Chemical & Automotive

Mirrors Polaris’ snowmobiles and ATVs, which look like they’re in perpetual motion. The angular silhouette, extensive geometric surface detailing, and footed structure suggest a vehicle undercarriage. An extra-large handle grip, stippled inside to provide traction, allows consumers to pour the product while wearing a mitten or glove.


LemiShine Rinse

Bronze, Household Chemical & Automotive

Not only makes a bold premium statement on the shelf, but it also allows direct-squeeze dispensing. The unusual tapered oval silhouette with broad shoulder and narrow base lets this dishwasher detergent additive stand out in its category, while the snap-top closure includes a silicone valve that prevents leaking when the bottle is turned upside down for dispensing.


OFF! Pet Insect Repellents

Bronze, Pet & Vet; also honored for Best Use of Stock

SC Johnson’s first line of Off! insect repellents for pets, were creatively configured to achieve a family look familiar to users of the brand’s made-for-human products. Emulating the clean lines of other Off! products, each package utilizes custom canary-yellow PET or full-body shrink sleeve for uniformity, while pressure-sensitive labels highlight key product features such as the lack of harsh chemicals.


The 2014 NACD Packaging Awards were held April 10, 2014, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.