Risdon-AMS, a global manufacturer of primary packaging components and an affiliated company of Crown Holdings, has won the FiFi award for its innovative packaging system designed for Crave by Calvin Klein. The award was presented in the `Technological Breakthrough of the Year' category.
The annual FiFi Awards are presented by The Fragrance Foundation, New York City, honouring excellence and creative achievement in the fragrance industry. Steve Pearlman, Risdon-AMS president, accepted the FiFi, accompanied by Jim Bigham, director of sales and marketing for closures, and design manager, Ralph DeVito.
Commenting on the award Pearlman said: "This is an exciting experience and a high honor for Risdon-AMS and for our customer, Unilever Cosmetics International. We are thrilled to be recognised for our expertise, ingenuity and creativity in developing this truly breakthrough package."
In addition to Crave, Risdon-AMS was recognised at the ceremonies for its contribution to the `Women's Packaging of the Year' winner, `Vera Wang.' Risdon-AMS supplied the distinctive cap and collar for the fragrance from Unilever. The electroplated collar is described as featuring a special silver finish (Silver E Plus) created by Risdon-AMS. The 'striking' finish mimics the look and patina of sterling silver, complementing the overall, elegant appearance of the package.
Crown Holdings described in a statement how the Crave package had presented two unique challenges for Risdon-AMS. Firstly, it mentioned how an entirely new fragrance mechanism had to be produced because of the aesthetic requirement for having a single round hole where the actuator orifice exits the case.
Traditionally, designed spray-through packages use an elongated hole that allows the actuator to move up and down in the opening, as the spray is dispensed. According to Crown, this new challenge was overcome by creating a mechanism that combines design simplicity and basic physics with movement that pushes the bottle and pump towards a stationary actuator.
Secondly, it details how the design called for a side-actuated elastomer (TPE), soft- touch 'trigger'. Risdon-AMS is said to have engineered the TPE material to allow the trigger, which is initially moulded flat, to conform itself exactly to the round-shaped outer case profile when installed. "This innovative, mechanically assembled trigger makes for a seamless transition from case to trigger, ensuring that the smooth contours of the package are undisturbed," said Crown.
The Crave spray packages are produced at Risdon-AMS' Danbury, Connecticut and Mozzate, Italy, plants. The Vera Wang cap and collar are produced at the company's Marolles, France, facility.