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HARTSVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 30, 2009--
Sonoco (NYSE: SON), a global packaging leader, today announced it has
been recognized in the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA)
competition for its work in co-developing a new protective package
design with HP for its large LaserJet office printers. Sonoco received
the award jointly with HP after being selected from more than 1,500
entries to IDEA, the premier international competition honoring design
excellence in products, ecodesign, interaction design, packaging
strategy, research and concepts.
This newly designed protective packaging for many of the large HP
LaserJet office printers helps to protect each unit by using top and
bottom corrugated trays, Sonoco’s proprietary Sonopost® cornerposts for
advanced vertical compression and impact performance, and top and bottom
foam pads, all shrink wrapped together to form a unique and highly
effective package. For larger, heavier units, the customers’ needs were
kept in mind by providing ramps for unloading once the unit arrives at
its location.
Developed as part of HP’s packaging transformation program, these new
package designs greatly reduce the amount of materials needed. In one
pack example, the foam volume was reduced by more than 50 percent, the
corrugated weight was reduced by more than 69 percent, and the overall
packaging volume was reduced by 52 percent. In addition, most of the
packaging components are made using recycled paper, making them readily
recyclable in many areas.
Jim Lowry, director of new business development for Sonoco’s Protective
Packaging group, said Sonoco worked with HP for two years to develop
these new packaging concepts.
“Our goal in working with HP was to help them adapt packaging concepts
Sonoco developed for the white appliance industry to work on more
fragile electronic equipment. Together, we achieved a better package
without sacrificing performance,” he explained. “The end result is a
durable packaging system that uses less material and yet passes all of
HP’s testing requirements as well as its current traditional package
design. Also, from a sustainability perspective, less material means
less waste in the end, lower freight emissions and reduced landfill
space.”
Sonoco and HP were recognized in the packaging and graphics category of
the competition, which is conducted and managed by the Industrial
Designers Society of America (IDSA). Winning entries are announced each
year on BusinessWeek.com. IDSA has been honoring design excellence via
the IDEA Awards since 1980. IDEA was formerly known as the Industrial
Design Excellence Awards. The name changed in 2007 to emphasize the
international reach and influence of the competition.
About IDEA, Industrial Designers and IDSA
The IDEA program fosters business and public understanding about the
impact of industrial design excellence on the quality of life and the
economy.
Industrial designers determine the form, use features and interaction
qualities of manufactured products, packaging and digital media systems.
They study people at work, at home and in motion to create satisfying
experiences with products from the kitchen and the office to the
hospital and the warehouse, shaping these to fit their customers and to
make effective use of industrial processes. In this way, industrial
designers have a quiet but profound presence in almost everything people
encounter during the day.
IDSA is the voice of industrial design, committed to advancing the
profession through education, information, community and advocacy.
About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of
industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services,
with about 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85
nations. For more information on the Company, visit our Web site at http://www.sonoco.com/.
Source: Sonoco
Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7509
robin.montgomery@sonoco.com