Holyoke, Mass. – The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) recently named the Hazen Paper 2020 holographic calendar “Best Applied Decorative/Packaging Product” at the Excellence in Holography Awards 2020. Featuring a fire-breathing dragon with three-dimensional scales, the oversized calendar utilized an array of innovative holographic techniques to create a decorative design the IHMA called “outstanding.” These holographic designs included Hazen-Lens behind the months of the year, gray-motion for the sky background, color-motion for the dragon, and two-channel color-motion lenses and fire-motion lenses to animate the flames.

The calendar was originated entirely within Hazen’s state-of-the-art holographic lab and manufactured in Hazen’s Holyoke facility on Hazen Envirofoil, an environmentally friendly product. Made with renewable energy, transfer-metallized Envirofoil is made with less than 1% of the aluminum of traditional foil laminate, a recycled film carrier that is reused again and again, and is repulpable as paper after de-inking. It was offset-printed using UV-cure inks with customized opaque white by AM Lithography of Chicopee, MA.

The award was presented by the IHMA at this year’s virtual Holography Conference, reflecting a “significant step forward” in the ongoing development of highly innovative holography solutions for commercial packaging and decorative finishes and applications. According to the IHMA, the Excellence in Holography awards “recognize outstanding achievement, marking success for those at the forefront of the sector who have developed innovative or commercially viable hologram products or techniques during the past 12 months.” For more information, visit www.ihma.org.  

Founded in 1925, Hazen Paper Company is an innovative paper converter specializing in holographic origination, film coating, foil and paper lamination, metallizing, gravure printing, specialty coating and rotary embossing to create specialty materials for worldwide use in retail display and POP, luxury, beauty, entertainment and media packaging, bookbinding, scratch-off lottery and other security-related tickets, tags and cards, and fine art applications. Family owned, run by a multidisciplinary management team, Hazen is committed to sustainability, using hydropower produced by the Connecticut River, with certification to supply converted paper and paperboards that are FSC, SFI and PEFC certified.

Hazen received “Product of the Year” honors in 2018, 2019, and 2020 from AIMCAL, the Association of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators. Hazen recently received the “Next Century Award” from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts for unique contributions to the Massachusetts economy and the well-being of its residents. For more information, visit www.hazen.com or call 413-538-8204.