HOLYOKE, MA – The International Hologram Manufacturers Association (IHMA) honored Hazen Paper for the second year in a row for “Best Applied Decorative/Packaging Product” at the 2021 Excellence in Holography Awards. The awards, presented at the Holography Conference Online, recognize “outstanding achievement … in holographic products or techniques which represent the best in the industry for innovation and commercial potential.” Hazen captured the judge’s attention with the 2020 enshrinement yearbook produced for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA.

The award-winning yearbook employed holography to create a dynamic, three-dimensional image of the Hall of Fame’s iconic dome and spire and its panoramic interior, which was overprinted with a collage of the year’s inductees in action. The combination of two contrasting yet complementary techniques served to amplify the engaging power of holography, as well as to draw attention to the honorees in the foreground. The back cover featured eye-catching holographic treatment of Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun, the location of the enshrinement ceremony.

Hazen produced the unique cover holography wholly within its vertically integrated facility for exacting quality and performance. The custom hologram was originated in Hazen’s holographic laser lab, micro-embossed and transfer-metallized onto 12-point WestRock Tango C2S using Hazen’s environmentally friendly Envirofoil process. Envirofoil is manufactured with less than 1% of the aluminum of traditional foil laminate, reuses the film carrier multiple times, and is recyclable as paper.

Agency GO of Hartford, CT designed the limited-edition yearbook cover, which was printed and individually numbered for authenticity on an HP Indigo 5500 digital press by Starburst Printing of Holliston, MA.

The IHMA includes over 80 of the world’s leading hologram companies who actively cooperate to maintain the highest professional, security and quality standards in support of their customers. Founded in 1993, it is dedicated to promoting the interests of the hologram industry worldwide and to helping users achieve their commercial, aesthetic and authentication objectives through the effective use of holography. 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 received the “Next Century Award” in 2020 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.