March 2004: Material Options

Information packaging and display materials are designed to attract attention and withstand substantial use. At Eckhart and Company, we can produce a wide range of information packaging products, ranging from vinyl pad holders and ring binders to turned edge slip cases and CD/DVD packages. The materials we use to manufacture and decorate those products are just as diverse, allowing us to offer you the ultimate in design flexibility.

Here is a sampling of some of the many materials we offer for construction and decoration of your information packaging applications. This list is by no means exhaustive, so feel free to ask us what materials you'd like to use on your products:

Cover and Support Substrates
Board - Products ranging from hard book covers and ring binders to slipcases and slantcases require a thick substrate for support. Board is the basis for all turned-edge applications, and is available in a wide range of thicknesses - from thin, pliable 88 pt. "flex" board to a sturdy, 120 pt. binder's board. The board itself can range from chipboard and pressboard to SBS (solid bleed sulfate), which is commonly used in award holders.

Vinyl - Vinyl can be used an alternative to board for ring binders and other information packaging applications. It's available in a wide range of colors and textures, including film vinyl, print grains and expanded vinyl.

Polyethylene - Products that must withstand heavy abuse or challenging environments are an ideal fit for polyethylene. This semi-rigid, durable plastic can be cut-flush for use as a ring binder cover or in sample and swatch book applications. Pajco, Lexatone and pressboard are some other materials that can be flush-cut for use as covers.

Wraps and Decorative Materials
Printed paper - Paper is a popular decoration material for a wide range of products. When used a decoration for turned-edge materials, paper can be either offset- or screen-printed for maximum impact. Paper can also be foil stamped, embossed, debossed, die cut and UV coated and film laminated for added decoration and durability.

Synthetic paper - Some products require the look of paper, but with better strength and durability. Synthetic papers such as Tyvek or Yupo offer the best of both worlds, and are ideal for applications where grease and water are prevalent.

Book cloth - Book cloth is an ideal wrap for case-bound books and other turned-edge products. There are dozens of book cloth varieties available in a rainbow of colors, coated and uncoated finishes and a range of patterns such as imitation leather grain.

Heat-sealed vinyl - Vinyl can be used as both a construction and decoration material for products such as ring binders and award holders. As a decoration, vinyl is applied around board or other support substrate and heat-sealed to encapsulate it. Vinyl can be screen-printed, foil stamped, debossed or UV coated to make your text and images come alive.

The Eckhart Advantage
At Eckhart and Company, we're committed to offering you a complete range of information packaging construction and decoration options. We specialize in helping our customers plan and design their products for a unique appearance and world-class quality, regardless of the materials it takes to accomplish what you need. As a custom manufacturer, Eckhart and Company can offer you a wide range of material thicknesses and finishes to meet the specific needs of your project. While our range of custom options and attention to detail may sound "boutique," our aggressive pricing and schedules are anything but. Let us know how we can help you improve your next project.

Back Issues

• April 2004 Turn Your Binder into a Display Piece
• March 2004 Material Options
• February 2004 Ring Binder Solutions
• January 2004 Our Capabilties for 2004
• December 2003 Versatile Pocket Styles
• November 2003 Create Attractive Dust Jackets
• October 2003 Point-of-Purchase Displays
• September 2003 Make Products User Friendly with Index Tabs
• August 2003  The Advantages of Prototypes
• July 2003  Creating the Perfect Package
• June 2003  Mechanical Binding Cover Styles
• May 2003  Custom Ring Binders
• April 2003  Mechanical Binding Options
• March, 2003  Award Holders
• February, 2003  Slipcases, Slantcases & Boxed Sets
• January, 2003 Serving Our Customers
• December, 2002 Media Packaging Options
• November, 2002 Ring Metal Options
• October, 2002 Customized Binder Options
• September, 2002 Turned Edge Possibilities