Milliken Chemical Leading the Charge for Clear Packaging for DVDs

As clear packaging grows in popularity for DVDs and other digital media, Milliken Chemical is leading the charge by producing its market-leading clarifying agents, colorants and propriety packaging options.

“During recent months, the Optical Media Storage (OMS) market has begun to demonstrate a preference for clear packaging because of cost, security and marketing advantages,” said Dr. Raj Batlaw, a market manager for Milliken Chemical.

“We offer products that meet the demands of various aspects of the supply chain including our clarifying agent, Millad 3988, new packaging designs we have created, and our Milliken ClearTint polymer colorants,” he said.

• Millad 3988 – The third generation of Millad is the world’s most widely used clarifying agent for polypropylene (PP), recognized for superior clarity and processing advantages, including resistance to warpage. Millad also contributes to product strength and rigidity and increases manufacturing productivity by increasing crystallization for reduced cycle times.

• Milliken Packaging Designs – As part of its support for clarified polypropylene for OMS applications, Milliken has developed a variety of proprietary DVD packaging designs that demonstrate the enhanced security and improved marketing potential that is possible with clear packaging.

• Milliken ClearTint – ClearTint colorants are designed specifically for use in conjunction with Millad, resulting in OMS packaging that offers bright, clean, transparent colors. The blending of Millad with ClearTint colorants can provide unique OMS packaging solutions.

“Because of our clarifying agents, colorants and investment in packaging design options, we believe that Milliken Chemical is well positioned to support the market’s movement toward clear OMS packaging,” Batlaw said. “The advantages of clarified PP in this market are becoming increasingly recognized every day.”

At the top of these advantages is reduced cost, which is possible when DVDs and other optical media are shifted to clear packaging.

“With traditional opaque packaging, an outside plastic sleeve is required to house a graphic paper insert and separate booklet is put inside the box to display chapter information,” Batlaw said. “With clear packaging, the paper insert inside the sleeve can be printed on both sides, allowing chapters to be displayed on the inside surface of the insert, thus eliminating the need for a booklet and reducing the overall cost of the package.”

“Clear packaging also enhances security measures,” he continued. “By utilizing a clear option, the disc can be seen at point of purchase, which serves as a strong deterrent to back room theft.”

Additional benefits of Milliken’s packaging design include thinner packaging for greater shelf space, durability, recyclability and aesthetics.

“Combining Millad with ClearTint, allows us to match the brand color of any theatrical or non-theatrical release, while maintaining excellent product clarity,” he said. “Clear or brightly tinted packaging offers superior shelf presence and should help to fuel consumer demand.”

According to Batlaw, clarified PP for OMS packaging can be a win-win for everyone.

“By combining our technical strengths in these key areas we can help our customers produce digital products that are aesthetically pleasing, brand adaptable, secure and more profitable,” he said. “As the market continues to shift to clarified PP for OMS, we are committed to meeting the needs of all aspects of the supply chain.”

Millad 3988 and Milliken ClearTint are manufactured and marketed by Milliken Chemical, a division of Milliken & Company, headquartered in Spartanburg, S.C. and recognized as one of the world’s largest privately-held chemical and textile companies.