Smart Molding International 1-2021

39 www.smart-molding.com IML & IMD and food and water bowls also moved indoors. This made the design, color and look of these items more impor - tant: after all, they should match the interior and the lifestyle of the own - ers. We respond to this demand from consumers. Thanks to in-mold labeling, we can market the same product more widely, with one and the same mold. Thanks to the variation in labelling, we can create different styles and looks and appeal to different types of consum - ers. An extra asset for sales and a for - mula that’s catching on. After all, we all like different styles and colors. For example, Scandinavian consumers pre - fer calm colors with lots of grays, while consumers in South America welcome exuberant colors like fuchsia.” Completely coordinated “Our range is completely coordinat - ed. Litter tray, food bowl and drinking fountain are all styled the same. Luxuri - ous Pets is our latest range. These pre - mium products are completely black with luxurious printed metallic gold decoration. Applying these metallic colors is a delicate job. The Verstraete IML labels are perfect for achieving the right finish. We’re very happy with the result, and so are our clients.” Sustainability is a permanent core value “Sustainability is one of our most valued principles. Yes, we manufac - ture plastic objects for everyday use. It doesn’t mean these objects can’t be sustainable too. For a start, a lot is gained by using the right materials, and especially by choosing the same material at every stage of production. Our product, the material we inject, and the labels have the same origin. There is no need for separate recycling. What’s more, our products have a very long lifespan. Because they are sturdy and scratch-resistant, both owners and pets will enjoy our products for years to come.” Verstraete IML: our reliable partner “We value Verstraete IML as a re - liable partner, an associate we can count on and identify with. Just like Moderna, they prioritize quality and service. Verstraete IML can rely on thirty years of experience and as such, has the required in-house expertise. They know what they’re talking about, understand what we’re asking for and pay attention to sustainabil - ity. Several departments – prepress, internal sales – work closely together and share experience and knowledge. Together we create sustainable and high-quality products: making our collaboration a success.”  Jan Van Iseghem, Regional Sales Manager Europe, Verstraete IML: “Moderna Products is a global niche player in pet accessories. Their con - scious choice for sustainability and reusability sets them apart from their colleagues. Our innovative Re - verse IML fits perfectly into their phi - losophy: it guarantees the longevity of the products and the quality of the artwork.” Verstraete IML www.verstraete-iml.com All pictures: Verstraete IML What is IML? The term "in mould labelling" is directly derived from the technique: a preprinted polypropylene (PP) label is placed in a mould. This mould has the shape of the end product, e.g. the shape of a butter tub. Then the molten PP is added to the mould. It fuses with the label, andwhile curing, takes the shape of themould. Result: label and packaging become one. Verstraete in mould labels has over 30 years of experience in off - set-printing labels on polypropyl - ene for injection moulding, blow moulding and thermoforming. In- depth understanding of materials, research and quality control has made Verstraete a world leader among IML label suppliers, pro - ducing over 50 million in mould labels every single day for numer - ous segments within the packag - ing industry, including dairy, sal - ads, health care, and more.