Useful Advices - Business

We hear it on the news every day. The economy is doing much better, but you and I know budgets for paper and printing are still tight and the increase in postal charges is always a concern. Many designers are still challenged to find more creati

According to USFDA, a combination product is one composed of any combination of a drug and device; biological product and device; drug and biological product

ve ways to maximize their resources.

Reduced page counts and conservative print quantities are just some of the solutions. When it comes to paper, unusual finishes and surfaces, as well as the use of metallics and translucents are adding flair

; or drug, device, and biological product and fixed dose combination would include two or more combinations of drug.

Examples of combination products may in

o one-color print jobs.

Value-Added Excitement
Specialty papers have the ability to add value and excitement to your projects. Whether you are designing a sophisticated fashion campaign or business cards for the local grocer, you wa

lude drug-coated devices, drugs packaged with delivery devices in medical kits, and drugs and devices packaged separately but intended to be used together.

nt your designs to stand out.

Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in specialty papers used in print projects. Specialty papers are a vivid contrast to computer-generated design and corporations are now eager to use them t

here is enormous increase in the number of combination products entering the market in the recent years. Combination products have proven advantages but fixe

create a softer image for themselves. The new generation of production techniques make it easier to convert, print and finish these papers.

Metallics
Having been around for the last few years, metallics are still very popular. Pape

d dose combinations are still in the process of convincing regulatory authority on their advantages over the single ingredient formulations.

Combination pro

rs with an overall metallic shine or just flecks of metallics, iridescents and pearlescents in a mutlitude of colors are coming onto the market. See a different shade of color depending on the angle of the paper reflecting the light. Take a clos

ucts have become life saving products for the pharmaceutical companies who doesn’t have many innovative molecules in their product pipeline and have been inc

r look at Stardream, Aspire Petallics, Curious Metallics, Dimensions, Icedream or Reaction, to name just a few.

Translucents
Now, metallics or iridescents are not only found in opaque papers, but in translucent papers as well. Trans

easingly used in the product life cycle management. Even the companies having product patents are trying to extend their product life cycle through the combi

lucents have come a long way since the days when they were only used as flysheets. Translucent papers make remarkable business cards, invitations and marketing materials on their own.

When I lived in Australia and started my own design studio,

nation products and maximize the revenues. But the companies involved in this practice are overlooking that they are burdening the patients both economically

needed a business card. Australia has 18 million inhabitants and only five paper merchants for the entire country. So, paper choices were nowhere near as extensive as in the U.S.

I fell in love with a translucent Edward Dunlop paper with fine,

and physically. They need to rightly judge the benefits of the combination products and they have to even look at the risks involved when combining the produ

white, slightly embossed stripes. Though the paper was noticeably thinner than the average business card and the price was higher, I took the chance.

Every time I handed out my card, I watched people feel the paper for its stripes and hold it

ts. Some of the combination products were well accepted by physicians while others suffered. Companies involved in development of combination products are fi

p against the light (yes, it really was a translucent paper). Everyone commented on the cards and that is exactly what we designers want; an outstanding look and feel for our projects.

At a recent AIGA event, I sat across from a designer who ha

ding difficulty in defining their combination products and facing various challenges from selecting a combination to marketing it.

Following aspects would a

d taken my idea one step further. He handed me a translucent business card printed on both sides, creating a truly special effect.

The variety of colors, textures and weights of translucent papers has increased dramatically. Consider choosing C

dd to the challenges in developing combination products:

Which markets to tap where the combination products can do fairly well?
Which combination prod

om?tica, Chartham Translucent, Evanescent, Gilclear or Glama Natural. Add a contrasting flysheet to your standard black and white booklet, a simple spot color printing or blind embossing and create a memorable impression.

Discover Textures
cts are meaningful and rational?
Which therapeutic categories to select?
Which Combinations can address unmet needs of the patients?
Do combin
b>
The European market has led the way in using more textured papers and has even given traditional Laid papers a new surge of interest. Exciting new patterns are pressed into the paper during the manufacturing process, which give it a rais
tions increase the patient compliance?
What would be the developing cost?
How to tackle the risks encountered during combination product developmen
d or depressed surface.

The new textured surfaces are exceptional in coated and uncoated papers. Distinctive papers that look and feel like leather (yes, leather … it’s called Alezan), suede (SuedeTex) and rubber (Curious Touch or Plike) bring
t?

As combination products don't fit into the traditional categories of drugs, medical devices, or biological products, the USFDA is in the process of devel
that extra oomph to a project. These textures adapt well to a variety of printing processes, as well as embossing and die-cutting.

Unusual Alternatives
Look out for niche mills coming to the market with even more unique papers. One
ping new procedures for reviewing their safety, efficacy and quality.

Professional from academic institutions, pharmaceutical industries, health care indust
ew paper is covered with heat-sensitive flecks. When it is handled, the flecks disappear, only to return again when the paper surface is untouched (Curious Cool Fire). What will they think of next?

Don’t forget about papers made from alternativ
y and representatives from various regulatory agencies are working out to design the regulatory requirements for manufacture and sale of combination products
e fibers, such as beer, money flakes, hemp, kenaf, coffee, garlic, even bananas. They might not be for your day-to-day jobs, but there is a special application for them waiting to be designed.

Though we hear about the fluctuations of paper comp
.

As there is an increasing trend of the combination products companies manufacturing such products should be able to tackle the problems involved in the de
nies, mills and paper lines, the choice of paper has never been this unique and elaborate. Translucents, metallics, holographics, synthetics, unique finishes and patterns, weights and colors and tear-resistant papers are just some of the new pap
elopment. They need to be wiser in analyzing the market trends and the regulatory requirements.

Companies that provide selfless information through particip
ers available today.

Specialty papers may be higher priced than “standard” papers, but they are not out of your reach. They are also available in small quantities. Check with your mill or merchant rep or order them online directly from the mill

tion in industry events and feedback to regulatory authorities would be able to face the challenges and will be successful in developing combination products

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