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Thursday, 15 December 2005 | Elif Sungur
Elastic Image Takes 3-D Graphics to a New Dimension with Eastman's Specialty Copolyesters
Elastic Image, Inc., has selected Eastman Chemical Company's line of specialty copolyesters to enable its Elastic Image Technology (EIT) Suite, a revolutionary 3-D graphic hardware and software package providing new design possibilities for point-of-purchase, signage, consumer products and packaging applications.
"This is a terrific marriage of high-performing plastic materials and innovative imaging technology," said John Davidson, chief technology officer, Elastic Image, Inc. "Eastman's specialty copolyesters wholly fulfill the standard of criteria required for our 3-D imaging process. The clarity, printability, thermoformability, and other high-performing features, afford the widest variety of applications in a host of markets."
Elastic Image technology unites 3-D surfaces with 3-D multicolored graphics to achieve repeatable, precise alignment of graphic and substrate throughout production, virtually eliminating the costly trial and error process. This new technology enables designers to create and mass produce complex, pre-decorated and life-like thermoformed objects with exceptional graphic registrations more quickly and less costly than conventional decoration methods. Using its Image-Based 3-D Digitizing (IB3D) scanning Advertisement software, Elastic Image technology records distortion measurements from an original 2-D image. These measurements are inputted into the company's distortion software and used to create a distorted image. The technology then pre-decorates Eastman's specialty copolyester plastics with the accurately distorted image and, without pre-drying, applies it to the mold to cost-effectively manufacture an exact, real-to-life 3-D graphic product.
"Even the most challenging 3-D graphic objects can be manufactured with superb accuracy by combining Eastman's specialty copolyesters with Elastic Image's 3-D imaging technology," said Jorge Cortes, business marketing manager, heavy gauge sheet, Eastman. "The combination gives brand owners a variety of advertising options, providing them with an innovative tool to advance consumer appeal, promote product differentiation and facilitate brand consistency within the marketplace."
Eastman's specialty copolyesters provide superior compatibility between decoration and substrate, facilitating excellent adhesion of inks, paints and vinyls and pre-decoration prior to thermoforming. Lower forming temperatures and faster cycle times, which are inherent characteristics of Eastman's specialty copolyesters, virtually eliminate decoration degradation and allow for decorating prior to thermoforming. Eastman's specialty copolyesters offer superb clarity of substrate for decoration consistency and free designers and brand owners from detail limitations.
About Elastic Image, Inc.
Elastic Image, Inc. has developed proprietary graphic distortion hardware and software for 3D plastic products. Elastic Image's technologies deliver value with first pull registration and world class graphics in high relief 3D, virtually eliminating dated trial and error processes. Established in Terre Haute, Ind. in 2001, Elastic Image provides innovative design possibilities for a wide variety of plastic applications, including point-of-purchase displays, signage, consumer products and packaging. To learn more about Elastic Image's revolutionary graphic distortion technology, visit its Web site at http://www.elastic-image.com.
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is the world's largest producer of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion and approximately 12,000 employees. For more information about Eastman and its products, visit http://www.eastman.com.
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