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Digipak

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A 6-panel right-tray clear gloss UV digipak

Digipak is a patented[1] style of optical disc packaging, and is a registered trademark of AGI-Shorewood, an Atlas Holdings LLC company.

Features

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s.

Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak[2] is often used generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot"[3] rather than a full plastic tray.

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak)[4] is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets. Such packaging is less resistant to abrasion than jewel cases, so it tends to show signs of wear relatively quickly. Licensed digipak manufacturers such as domestic U.S. printer and disc replicator Oasis Disc Manufacturing[5] recommend coating the raw printed paper with a protective UV coating, thus ensuring greater longevity.

Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Additionally, the disc tray can sometimes become detached after time.

Digipak with recycled tray made from sugarcane

Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles,[6] which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth".[7] Another one goes one step further by totally eliminating the plastic tray and replacing it with a paper tray made from sugarcane and egg carton. Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.

History

IMPAC Group, Inc. originally owned the Digipak trademark. That company was acquired by MeadWestvaco (MWV) in 2000 and folded into its AGI Media division. Following this acquisition, the Digipak name and designs were licensed to manufacturers around the world. MWV sold AGI Media to Atlas Holdings in 2010. In 2012, Atlas purchased Shorewood Packaging from International Paper and merged the two companies to create AGI-Shorewood.

See also

References

  1. ^ U.S. patent 4,709,812
  2. ^ "reflects Walmart.com usage as seen". Walmart.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  3. ^ "Soft-Spot CD Packages". Oasiscd.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  4. ^ "DVDigipaks". Oasiscd.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  5. ^ "Digipak® CD Packages". Oasiscd.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  6. ^ "Oasis BottleTray digipak postconsumer soda water bottle trays 100% post-consumer". Oasiscd.com. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
  7. ^ "Plastic free digipak made from recycled egg carton and sugarcane". newcyberian.com. Retrieved 2012-01-03.
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