think4D - innovation from Altona to the world!!! An innovative product line at Friesens Corpo­ration in Altona is quickly gaining a global reputation. think4D is a unique technology that combines high quality printing with shapes and texture to create product packages that appeal to multiple senses of the potential buyer. While most of us are familiar with 3D imagery, think4D is named for the added sense of 'feel'. Some clients of think4D say "we want consumers thinking with their fingertips''. Over the last year, think4D has been honoured with three presti­gious awards and was profiled on the cover of the two largest pack­aging trade magazines. Fehr speaks proudly of the company's hometown. "Altona is a special place. Companies like Gillette are enamoured by our small town, where we're located, and most of all by the people that live here and build world class products. Altona should be very proud of this new start-up company called think4D that is bringing innova­tion from Altona to the world:'

1. Red RiverValley Echo • Thursday, February 26, 2015 Lori Penner
think4D - innovation from Altona to the world>An innovative
product
line at
Friesens Corpo­
ration in Altona is
quicklygaining a
global reputation.
Almost every prod­
uct we buy comes in
a package. The role
of packaging in prod­
uct marketing has
become quite sig­
nificant as it is one of
the ways companies
can get consumers to
notice their products
on crowded store
shelves.
While most consumers don't consciously think
about the package containing their favourite prod­
ucts; thecolour, feel, and size of consumer packag­
es greatly influences what and how much we buy.
A localstart-upcompany called think4D has rec­
ognized this opportunity and has developed inno­
vative technologyandprocesses tohelp companies
win the attention of consumers in an increasingly
competitive retail market.
Friesens Corporation (the parent company of
think4D) has long enjoyed a reputation as an in­
novative manufacturer of print and bookproducts.
But just over five years ago the company began di­
versifying its product offering into consumer pack­
aging.
Today, think4D employs 30 people in Altona and
is fast gaining a reputation as an elite packaging
provider and works with one of the biggest brands
in the world.
think4D is a unique technology that combines
high quality printing with shapes and texture to
create product packages that appeal to multiple
senses of the potential buyer.
While most of us are familiar with 30 imagery,
think4D is named for the added sense of 'feel'.
Some clients of think4D say "we want consumers
thinking with their fingertips''.
Thebasic concept isthatthe companyprints high
quality decorations onto plastic. The plastic is then
sent through an application called thermoforming
to form the plastic into a shape or texture.
What makes think4D unique in the packaging
worldis that they are able to form the plastic to the
exactness of print.
This means they are able to make the outside
of a package look and feel like the product on the
inside. For example, if a company was selling golf
balls andthey wanted thepackagetohavethe same
look and texture as the golf ball itself, think4D can
make it happen.
This is something that other packaging compa­
nies have tried for years, but think4D is the first
company to successfully make it happen and bring
it to market.
Mike Fehr, President of think4D, described their
first few years as challenging. "Starting a business
from scratch based on a brand new invention is
tough. But wehave a dedicated team that just kept
finding solutions to challenges. We've been in a
constant learning curve and continuous search for
theright application:'
Their first big breakthrough for the company
came whenGillette (yes theglobalshavingcompa­
ny) learned of think4D. Fehr describes that as the
"ah-ha" moment when the think4D team was able
to turn Gillette's challenge into a new type ofpack­
age that the world had not yet seen.
Since then, think4D has produced millions of
packages for a product called the Gillette Venus
Snap used by women around the world.
"That was the defining moment that shaped our
future:' says think4D ProductionManager Murray
Kehler.
"Gillette produces many different types of razors
and our success with the Venus Snap led to a sec­
ond and much larger program from Gillette called
theVenus Swirl. Months before the Venus Swirl hit
the store shelves, we were producing millions of
the decorated packages''.
While Gillette is the company's flagship custom­
er, think4D is in regular contact with many of the
largest consumer product companies in the world.
Fehr adds, "We are engaged in concept develop­
mental for several household brands that most of
your readers will befamiliarwith. We areprivileged
to be talking with potential clients that many other
packaging vendors may never have an opportunity
to reach. Our innovative packaging process opens
doors that others can't:'
Fehr also boasts about his team. "Our team is
stacked with great people that share a passion for
innovation. There's lotsof challenges whenstarting
a new business. I'mgratefulfor their energy, team­
work, and stick-to-itiveness. Our staff work incred­
ibly hard to be successful and to meet customer
needs:'
Lori Penner Red River Valley Echo
A few of the packages produced by think40 at Friesens Corporation in Altona.
As for the future, think4D is
working hard to grow their busi­
ness.
Whileittakesalongtimetowin
key accounts, landing just one
project with a major consumer
brand can change thecompany's
growth plans overnight.
Kehler says, "Aproduct launch
like Venus Swirl can keep every­
one very busy for months at a
time:'
Big things are happening for
think4D and Friesens Corpora­
tion inAltona.
Over the last year, think4D has
been honoured with three presti­
giousawardsand was profiled on
the cover of the two largest pack­
aging trade magazines.
Fehr speaks proudly of the
company's hometown. "Altona is
a special place. Companies like
Gillette are enamoured by our
small town, where we're located,
and most of all by thepeople that
live here and build world class
products.
Altona shouldbe veryproud of
thisnew start-upcompany called
think4D that is bringing innova­
tion from Altona to the world:'
A group of employees at think40, displaying some of the packages they've produced, and some of the awards and attention they've received.
NDIY,MARCH16,2015- 1
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