vendredi 18 novembre 2016

Need Packaging? Plastic Thermoforming Might Be Your Best Bet

By Lenna Stockwell


Plastic thermoforming is one of the most affordable packaging solutions available and is a suitable option for just about every industry. There is such a wide range of plastics available, that it is not difficult to find a suitable material for any product, including food and beverages.

While the procedure for creating plastic thermoformed packaging includes many steps, virtually all of the steps are completed in one single machine - a thermoformer. Extremely slender thermoplastic sheets, usually only about .080" or less are placed into the machine where they are heated and, when they reach a pliable temperature, they are forced into molds to create the packaging shape you need. After the formation of the package, it is then cooled and an excess thermoplastic will be cut away for another use.

One of the most frequently created packaging types is called a blister pack or blister packaging. Other common varieties of plastic thermoform packaging include clamshell packages as well as a variety of thermoform trays. However, plastic thermoforming is not all about packaging. You also can create parts out of thermoform plastic as well as complete products. For instance, plastic cutlery and plastic cups are two common items created by thermoforming companies.

With blister packaging, you often see a combination design. This means that several different types of materials will be used to create your packaging. For instance, think about over-the-counter medications. Each pill is placed in a separate cavity and a foil backing keeps the pills safe from moisture as well as tampering. Retail products, such as a small toy car might be placed into a package that has a thermoplastic front with a strong paperboard backing. The thermoplastic not only protects the retail product; it also shows the consumer exactly what it is that they will be buying.

Clamshell packaging actually is a type of blister packaging. It is simply a blister pack that folds onto itself. This type of package is quite common and can be used for food products as well as retail products. In the bakery and fruit and vegetable sections of your local market, you will see pastries, berries, cherry tomatoes and other products stored in clear clamshell packages. But many consumer goods, such as tools, office supplies, toys, headphones and more also will be placed in the clamshells. These offer tamper resistance, moister resistance and nicely display the product as it sits or hangs on a shelf.

While not actually a package, a thermoform tray often fits inside a package. For instance, you might have a cardboard box filled with cookies and all the cookies are lined up on a thermoform tray. The tray helps to protect the cookies. Thermoform trays also are developed to hold frozen dinners, with a specially designed cavity for each separate food. Of course, these trays also can be used to hold any type of product. These are an option to consider if you have a product with several different parts. Each cavity within the tray will be designed to fit the parts precisely, which is quite protective.




About the Author:



Aucun commentaire:

Enregistrer un commentaire