Clamshell Blog

Introduction

Packaging is now generally regarded as an essential component of our modern life style and the way business is organized. Packaging is the enclosing of a physical object, typically a product that will be offered for sale. It is the process of preparing items of equipment for transportation and storage and which embraces preservation, identification and packaging of products. Packing is recognized as an integral part of modern marketing operation, which embraces all phases of activities involved in the transfer of goods and services from the manufacturer to the consumer. Packaging is an important part of the branding process as it plays a role in communicating the image and identity of a company.

How can we define Packaging?

Kotler defines packaging as “all the activities of designing and producing the container for a product.” Packaging can be defined as the wrapping material around a consumer item that serves to contain, identify, describe, protect, display, promote, and otherwise make the product marketable and keep it clean. Packaging is the outer wrapping of a product. It is the intended purpose of the packaging to make a product readily sellable as well as to protect it against damage and prevent it from deterioration while storing. Furthermore the packaging is often the most relevant element of a trademark and conduces to advertising or communication.

Functional Requirements

1. Protection and preservation

A basic function of package is to protect and preserve the contents during transit from the manufacturer to the ultimate consumer. It is the protection during transport and distribution; From climatic effects (heat and cold, moisture, vapour, drying atmospheres); from hazardous substances and contaminants; and from infestation. Protection is required against transportation hazards spillage, dirt, ingress and egress of moisture, insect infection, contamination by foreign material, tampering pilferage etc. A package should preserve the contents in ‘Factory Fresh’ condition during the period of storage and transportation, ensuring protection from bacteriological attacks, chemical reaction etc.

2. Containment

Most products must be contained before they can be moved from one place to another. To function successfully, the package must contain the product. This containment function of packaging makes a huge contribution to protecting the environment. A better packaging help to maintain the quality of the product and reachability of the product in the consumer’s hand without spillages It gives better image to the organisation.

3. Communication

A major function of packaging is the communication of the product. A package must communicate what it sells. When international trade is involved and different languages are spoken, the use of unambiguous, readily understood symbols on the distribution package is essential. It is the interest further that to get appropriate communication to the consumer about the product, how to use it and other utility informations. Packaging protects the interests of consumers. Information includes: quantity; price; inventory levels; lot number; distribution routes; size; elapsed time since packaging; colour; and merchandising and premium data.

Types of packaging

An important distinction is to be made here between two types of packaging

* Transport packing: The product entering in to the trade need to be packed well enough to protect against loss damage during handling, transport and storage. Eg: fiberboard, wooden crate etc.

* Consumer Packing: This packaging holds the required volume of the product for ultimate consumption and is more relevant in marketing. Eg: beverages, tobacco etc.

Hazards of Transport

There are four main hazards of transport

* Drops and impacts

* Compression forces

* Vibration

* Climatic variations

Various Mechanical Tests

* Drop Test: This test help to measure the ability of the container and inside packing materials to provide protection to its contents and to measure the ability of the container to withstand rough handling.

* Vibration Test: This test is to determine the ability of the container to withstand vibration and the protection offered by materials used for interior packing.

* Compression Test: This test is carried out, generally, on empty containers, to measure the ability of the container to resists external compressive loads applied to faces or applied to diagonally opposite edges or corners.

* Inclined Impact Test: This test help to study the extend of damage in a way of crushing, breaking, cracking, distortion, and shifting during handling storage and transport which occurs to the container and its content.

* Rolling Test: This test helps to evaluate the overall strength of the container and the cushioning material provided inside and any failure of the content.

* Drum test: This test help to evaluate loaded shipping containers with respect to general overall durability and for the protection afforded to the contents against certain hazards of handling and shipment.

Various Climatic Tests

* Rain Test: This test is conducted in a simulated rain condition to assess its impact on the test area for two hours.

* Sand and Dust Test: This test is to evaluate the resistance of a package to the penetration of sand and dust.

* Salt Spray Test: This test is to evaluate the resistance of a package to corrosion by salt spray and to serve as a general standard for corrosion.

* Fungus Resistance Test: This test is to evaluate all the materials used in the fabrication of shipping containers for fungus resistance.

Importance of Cushion Materials

Cushioning is that part of packaging, which protects the article from damage due to shock and vibration. The main functions of cushioning materials can be detailed as follows:

* Shock protection against vibration

* Protection against abrasion

* Protection of grease proof and water proof barriers at ponut of contact with solid blocks

* Protection of moisture vapour barriers at points of contact with sharp edges of the article itself.

* Protection of small projections

* Filling of void space in the container

* Other secondary purposes

Packaging Cost

The most important aspect when we look into packaging is the packaging cost. Packaging cost include the following:

* Material cost: It means the cost of the pack and quality control cost.

* Storage and handling cost of empty packages: This include the handling cost of bulky packages, heavy materials of construction, drums etc.

* Packaging operation costs: This includes the cost involved in operations like, cleaning the package product filling – closing, labeling – unitizing, stenciling, handling cylindrical slums etc.

* Storage of filled packages: This includes the cost incurred to shift the goods from one form of packaging to another.

* Transportation cost of filled packages: This involves the transportation cost by sea, air etc. (freight by volume)

* Loss and Damage cost: It is related to the loss and damage during operation, transportation delivery etc.

* Insurance cost: It varies depending on the vulnerability of package

* Effect of packages on sales: The package that influence on sales.

* Obsolescence Cost: This cost involves when changes in the packaging materials, packages and labels happen.

* Package developmental cost: This include the evaluation cost, pilot test cost, field testing cost, consumer research cost, feed back cost, final trial cost etc.

Importance of packaging: An Overview

Some of the major significance of packaging can be detailed as follows:

* Can make a product more convenient to use or store, easier to identify or promote or to send out a message.

* Can make the important difference to a marketing strategy by meeting customers’ needs better.

* Packaging plays a key role in brand promotion and management. Packaging is of great importance in the final choice the consumer will make, because it directly involves convenience, appeal, information and branding.

* The paramount concern of packaging is the reachability of the product without any damage. No matter where and how the products are transported or shipped, they arrive at the customer’s door in working condition without need of repair or adjustment.

* Packaging is especially important in certain industry where future sales may be based largely on the quality, integrity and performance of a company’s previous delivery.

Conclusion

The significance of packaging has come to be increasingly recognized in export as well as in marketing of a wide range of consumer goods and industrial products within the country. The volume of exports depends not only on the quantity of the production and prices, but also to a substantial extends on the standards of packaging adopted for the products. Goods damaged in transit or arriving at the destination in an unacceptable condition tarnishes the reputation of the manufacturer as well as the country as a whole, besides colossal wastage of scarce economic resources. Further, packaging has a crucial role to play in the fetching higher unit values for our consumer goods (like tea and cashew) through the substitution of the bulk packs by consumer packs. In the recent past packaging has been increasingly recognized as a significant factor in the nations export promotion effort. Effort should be there to understand the importance of packaging there by to avoid the loss and damage cost incurred during transport and delivery. Keep in mind that a conscious effort on the part of marketing managers can increase the volume of sales and there by improve the reputation of the product and organisation

1. customer request to issue inquiry: means a telephone inquiry, means the second fax inquiries, send Email inquiry three ways, four ways to chat via the web inquiry. Plastic products, customers must provide the length, width, height and thickness of materials used (or grams), color and type (PVC, PET, PS, PP), product number and production cycle.

2, business quotes: Plastic Products Unit of the level with the following factors: Plastic products, length, width, height, and compression molding of the complexity; the type of materials used, thickness and color; plastic products after processing process (folding, drilling, sealing, etc.), order number and order cycle. Members will offer customers a sample and description of the initial offer, final offer will be quoted after proofing.

3, computer design: the basic recognition from customers for the purchase, will be required, in kind or plastic sample submitted to Business, computer design, production scheduling department will require the customer’s physical scanning combined with the design of printed materials, to produce plastic products graphic design

4, Blister Proof: customer acceptance of computer design, script, production scheduling plastic products according to the complexity of deciding on an approach developed mold (plaster mold, copper mold, aluminum mold), the development cycle of 3-5 days. Blister plaster mold proofing proofing to the majority, the steps are: 1. First-kind hand out of mud paste molding profile; 2. Into the plastic foam molding machine to play version of shell blanks; 3. To use with good plastic special plaster into the bubble shell blanks in dried form rough plaster; 4. using electric milling rough plaster and rules on the shape of deep processing; 5. Hand sanding and hand-added components; 6. will be good all polished plaster parts bond to form a complete cast; 7. then put in plastic compression molding machine to play the full version of the sample; 8. according to product size, hand-trimming, edge, complete all the proofing process. If there is demand, print proofing department also will blister samples of paper used for cards, stickers or color box with the production, they will fully open with the actual printing of digital proofer can print the results reflected.

5, the production of mold: after sample approval by the client, usually under a certain number of production orders. Production scheduling based on production, plastic molding on the complexity of deciding what kind of mold production: The production of gypsum mold, plastic mold making process similar to the samples, the advantage of short production cycle, lowest cost production of a full page (60X110cm) Just one or two days time, mold, plastic product shortcomings is the rough surface, production molds easily fragmentation, poor durability of the depth of not forming a large, complex and high, thick sheet products. Electroplated copper mold, the process is to lay the kind of blister surface sprayed with a conductive agent, and then into the electrolytic cell thick plated copper layer, plating process takes 72 hours, then the filling of the mold to gypsum (increasing hardness), polishing, encourage eye treatment, and electroplating copper mold plastic products production has the advantage of smooth surface, moderate cost, durability moderate disadvantage is molding cycle is long, can not complete the production of precision plastic products. Aluminum mold with plastic production, molds need to use computer design drawings, and then using CNC machining CNC milling machine, the advantage of moderate production cycles, post-mold processing time is short (eyes gas drilling to complete the work in the CNC Machining), Plastic Product size high precision mold durable, disadvantage is the high cost. As the automatic high-speed blister forming machine range 66X110cm about, so whether it is cast, mold or aluminum mold, the mold needs to be a single piece together, to shape dimensions, we call this process as the make-up, needs fight the fight of aluminum or wood pores on the good fight after the mold is called the end of full-page mode. Great depth for compression molding products, also need to make the mold, the bottom sheet vacuum mold forming the same time, pressure from the top sheet, the sheet stretched evenly to every part, otherwise it will result in local thickness are too thin. Production of the entire production cycle of mold should be 5 to 7 days.

6, plastic molding production: fully automatic high speed blister molding machine production, the basic principle is: drawing sheets into volumes into the furnace heat oven to soften the state, by heat and then pull the top plastic mold, mold on the Move and vacuum, to soften the sheet material adsorbed to the mold surface, while cooling water to spray the liquid on the surface of forming sheet to make it harden, forming the sheet material and then automatically pulled to the tanks, pneumatic cutter to shape and not forming separate sheet to complete the entire process. Plastic product has most of the major quality problems occur in this process: 1. Blister is not in place, the shape deformation is not the same shape and mold plastic into the product; 2. Blister over, the product is too thin; 3 . pull, is shaping the product line marks should not have happened; 4. uneven thickness. These issues need to die in the Shang Hao, the debugging in place, including: sheet ahead of time, heating temperature and time, intensity and duration of vacuum, on the whereabouts of the location model, time and depth, make-up placing in the mold location, whether between the die and add accessories and so on.

7, punch processing: compression molding of large format products must punch, use a knife split a single version of the product. The principle is the end of the platform at the press of a large sheet of plastic cutting boards, the large format molding on the chopping block, and to do well in advance of the knife mold cards in a single product, moving up and down through the press, finding a single product However, the shortcomings of this finding lies in cutting board and knife mold more easily damaged, resulting in cutting edge is not smooth, there are edges, high quality requirements for the bubble shell, need to Die (a common mold, a female mold) and cold-press processing.

In daily life, in each of our families, plastic bags, plastic food containers has become commonplace in full bloom; in an array on the shelves of the store, placed in plastic food packaging everywhere. We all know full bloom for food packaging and plastic should be non-toxic. But sometimes people do not attach importance to this issue, readily took a plastic bags used to hold food to realize that this is harmful to the body. Because some plastics, such as polychlorinated ashamed vinyl plastic is toxic. Although non-toxic PVC, plastic products, but in the process of accession to the plasticizer dibutyl phthalate and lead are all toxic DOTP; Add stabilizer is also mainly lead stearate toxicity. Easily precipitated lead salt together, there will be set once the store into the body effect, poisoning people a long time, so use plastic food packaging and in full bloom exclusive use of food bags, boxes, must not be misused.
The use of plastic food packaging to note the following:
1. PVC products with ethanol, ether and other solvents precipitate when exposed to lead salt, so in full bloom with this soft plastic food is not suitable;
2. If the use of PVC products in full bloom oily foods such as fried fritters, fried cake, fried fish, snacks and the like will cause the spread of lead in plastic food to go;
3. PVC products when the temperature at 105 ℃, it will dissolve toxic substances, if long-term use in more than 80 ℃ will slowly release HCl gas that has toxic effects on the human body.
Also Bakelite (Bakelite) containing free phenol and formaldehyde on human toxicity, so Bakelite products are not suitable for eating utensils and food packaging. Xinhua Yu (urea-formaldehyde plastic), although a room temperature non-toxic and tasteless, but at 100 ℃ boiling water bubbles or for holding vinegar, there will be precipitation of free formaldehyde on human health, and should not be used for food packaging or a. Other products such as waste plastic recycling extremely complex and difficult to guarantee its non-toxic should not be used for food packaging.
One day be used as food packaging, plastic is generally without plasticizer and antioxidant species, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, nylon, they are non-toxic. Such as the commonly used food bag is made of polyethylene plastic, another example, bottles, cups, sugar bowl, tray, ladle, and lunch boxes are also using non-toxic plastic.
In the commonly used plastic products in identifying whether or how toxic?
Identify many ways, such as the appearance of law, the proportion method, solvent, boiling water immersion, combustion method. More simple, accurate and feasible method is combustion, are presented below:
The samples were cut out a small section to clamp the clamp, in the light of the kerosene lamp on (also available without the alcohol lamp lit candles instead of) view of their ease of combustion from the case after the fire, the color of flame and smoke, burning such phenomena and the odor can be integrated sub-word is what kind of plastic.
PVC: not flammable, away from the fire Jimie, the color of flame and smoke to the bottom of the green tip of the yellow, white fume burning softens, have brushed off later phenomenon, hydrochloric acid gas to stimulate the taste.
Polyethylene plastic: flammable, away from the fire continued to burn after the flame and smoke blue top yellow bottom, continue to melt dripping during burning, burning paraffin wax with a similar issue of taste.
Polypropylene: flammable, burning up from the fire, the flame color of the top end blue yellow, burning continuously melt dripping when there oil flavor.
Polystyrene: flammable, away from the fire continued to burn after the flame and smoke Secheng orange, black smoke, it is obvious that black carbon fly to the end of the air, given the unique odor of styrene.
Bakelite: flame from the fire and then turns off the flame and smoke color yellow, expansion cracks when burning issue of wood burned and the smell of phenol.
Urea-formaldehyde plastics: flame, after the Jimie from fire, flame and smoke color yellow, tip pale blue, burning and swelling when there are cracks, issued a sharp taste of urea and formaldehyde.
Nylon plastic: the slow burn from the fire put out after the slow, yellow flame, burning under the drip when the constantly melting and foaming, have similar taste burnt wool.

After resin is a synthetic polymer. The plastic is a polymer material as the main, add (or without) other additives, to a certain temperature and pressure conditions to molding materials. Therefore, if a number of popular talk, that is, the scope of resin is plastic, plastic containing resin. However, resin and plastic are two concepts associated with each other.

Is a linear polymer chain to react the functional group under certain conditions by the AFL-CIO, or by the direct polymerization of monomer three-dimensional structure of the polymer. Polymer body is a “giant molecule” molecular size and molecular weight are not a limit, often a product is a huge volume of molecules. Therefore, the molecular weight it has lost its meaning. It can not be dispersed by the solvent molecules (but can be solvent swelling), heat can not flow, is insoluble compounds. Amorphous polymer body is always in the glassy state, very hard, brittle, usually not to show flexibility, heat does not soften, it does not work plasticizer, cold rolling and not to delay or molecular orientation. However, due to the formation of polymer shape is often carried out in stages, from a linear shape by the shape and the last, if the structure has not yet formed in the body to die before that, while heating, allow the reaction to complete the course in full bloom can be be hard products. General commonly referred to as thermosetting plastics, mostly polymer body.

Large molecular weight polymer is a class of compounds by one or more simple compounds (usually referred to as monomers) the Exalted. They are the main ingredients in plastics, leading in all the components in the bonding role in determining the plastic is a thermosetting or thermoplastic, is the physical impact of plastics, chemical, and mechanical properties of the important factors. Their content in plastics is generally 30% to 90%. Not very strictly speaking, known as polymers, polymers and polymer is called homopolymer obtained by two or more monomers and polymers is called copolymer obtained.

In real life there are many aspects to avoid the harmful effects of plasticizer, but because people misuse of plastic packaging, and indirectly should not eat the stomach of the toxic substances into the body to eat. The public should learn a lesson from a variety of improper use of the method, to correct as soon as possible.

“Thin plastic bags donut” — current heavy use of transparent market-like, low-cost thin film plastic bags, and more for the PVC (polyvinyl chloride) material. Just blow out the donut and the temperature about 90 ℃, and this PVC plastic bags at 80 ℃ high temperature melt solution will be met, the release of toxic and harmful substances such as plasticizers.

“Preservation of film equipment malatang” — that many shopkeepers in the dishes containing the guests malatang Lay a layer of “plastic film preservation” is in charge of the guests health, thinking that to avoid the spread of bacteria. As everyone knows, and preservation of films produced by heat, toxic substances, “but it is likely a result of dirty dishes eat 100 times more harmful bacteria.”

“Where the plastic foam lunch boxes are put in the microwave” — not all of the plastic foam lunch boxes are suitable for high-temperature heating in the microwave. Many materials of plastic foam lunch boxes generally heating food in the process, because the heat penetrated into food oil, and then melted, producing harmful substances. Such as foam lunch boxes, signs of fusion have occurred after heating, food must not eat.

“Colored plastic bags directly mounted cooked” — with a plastic bag of cooked food, snacks and other food for immediate consumption, better not to use colored plastic bags. There are two reasons: First, the permeability for plastic pigment dyeing and more volatile, easily met oil to heat leakage; If it is an organic dye, which will contain aromatics. Second, many colored plastic bags are made from recycled plastic, recycled plastic impurities as more manufacturers have to add the paint, to cover up.

Of the 20th century the development of synthetic resin material and industrialization, made of plastic packaging material is given an unprecedented development, the same time, plastic food packaging materials has become the most important packaging material.
Plastic food packaging has the following characteristics:
1. Applied very widely, from fresh food to which means that the cooked food, from cereals to meat, from a single package to transport packaging, from solid food to liquid food, covering the entire food production, processing and sales chain, has become a food part of industry itself.
2. Packaged in various forms, with tray type, container type, tube type, bag type, single-layer plastic film, multilayer film class and so on.
3. Use of plastic packaging when conditions vary, there is cold, but also microwave heating, high temperature cooking, etc..
4. Direct contact with food within the packaging as the main packaging, and packing the contents has a very diverse species composition.
5. Packaging plastic varieties, products of chemical composition is extremely complex.
The face of such deep integration with the food industry plastic packaging, its potential health and safety risks can not be ignored, is the current food safety control system we are an important part.
The following plastic packaging materials to major potential security risk to do a brief analysis:
The first type of plastic container packaging. Common plastic containers for food packaging mainly polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, etc., packing container security risk is mainly of plastic processing additives, such as plasticizers, antioxidants, functional additives, such as anti-static agent and coloring agents. These processing aids in the migration to the food, plastic production in the residual monomer and catalyst to move food, plastics processing, thermal decomposition, the product of the aging of the migration to food. These migratory movements of food safety hazards.
The second type is single-layer plastic film-like material. Common single plastic food packaging film is polyethylene, polypropylene, cellophane, the security risk is similar to packaging containers.
The third type of plastic composite packaging materials. As the colorful composite packaging materials and various forms of functional and has become the main form of packaging food packaging. The composite materials are widely used in packaging materials, process complexity, the potential safety problems are most difficult to control the most.
Four problems:
First, the plastic material itself residual monomer, various additives and processing substances produced by the migration of low molecular weight problems.
Second, bring the solvent printing plastic residues, especially ketones, benzene solvents, inks, heavy metals and various additives.
Third, the composite adhesive, AC agent into the solvent residue, especially polyurethane adhesives Tour divorce NCO content and aromatic isocyanate polyurethane adhesives in the aromatic esters of isocyanate reacting with water, the aromatic primary amine (PAA) problem . Water or alcohol-soluble polyurethane production of dispersing agent, blocking agent, protective agent problem.
Fourth, the bag, squeezing complex processes in the slippery powder.
These packaging materials in contact with food during the great migration to food in food safety.
In addition to the packaging material itself and the processing of security risks arising from products in the transportation, storage, use also may be secondary pollution, some manufacturers food and non food packaging material produced by mixing the management of the production also brings the corresponding Loudong risk.
At present our country’s plastic packaging for food did not achieve effective control, resulting in a significant security risk.
Therefore, we must be in plastic food packaging materials monitoring system to ensure product safety. I recommend: First, to establish material security database, whereby legislation, the provisions of which can be used in food packaging materials, chemical additives which can be used for food packaging materials, which materials can be used for direct contact food packaging, migration to the maximum food is. Furthermore, we should develop the appropriate test method standards. Third, monitoring the whole process of food packaging materials, raw materials, production processes, finished products, storage and use. Should at least implement retrospective control system to achieve effective control of the safety of plastic food packaging.

Currently, people always have plastic food packaging concerns about this or that, even suggested that plastic “toxic.” But industry experts say: plastic food packaging is safe for use, but do not use colored plastic bags of food.

Experts remind, packed in plastic bags of cooked food, snacks and other food for immediate consumption, it is best not to use colored plastic bags. Because of the permeability for plastic dye pigment and volatile strong case of oil, when heated, when the easy leakage. If it is an organic dye, which will contain aromatics, have some impact on health. In addition, many colored plastic bags are made from recycled plastic, recycled plastic as a lot of impurities, in which manufacturers have to add paint to cover up. However, some in plastic bags, recycled plastic as raw material is white. Experts also pointed out that currently no effective way to distinguish between the special plastic grocery bags, but one thing is certain, non-formal manufacturers, in street stalls do not sell plastic bags for food packaging. In addition, the plastic bags if there is a special smell, can not be used to hold food.

According to reports, the current plastics used for packaging food products of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polystyrene, etc., its health properties are eligible for food packaging is safe. But consumers can not distinguish between food and non-food bags, there are a considerable part of the unqualified plastic bags to be used in food packaging a serious threat to people’s health.

While the plastic food packaging bag is safe, but should also pay attention to methods in use. Do not use plastic bags a long hot food. In daily life, often see people with plastic bags of steaming fried cake, fried dough sticks, etc., if eaten within a short time, not much harm, but a long time to cover their food hot in the bag, would make plastic bags, some of the material leakage and impact on health. Microwave heating of food, the best microwave special plastic bags and special containers. Refrigerator, cold storage and frozen food wrap applications, rather than using plastic bags instead of the ordinary. In addition, buying plastic wrap should look for QS logo.

A wide range of plastic packaging bags, standard variable, therefore, design and production staff are often overlooked bag method, the result is fine although the design is issued, but the finished product obtained was sub-packages were intended to, or even a waste. Experience tells us that only in the understanding of common types of packaging based on the design concept to full play to stop the design process does not meet bag works, design and practical, perfect finished product packaging.

Plastic bags can be divided into three sides by seal bag, sealed in the end, three-dimensional letters and film material in 4 categories.

Trilateral closure is sealed in bags around, are, back sizes are finished sizes, with some overall sense of design unfettered, and before and after the design has a certain consistency. As is, the back of the same size, can first design front, back and front to respond. When the plate is, back to arrange a set of a roller.

In the back of the end closure is sealed, positive dimensions of finished size, the back is divided into two equal parts, and its width is equal to the width of the positive, often in the design is the front and back sides started to carry out integrated design, and about The increase 1cm Edge, are, also, a set of back roller.

Three-dimensional in the closure is sealed in the bottom, based on three-dimensional on both sides plus side, is back, side 3 face the same version in the same set of rollers.

Printed materials, film material because of the restrictions, the positive and negative must be designed separately, separate plate, not both appear in the same set of a roller.