Clamshell Blog

VisiPak recently partnered with Shorr Packaging Corp to develop thermoformed trays to package a GPS device. The plastic packaging trays were specifically designed with future modifications in mind to keep costs low for Shorr Packaging as the product changed with new innovations.

Shorr Packaging Corp. is one of the largest independent packaging distribution firms in the nation. From packaging equipment to consultant services, Shorr provides expertise in integrated packaging solutions and integration is key. With an exhaustive list of strategic relationships in manufacturing equipment and consumables, Shorr delivers high quality products and services.

Late in 2008, Shorr began a business relationship with VisiPak purchasing a thermoformed plastic clamshell. About a year later, when a new product for Shorr developed, VisiPak was called into action once again. One of the restrictions submitted related to the size of the new plastic tray packaging container. The new protective packaging trays were to be a specific depth and width, with height the only dimension that could vary. The clear plastic packaging tray would protect an expensive new product and then be inserted into a corrugated box, complete with an outlet for a handle.

The new product, a GPS system for the agricultural industry, is used to guide tractors with impeccable precision and is a costly unit demanding shipping protection. This is where the VisiPak design engineering team stepped up to the plate. By closely analyzing the components of the GPS system itself, the VisiPak engineers arrived at a design that would not only satisfy all existing requirements, but also provide for less expensive tooling on future revisions by developing interchangeable mold bases.

As is well known, technology is always changing and the various components of the GPS unit may change in future versions. VisiPak packaging design engineers are well aware of this concept and with this in mind, designed a new thermoformed plastic shipping tray with an interchangeable mold base. Simply put, a base mold forms the outer frame of the thermoformed tray and another interior mold, which contains the various cavities for the various GPS components, is inserted to form a single tray. This means that the existing cavitations can be easily modified, saving thousands of future tooling costs.

After studying the GPS components, VisiPak design engineers concluded a two-tier shipping tray would best accommodate the system. Without changing the depth or width of the current design, one part of the plastic tray would contain the screen and a second tray, the tray made from the interchangeable mold base, would hold the various other components of the GPS unit. The two clear trays would then stack and slide into the corrugated box, snugly securing all contents within. Also featured in the design of the plastic tray packaging is the contour or scoop allowing for the handle of the outer box.

Not only did the VisiPak design engineers create the thermoformed package protection required, but because of their perception of advancements in technology, they were able to consider not only the moment, but the future as well. With this type of service, Shorr can conceivably save a third of future tooling costs should variations of the GPS device require new packaging.

About Shorr Packaging:

Shorr Packaging is one of the largest independent packaging distribution firms in the nation dating back to the early 20’s and spanning three generations of family operated leadership. Now focusing on industrial packaging distribution Shorr continues to expand with an array of value-added services including procurement solutions, packaging design, inventory management and consulting services.

About VisiPak:

Clear plastic packaging is the VisiPak specialty and this includes extruded and thermoformed packaging options. With the addition of clamshell packages and transparent boxes to the original line of clear plastic tubes, VisiPak is the clear choice for all your transparent packaging needs.

Leveraging its position as the largest extruder of clear PETG plastic tubing in the U.S., the VisiPak division of Sinclair & Rush is proud to be a leader in the field of designing and manufacturing clear plastic packaging. VisiPak was the first packaging manufacturer to bring clear plastic mailing tubes to the direct mail industry and has introduced other innovative packaging solutions like PermaSeals, Hang Tubes, and Donation Containers. Expanding into thermoformed packaging, VisiPak now offers Clamshells, Blisters and Trays, with many stock clamshells ready to ship. If a custom package is required, the VisiPak design team can offer great design flexibility in full custom creations or, at reduced tooling costs, can modify a mold to fit the requirements. Clear plastic boxes are yet another VisiPak clear packaging option and involve no tooling costs.

There are two primary manufacturing plants located in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri. The Kirkwood plant operates 10 state-of-the-art extruders while the plastics molding facility in Arnold manufactures caps and plugs as well as producing the thermoformed product lines. Arnold is also the home of the sales and design teams. VisiPak can serve your global needs through manufacturing and distribution facilities in the U.S., Mexico, United Kingdom, China, and Australia

According to “industrial production permit regulations,” regulations, next month, all food paper packaging, containers, etc. must sell QS market access being available, unable to obtain access to the production enterprise will fade out.

Daiyue quality monitoring stations, said law enforcement officers, from September 1, the food paper packaging, paper containers for food with the QS Manager of the formal investigation into all the food paper packaging, containers and other market access must be listed QS sales, otherwise they would be investigated.

“As the costumes food and beverage containers, paper cups, quality of the product is safe, very important to consumers. Quality supervision departments will have cup of raw materials used in pulp production enterprises, waxed floor wax, etc. with repeated testing, then, only full compliance of the company to get access, can not get access to the company will exit the market after September 1. “law enforcement personnel, to be included in the first directory of food paper packaging, containers and other products, including packing and containers Class of 21 varieties of two major categories, including food packaging cellophane paper, food packaging, food packaging board, brown paper and, while the food is often used with paper containers, including paper bag, paper cans, paper cups, paper tableware, paper and so on, which usually covers almost all direct contact with food packaging.

“For example, instant noodle bowl, hamburgers, sandwiches and other cooked food like wrapping paper, cookie baking paper, candy, preserved fruits, etc. wrapping paper, tea cake, wrapping paper, tea bag, wrapping paper, the Class of wax paper food packaging, ice-cream wrapping paper, etc., all within the scope of management in QS. “law enforcement officers explained that under the new regulations, not been included in the first directory of food paper packaging, container production permit card company, not the production of the product; any unit or individual may sell or use in business activities without the production license of the product. “Inspection process, we will be in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, investigate and punish those who violate the regulations.”

Here, quality supervision staff to remind consumers buy disposable cups, be sure to look for QS logo. After September 1, consumers purchasing a paper cup not found to QS mark, may be reported to the quality supervision departments. In addition, to carefully review whether the sign package labeled “product name, producer name and address, product performance standards, production date, shelf life” and other countries require labeling of the contents of the label if the contents of cups incomplete or not specification, it is best not to buy.

Packaging design is the combination of art and natural sciences, applied to the product’s packaging to protect and beautify the area, it is not a generalized “art” is not a simple decoration, but with science, art, material, economic, psychological, market Integrated elements such as the embodiment of multi-functional.

The main role of packaging has two: one is to protect the product; second, beautification and promotional products. The basic task of packaging design is a scientific, economic, complete packaging shape, structure and interior design.

(1) Packaging Design

Packaging Design, also known as physical design, most of that shape containers. It is the use of aesthetic principles, by shape, color and other factors change, will have the functionality and appearance of the beautiful packaging containers modeling, visual forms. Containers must be able to reliably protect the product, must have good appearance, needs to fit with the economic and so on.

(2) Packaging Design

Packaging structure design is from the protective packaging, convenience, reusability and other basic functions and the actual production conditions, based on scientific principles to the packaging of the external and internal structure derived from the design for specific consideration. A good structural design should be to effectively protect the primary functions of goods; Secondly, we should consider using, carrying, display, the convenience of shipping, etc.; also be able to reuse as much as possible into account, can display the contents and so on.

(3) Packing Design

Packing design is design, text, color, relief and other art forms, highlighting product features and image, and strive to form compact, novel designs, bright colors, clear text, decorative and landscaping products to promote product sales. Packaging and decoration is an integrated science, is both a practical art, it is an engineering technology, arts and crafts and the combination of engineering and to consider the marketing, consumer economics, consumer psychology and other disciplines.

A good package design, packaging design, structural design, decoration design the three organic unity, the only way to fully play the role of packaging design. Moreover, the packaging design not only involves the two major academic technology and the arts, it also involved in their respective areas of many other related disciplines, therefore, to get a good package design is the need for some hard work under the.

In recent years, the food packaging industry in China developed rapidly, far more than other manufacturing industries. According to experts speculate that a period of time in order to meet future food packaging industry in China’s fast development needs, there will be five major food packaging machines dominate the market:

One bag, filling, sealing packaging machinery. Current domestic production of more than 100 manufacturers of such machinery, the output reached 15 million units. Bag making, filling, sealing the trend of packaging machinery modular structure, more high-speed, high stability, transmission machinery is simple, adaptive closed-loop control.

Second, the metal packaging container processing equipment. China metal packaging container processing machinery manufacturing industry has taken shape, first, the development trend of such products to improve product performance, increase yield and material utilization, is to accelerate the improvement of product technology, development of mercury-free welding and high-performance high-frequency welding power supplies.

Third, corrugated boxes (board) production equipment. Over the past decade, China’s corrugated box machinery industry developed rapidly, corrugated board line product range from the development to printing slotting machine, cardboard gluing machine, cut machine and other product series, the future direction of First Gaosu Plants, 2 corrugated cardboard boxes is the light equipment.

Fourth, pulp molding processing equipment. Processing equipment, paper tableware in China at present is relatively small scale of production, processing equipment, high prices. Pulp mold tableware processing machinery in the future should reduce the cost of forming heated mold, improve heating methods to reduce power consumption costs, increase production and so increase the research.

Fifth, vacuum packaging machinery. China’s many production of vacuum packaging machinery business to the main assembly, the main variety is mainly semi-automatic operation, automatic continuous, large vacuum chamber and suitable for liquid packaging, vacuum packaging machinery less, domestic general lack of efficient, dedicated vacuum packaging machine .

Quick packaging machinery will follow the current trends in order to facilitate customers, research and development of better packaging machinery.