An important part of the design process for any product is creating the special packaging that surrounds that product and just about every item needs at least some packaging. Materials for packaging come in several forms including plastic, paper, cardboard and some other metal-type materials. Read on for more information about the basics of packaging.
The most common thing we hear about purchasing soup or chili is that they are packed in tin cans when in truth they are not cans produced from the material "tin." It is tinplate steel that was used for decades to store canned items like sauces, vegetables and soups. Records reveal that the most common source in making canned goods since the late 1950s is good old aluminum.
Compared to tinplate steel, aluminum is more advantageous being less expensive and not as difficult to make however it still is corrosion resistant. Add the fact that this is the most abundant metal on Earth. Do you know that aluminum is so recyclable that in fact two-thirds of all aluminum produced is still being used and reused as of today? The sad part though is that only half of the material ever makes it to the recycling bins.
By observation you may note that the most common packaging material being used is plastic of all sorts. Note that even those packaged in boxes made of cardboard or any other containers still utilize plastic inside the boxes such as the sealed bags that hold products like crackers or cereals. There are actually seven basic types of plastic that might be used for packaging and each is identified by a special number code. You've probably seen these numbers on the packaging.
There are several different types of plastic that are used to make food packaging, including polyethylene terephthalate, which is often used to hold liquid products, such as soda and water. High-density polyethylene is another type also used to make plastic bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags and many types of food storage containers. Low-density polyethylene also is used to make plastic bags and well as plastic wrap and the plastic rings used to hold together cans of soda.
What plastics go through for their transformation from a large piece of thin plastic into different products is called thermoforming. Manufacturers use either vacuum forming or injection molding as they heat up the plastic and then forced into molds. The moment it has been cooled down, they trim away any excess plastic from the mold which does not go to waste as is recycled for new thermoformed products. Then you have the final product removed from the mold.
The most common thing we hear about purchasing soup or chili is that they are packed in tin cans when in truth they are not cans produced from the material "tin." It is tinplate steel that was used for decades to store canned items like sauces, vegetables and soups. Records reveal that the most common source in making canned goods since the late 1950s is good old aluminum.
Compared to tinplate steel, aluminum is more advantageous being less expensive and not as difficult to make however it still is corrosion resistant. Add the fact that this is the most abundant metal on Earth. Do you know that aluminum is so recyclable that in fact two-thirds of all aluminum produced is still being used and reused as of today? The sad part though is that only half of the material ever makes it to the recycling bins.
By observation you may note that the most common packaging material being used is plastic of all sorts. Note that even those packaged in boxes made of cardboard or any other containers still utilize plastic inside the boxes such as the sealed bags that hold products like crackers or cereals. There are actually seven basic types of plastic that might be used for packaging and each is identified by a special number code. You've probably seen these numbers on the packaging.
There are several different types of plastic that are used to make food packaging, including polyethylene terephthalate, which is often used to hold liquid products, such as soda and water. High-density polyethylene is another type also used to make plastic bottles, milk jugs, plastic bags and many types of food storage containers. Low-density polyethylene also is used to make plastic bags and well as plastic wrap and the plastic rings used to hold together cans of soda.
What plastics go through for their transformation from a large piece of thin plastic into different products is called thermoforming. Manufacturers use either vacuum forming or injection molding as they heat up the plastic and then forced into molds. The moment it has been cooled down, they trim away any excess plastic from the mold which does not go to waste as is recycled for new thermoformed products. Then you have the final product removed from the mold.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell enjoys writing about how stuff is made. For additional info regarding product packaging design solutions, or to find out more about custom plastic packaging options, please check out the Indepak.com site now.
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