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.
Put aluminum alongside tinplate steel and you'll find it with more advantages starting with it being less costly and can be made easier though it still resists corrosion. This is the metal that is the most abundant type on Earth. In addition, aluminum can be recycled an infinite amount of times to create new cans and products. In fact, about two-thirds of all aluminum ever produced is still being re-used today. This number would be higher if people would simply remember to place aluminum into their 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.
Thermoforming is the process by which these plastics are transformed into different products. Via vacuum forming or injection molding a large thin sheet of plastic goes through heat of a specific temperature and then they are forced into molds. This then goes through cooling and any excess plastic being trimmed away but only to be recycled for new thermoformed products. After removing it from the mold, you now have your finished product.
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.
Put aluminum alongside tinplate steel and you'll find it with more advantages starting with it being less costly and can be made easier though it still resists corrosion. This is the metal that is the most abundant type on Earth. In addition, aluminum can be recycled an infinite amount of times to create new cans and products. In fact, about two-thirds of all aluminum ever produced is still being re-used today. This number would be higher if people would simply remember to place aluminum into their 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.
Thermoforming is the process by which these plastics are transformed into different products. Via vacuum forming or injection molding a large thin sheet of plastic goes through heat of a specific temperature and then they are forced into molds. This then goes through cooling and any excess plastic being trimmed away but only to be recycled for new thermoformed products. After removing it from the mold, you now have your finished product.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell loves blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about custom packaging solutions or to discover more about food packaging design, please go to the Indepak.com website now.
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