Automatic Table Top Blister/Tray Sealer B6x9

Blister packs are quite simply your product sealed between a transparent bubble and a printed card. They have become a major force in self-service packaging because they are successful at selling more goods faster in today's self-service market. Self-service stores make it vital to have a form of packaging that sells itself -- that not only presents itself, but creates the impulse to buy. The blister pack has replaced the clerk (what clerk, where?) in pointing out your product and motivating them to consider it. The successful blister pack does this -- it provokes interest that may lead to an impulse sale -- often in the blink of an eye, a quick glance.

CAN You Blister Pack Your Product?

You can blister package an item as long as a baseball bat, as fragile as a light bulb, or as intricate as a cookie cutter - and blister packaging will enhance sales while maintaining your margin of profit - MOST IMPORTANT. Blister packaging is equally successful with plumbing supplies and auto parts, high ticket items, and notions. Factors Affecting the Selection of the Blister Blisters make wonderful "working packages" in which the dispensing feature or organization feature is built right into the package. Consider specifying a special blister for you product would be enhanced by such an "extra-value" package such as unit packs, sets, kits, or compartmentalized trays, At the start you'll want to decide whether you want custom made blisters or can use standard blister. To you, the major factor is COST. Custom blisters require custom tooling to generate the blisters and a "run" to actually generate the blisters. This increases the cost. Using standard blisters reduces unit cast thru the economy of scale. Our use of mass production and warehousing for standard blisters not only reduces your cost but also reduces any lead time since the blisters are in stock.
---> Next -- Planned coordination.

Importance of Planned Coordination

A blister pack is a simple, functional package, but it requires careful planning. What secures your packaging success, the crucial difference, is coordination of materials and planning. All the elements MUST WORK TOGETHER, an item often overlooked in the rush to get the product and packaging out - forming, assembling, loading, retail distribution, and consumer use. When you choose packaging types, consider the advantages that are most desirable and eliminate any types that are obviously impractical. Then you can focus on issues of economy and what package will best fit your needs and desires.
( ---> Click for Selection Factor Table)

The table below may help:

Selection Factor	Blister Pack	Skin Pack	Flexible Film Packs
Require Board	X	X	X
Require Perforated board		X
Heat Sealable	X	X	X
Adhesive sealable	X
Label Sealable	X
Staple Fastening	X
2-Sided Visibility	X		X
Reopening Features	X		X
Dispensing Features	X		X
Can be Custom Formed	X	X	X
High Speed Assembly	X	X	X
Easy Manual Assembly	X	X	X

Coating and Adhesives

Heat sealing is usually the most practical method of binding a plastic blister or skin to a card. The card stock must be coated with an adhesive that will give a strong durable bond. Again, this coating MUST be compatible with the properties of both the board and the plastic. An acetate blister for instance requires a type of coating entirely different from that used on polystyrene. Obtaining a coated board that will produce an adequate, trouble-free seal of plastic to card has long been one of the critical areas of blister packaging. Heat-seal coatings are based on thermoplastic resin formulations such as polyvinyl chloride (now illegal?), polyvinyl acetate, and others sold under many trade names. Whatever the formulation, it must meet the requirements of the type of plastic used, the card, and the method of assembly. Strong fiber-tearing or "weld" type bonds can be obtained. The heat seal coating also protects the printing and provides the familiar glossy finish which enhances the appearance of the card.

Selecting the Right Card Stock

1. Will the sealing method require a thermoplastic coating and is it compatible with your blisters or other packaging material. This is crucial. Many packaging jobs have been ruined by inadequate or mismatched card stock.
2. If the cards will use special art, what printing process will be employed. "4-color" is usually the MOST expensive. Reducing the number of colors required should reduce costs as well as having PROPERLY prepared art that can be easily converted to an offset process.
3. What thickness, strength, finish and bending qualities must the card stock have? All this will of course affect the budget.
4. Will the PRINTING be COMPATIBLE with the thermoplastic coating if one is used. Another CRUCIAL question. Do not ASSUME any ink will WORK. The wrong ink can ruin your packaging job and give you long-term headaches.
5. If you are skin packing the card is it sufficiently porous to allow the vacuum to draw down the skin through the coated card. Does it have enough perforations, if they are needed. Once again, be sure your card supplier is familiar with the packaging process. Cutting corners is to be approached with EXTREME CAUTION.
6. If your product is large or heavy, have you tested the board for the extra strength and durability required?

Board stock generally ranges from 0.014 to 0.030 inches - 14 to 30 thousandths. The usual size is about 20-24. Many surfaces are available. Again, consult someone with knowledge of packaging when making your decision. Remember the CRUCIAL IMPORTANCE of COORDINATION of materials in packaging.

Selecting the Right Plastic

The principal types of sheet plastic used in package thermoforming are cellulose acetage, propionate, butyrate, polyethylene, polystyrene, oriented styrene, polypropylene, and vinyl. When selecting a plastic sheet for thermoforming consider the following factors:

1. Compatibility of the plastic with your product. For example, a styrene comb will "migrate" (crack up or cloud) if loaded in an acetate blister.
2. Suitability. Some plastics form more readily than others; some are suitable for "deep draw" (stretching) or for intricate details - and of course economy and cost must always be considered.
3. Properties such as ease of cutting and trimming the formed sheet and other characteristics my affect the efficiency of production and speed of assembly.
4. Critical features such as barrier properties, strength, dimensional stability, clarity, shelf life, resistance to scuff, and resistance to heat and/or cold.
5. The last most important attribute in some ways is COST. The gauge ranges from 5 to 20mil. In general, the thicker the gauge the more costly, but choosing strictly on cost can be a trap if the material chosen is not strong enough or can't do the required job.

The safest rule is to know your needs and the need of your product, then work with someone with experience in packaging who can help you pick the plastic that's RIGHT for you and your product. Approach "short cuts" and "cutting corners" with extreme caution. The following chart may help:

The Process - Sealing with Applied Heat

The most practical, economical and popular method to affix the blister or skin to the card is to heat-seal the two together. Blister is pressed to the card, the interface between them is heated, the heat-seal coating on the card is softened by the heat, and the blister is fused to the card - much like hot glue gun. When the heat is removed the fused areas cool and harden. By PROPERLY choosing the plastic, coating card, equipment and method, and through proper control of heat, pressure, and dwell time, a permanent seal can be attained that meets your requirements. NOTICE how much MUST be COORDINATED to attain the seal you want! Assembly Blister packs are easily and readily assembled by hand. This is one of the most common ways to do it for the small entrepreneur. Often helpful but no necessary is an "indexing fixture" which is simply a board with holes that helps the operator place the product in the correct position in the blister. Changeover from one blister to another is generally fast and easy. Equipment cost is low, and throughput remarkably high. Unit cost is usually very low, which makes this a popular packaging alternative.

Uses and Advantages of Blister Packaging

• Transparency and sparkle to permit rapid identification and quick, sure buying.
• Package can "formed" to product to dramatize the product and save shelf/wall space.
• Superior protection against moisture, handling, pilfering, and breakage.
• Ease of Assembly by a simple "blister sealer" machine that uses heat to wed the blister to the card with your product inside.
• Low Cost of the TOTAL PACKAGE - including materials, production, assembly, and necessary machinery. You'll be AMAZED.
• Individuality. All forms of art can be printed on the card and the package can suit whatever you feel YOU need.
• Light Weight and ease of handling reduce shipping, distribution, and stocking costs.
• Flexibility to produce small, medium, or large runs. Package on YOUR timetable at YOUR convenience.
• Strong Consumer Acceptance of attractive, clear display of product that shows exactly what will be purchased - no guessing on their part. Meanwhile, product is protected until time of use.
• Ease of Display. Your packaged product can be easily hung on hooks where they can be plainly seen or displayed on shelves. Card prevents your product from falling from the cart and gives necessary signage.