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.
Different types of plastic are one of the most common materials used for packaging. Even items packaged in cardboard boxes and containers typically are just holding vessels for the sealed waxy plastic bags inside, such as the bags which hold cereal or crackers. There are actually seven basic types of plastic and each is identified with a special resin code, which is a number surrounded by a triangle of arrows.
As several different types of plastic materials are used in packaging, you should be introduced to the one responsible for holding liquid products like water and soda - which is polyethylene terephthalate. When it comes to the production of plastic bottles, plastic bags, milk jugs and all sorts of food storage, high-density polyethylene is being used. Its counterpart, the low-density polyethylene is used for the manufacturing of plastic bags along with wraps or even the rings which hold your cans of sodas.
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.
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.
Different types of plastic are one of the most common materials used for packaging. Even items packaged in cardboard boxes and containers typically are just holding vessels for the sealed waxy plastic bags inside, such as the bags which hold cereal or crackers. There are actually seven basic types of plastic and each is identified with a special resin code, which is a number surrounded by a triangle of arrows.
As several different types of plastic materials are used in packaging, you should be introduced to the one responsible for holding liquid products like water and soda - which is polyethylene terephthalate. When it comes to the production of plastic bottles, plastic bags, milk jugs and all sorts of food storage, high-density polyethylene is being used. Its counterpart, the low-density polyethylene is used for the manufacturing of plastic bags along with wraps or even the rings which hold your cans of sodas.
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 likes blogging about how stuff is made. For additional information about product packaging design solutions, or to find out more about custom plastic packaging options, please visit the Indepak.com website today.
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