Connect and transact with thousands of top North American companies today ico-arrow-default-right
Welcome to Thomas Insights — every day, we publish the latest news and analysis to keep our readers up to date on what’s happening in industry. Sign up here to get the day’s top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Industrial packaging is an umbrella term for the various packaging processes used to wrap, contain, and seal finished industrial products. Usually done after the manufacturing stages are finished, packaging is a critical part of the process, helping to protect and preserve a product during transport and in storage until the item is eventually used.
With the right materials and design, industrial packaging can effectively protect your product from contaminants such as dirt, moisture, or chemicals; prevent your product from being damaged during transport and delivery; and provide an aesthetically pleasing label and overall “look” to entice customers.
Because industrial packaging is used to package such a vast assortment of products, it’s important that packaging materials be customized to suit each unique item. Selecting materials specific to the product at hand helps to ensure the best protection possible against contaminants and damage.
Industrial packaging is available in several different formats to accommodate a diverse range of product sizes, shapes, and materials.
Below are five of the most common industrial packaging types:
1. Cup Filling Cup filling involves the use of cylindrical or cup-like containers to contain small multi-unit products or liquids. This system uses interchangeable cups that can accommodate products of different sizes and consistencies. Cup filling services are especially popular for the pharmaceutical, food processing, and beverage industries.
2. Powder Filling Powder fillers are specially designed for powders and other materials that are difficult to package under normal industrial packing processes. For example, transporting powders on a conveyor belt would be ineffective and very challenging. Powder filling machines are especially useful for the food and beverage industry, which utilizes them to package products such as coffee grounds, spices, sugars, flour, and even powdered detergents. These fillers can also be used beyond powder products to package small multi-unit items such as candy and cereal.
3. Shrink Wrapping Shrink wrapping is one of the most popular forms of industrial packaging thanks to its great versatility. With this method, plastic wrap shrinks to conform to a product when heat is applied.
4. Pouch Filling Pouch filling is ideal for applications in the food industry as well as the medical industry. Pouches help to seal and lock in a product, protecting it from contaminants. Plus, pouches allow for very easy access; resealable pouches, for instance, allow products to be opened and closed as often as needed.
5. Form Fill Sealing Form fill seal machines are an all-in-one type of machine offering great versatility. These machines take a roll of film, shape it into a bag, and then fill it with the desired product. In its final step, the machine seals the bag with the product inside. This process is used across all types of industries and sectors.
Choosing the Right Type of Packaging
Each type of packaging offers unique features and benefits, making each well-suited for a particular type of product, whether it be a liquid, solid, powder, or something else. No matter what kind of product you’re working with, choosing the right type of industrial packaging is critical for protecting the item during transit and delivery, and also extending its shelf life.
To ensure smooth, efficient operations, be sure to carefully consider which packaging format will best suit your unique product before beginning the packaging process.
Image Credit: mindroom14/Shutterstock.com
Business & IndustryDriverless Freight Vehicle Hits the Road in Industry First
Business & IndustryFirst Semiconductor Chip Design Center in the Midwest Will Be on Purdue's Campus
Business & IndustryWalmart to Electrify Delivery Fleet with EVs by Canoo
Business & IndustryAppliance Manufacturer Announces $140 Million Iowa Factory
Business & IndustryExplore 100 Years of Ford in the New Ford Auto History Vault
Select From Over 500,000 Industrial Suppliers
Find and evaluate OEMs, Custom Manufacturers, Service Companies and Distributors.
Stay up to date on industry news and trends, product announcements and the latest innovations.
Find materials, components, equipment, MRO supplies and more.
Download 2D & 3D CAD Models
10+ million models from leading OEMs, compatible with all major CAD software systems.
Copyright© 2022 Thomas Publishing Company. All Rights Reserved. See Terms and Conditions, Privacy Statement and California Do Not Track Notice. Website Last Modified July 23, 2022. Thomas Register® and Thomas Regional® are part of Thomasnet.com. Thomasnet Is A Registered Trademark Of Thomas Publishing Company.