In the dynamic retail packaging sector, blister packaging machines are the cornerstone of efficiency and product appeal. Walk into any supermarket or drugstore and you’re bound to encounter countless products packaged in these clear plastic bubbles. But what is blister packaging? What makes blister packaging so special? In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of blister packaging and the key advantages it offers companies.
What is Blister Packaging?
Blister packaging is a type of packaging produced by heating a sheet of plastic and shaping it to form an air bubble or pocket that completely covers the product. These blisters are usually designed using materials such as plastic or aluminum foil and are tightly sealed with heat or adhesive. This sealing process protects the enclosed product from potential hazards caused by moisture and other contaminants.
Blister packaging is more than just a protective measure. It is a strategic tool for brand promotion and consumer engagement. It offers unparalleled design and size customization, ensuring your products stand out in a competitive retail environment. Typically, a blister pack consists of two main parts: the cavity (also called a pocket) and the backing.
The cavity is the main component of blister packaging as it holds the products inside it, preventing them from leaving the package. Manufacturers often use thermoformed plastic to create the cavity. These pockets can come in many different designs to best suit your needs.
The backing is another major part of the blister packaging. The cavities are attached to the backing, holding the product between them. The backing can be made of different materials such as foil, plastic or cardboard.
Blister packaging is often used for small items such as batteries, medicines and toy cars. While pharmaceuticals are generally considered to come in blister packs, anything with a plastic front and a back of other material (usually cardboard) is considered a blister pack.
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What are the Advantages of Blister Packaging?
Visibility
One of the most significant benefits of blister packaging is the visibility it provides consumers. The plastic front allows customers to see that each item is complete and in good condition. Doing this ensures that the quantities of product included are as advertised and that all parts are accounted for. Additionally, this form of packaging can be customized, so merchants can make their products more visually appealing, thus increasing their perceived value.
While the plastic front allows consumers to see the product, sturdy packaging reduces the accessibility of the product by preventing potential customers from touching the product directly. Plastic barriers protect the quality of the product by ensuring that no one else comes into contact with the product before the customer purchases it. Additionally, the barrier makes it more difficult for others to tamper with or steal the product.
Keep items fresh
Freshness is crucial to consumers, especially when it comes to food and pharmaceuticals. Some products deteriorate or lose their potency when exposed to environmental factors. One of the main benefits of blister packaging is that it provides a barrier between the medication and the air. This helps keep them fresh and prevents them from degrading or discoloring. The plastic from which the blisters are made can also be ordered with a UV coating. Anything environmentally sensitive would do well in a blister pack to protect them from environmental factors.
Additionally, blister packaging can help extend the shelf life of certain products. Packaging creates a sealed environment. It protects pharmaceuticals or food products from air, moisture and contaminants. This powerful barrier helps maintain product freshness, quality and effectiveness. So the consumer receives it in the best possible condition.
Pre-allocated doses
Blister packaging is particularly useful when a product requires exact dosage or serving size. When packaging medications, supplements, or flavoring mixtures, each compartment in a blister pack can be filled individually. This ensures accurate and consistent distribution. It also enhances user convenience, eliminating the need for counting and minimizing the risk of over- or under-dosing.
One of the great benefits of blister packaging is that it makes dosing easy and intuitive. It’s important to take the correct dose of your medication; if you take too small a dose, the medication may not have the desired effect, but if you take too much, you may face dangerous side effects. Blister packs consist of several individual compartments, each containing a single dose of medication. This makes it easy for consumers to know how much medication to take at one time.
Maintain product integrity
Plastic bubble wrap reduces the risk of product damage from shipping to handling to shelf placement. Small compartments created on the plastic front of the packaging prevent items from moving or bumping into each other during delivery. Therefore, blister packaging is very beneficial for delicate products. It also prevents tampering to maintain brand integrity. This ensures the product reaches the end consumer in pristine condition, reducing the risk of returns or customer dissatisfaction.
Blister packaging is the ideal solution for items that need to remain secure. Individual and often smaller compartments do not allow product movement within the package. This design protects items from damage during transportation.
Cost-effectiveness
Blister packaging offers cost advantages to manufacturers and retailers. Its relatively simple design and manufacturing process make it an economical choice. Additionally, lightweight blister packs require less production material. The compactness of blister packaging also optimizes shelf space. This allows retailers to display more products in the same area.
The packaging materials used in blister packaging are very reasonable. Face seal blister packaging and trap blister packaging typically use a mixture of cardboard and thermoformed plastic. Not only are these materials affordable, they are also lightweight and can help reduce your overall shipping costs.
Additionally, blister packaging can be customized in a variety of ways and support marketing campaigns with its branding versatility. They also minimize shipping costs due to their light weight and small size.
Wide range of applications
The supply of different types of blister packaging is almost unlimited, including blister clamshell packaging and classic blister packaging. The different variations mean you can find the right packaging for your product and include plenty of marketing and information on the packaging, making it informative and visually appealing to customers. These packaging style lining cards can help sell the product, provide information on how to use the product, and be eye-catching in the store to attract customers’ attention.
When you use blister packaging for your products, you have a variety of options. Choosing from multiple variations means you get appropriate packaging that meets your product needs and is visually appealing to your customers.
It has UV protection, water resistance of blister packaging, barrier properties, anti-drop, anti-collision and anti-scratch functions.
- UV Protection: Since the transparency of the blister pack is also controlled, how much UV radiation gets into the blister pack. Metalized PVC completely blocks all UV radiation and extends the practical life of perishable items.
- Waterproof: Thermoformed polymer protects interior contents from water, hookah, or other liquids.
- Barrier performance: Blister packaging has good oxygen-proof and moisture-proof properties. The resistive properties improve as the assembly cycle uses more layers of polymer to create the blister pack.
- Tamper-evident: Blister packaging is difficult to reuse. When this package is opened, there is no way to effectively close it no matter how hard you try.
- Protects against drops, bumps and scratches: Blister packaging secures items and prevents them from falling or accidental bumps. The hard outer polymer layer also protects items from any kind of scratches.
What Products Are Suitable for Blister Packaging?
Products are sold in blister packaging at many major retail chains and local stores. There are many applications for blister packaging. This packaging helps move products off the shelves and makes these stores a top destination for shoppers. If your products are on store shelves, you may want to consider blister packaging.
As you consider adding blister packaging, check out some of the most common product types that use blister packaging:
- Electronics and accessories (e.g. USB drives, cables, headphones)
- Toy
- Stationery (e.g. pens, thumbtacks, paper clips, superglue)
- Battery
- Toothbrush and floss
- DIY items (such as screws, nails, nuts and bolts)
- Tablets and Capsules
- Products containing precision parts
- Products that break easily (such as printer cartridges)
The purpose of blister packaging is to protect the product. If the shape of the product leaves some parts vulnerable to damage (like the arms of the football statue in the photo above), blister packaging can protect it in a way that a bag or box can’t.
Choose Jiade Packaging Machinery for Your Blister Packaging Needs
If you are looking for blister packaging solutions, please contact Jiade Packaging Machinery. Our team of experts can provide you with high-quality blister packaging machines with excellent designs. Learn more about our retail packaging solutions today. If you have any questions or would like to equip your products with blister packaging, please feel free to contact us.