How Does the Packaging Industry Work? - InBusiness Magazine

What is packaging?

Simply stated, it is the planning, drafting, creating, and manufacturing of consumer goods that are then wrapped, boxed or bottled for personal, industrial, and government markets. Packaging reaches into almost all of the other business sectors, playing a vital role in the clothing, food, and transportation industries, among others.

Who works in packaging?

There are numerous careers in the packaging industry. From designers for packages, labels, and marketing to drivers and movers, there are a wealth of people who make the business move. Engineers design the packages, sales professionals market the products and laborers help manufacture it all. All these professionals play pivotal roles in the packaging world.

Which machines are commonly used?

In addition, to stand computers used for design, there are a number of machines that the industry relies on.

• Labeling Machines: Often found in retail, food, industrial, and pharmaceutical packaging plants, these appliances are able to mass-produce coding and labeling for packages and apply them to the actual product.
• Filling Machines: Commonly found in food packaging, these are used to fill containers with grains, beans, liquids and other products.
• Tape Machines: These machines are used in connection with corrugated boxes. They dispense tape in high volumes quickly to close packages.
• Conveyors: The transporters of the packing world, conveyors move materials easily throughout a factory. Some operate without the use of power, relying on gravity or another momentum to propel them, while powered conveyors use electricity to move objects along their intended path.
• Sealers: A staple in the packaging industry, the sealer is used in a variety of flexible packaging. These make sure that the packages are securely closed. Some varieties use heat or adhesive to seal.
• Stretch Wrapping Machines: These are the reinforcers of the industry. They are intended to help keep awkwardly shaped or heavy boxes together during shipping.
• Strapping and Bundling Machines: These are used for large quantity items that are typically stored on pallets.

These are just a few of the wide variety of appliances that may be considered a 

What are common types of packaging?

Though there are 

• Containers: The holding receptacles that organize and protect goods and materials. There are a number of different types of containers from boxes and bags to barrels and drums.
• Dunnage: This term refers to the materials or objects used to secure items during shipment. Think foam. These are the inserts, packing peanuts, or paper material that come within a container.
• Pallets: The platform of the packaging world, pallets are often made of wood, metal, or plastic. They are made to be easily lifted by a forklift. Materials are placed on the pallet and then loaded for delivery.
• Unitizers: These make many different items into a complete unit. Things like shrink wrap, stretch film, or even tie-downs are considered unitizers.

How does it all come together?

Carefully. Packages are designed specifically by a group or individuals for specific purposes. When orders come in, these packages are then utilized to hold, protect and transport goods. People and machinery are used to fulfill packaging requirements. Then goods and delivered to the purchaser. Each industry has its own twist on the process, but they all follow the same general procedure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a rise in shopping online for most consumers. It&#;s also given rise to a number of questions surrounding packaging . The number of packages we receive in the mail has nearly doubled in the average household over the past few months, but the truth is that shipping packages has been a staple of our society for quite some time. Have you ever wondered what goes into making all of those deliveries possible? There is more to the packaging industry than you might think.Simply stated, it is the planning, drafting, creating, and manufacturing of consumer goods that are then wrapped, boxed or bottled for personal, industrial, and government markets. Packaging reaches into almost all of the other business sectors, playing a vital role in the clothing, food, and transportation industries, among others.There are numerous careers in the packaging industry. From designers for packages, labels, and marketing to drivers and movers, there are a wealth of people who make the business move. Engineers design the packages, sales professionals market the products and laborers help manufacture it all. All these professionals play pivotal roles in the packaging world.In addition, to stand computers used for design, there are a number of machines that the industry relies on.These are just a few of the wide variety of appliances that may be considered a packaging machine . Don&#;t forget the heavy-duty equipment that makes a factory run. These systems often require specialized companies like GMI , that offer boiler and mechanical services, to keep them functioning at optimal capacity. With the speed at with a packaging line or a product line is expected to operate in order to keep up with demand across the United States, you want to make sure you have a high-quality packaging machine and that the machine operators know they&#;re doing. Packaging machinery can be very intricate, so it&#;s important that a technician visits regularly to offer technical support and maintenance to the packaging machines onsite.Though there are numerous materials and objects that can fall under this category, there are four primary types of packaging.Carefully. Packages are designed specifically by a group or individuals for specific purposes. When orders come in, these packages are then utilized to hold, protect and transport goods. People and machinery are used to fulfill packaging requirements. Then goods and delivered to the purchaser. Each industry has its own twist on the process, but they all follow the same general procedure.

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Technological advances, public and private initiatives as well as growing consumer awareness have led to an increase in the collection and recycling of plastic packaging in Europe. Discover the different aspects of plastic packaging recycling: the types of plastics used, the recycling process, the advantages and the challenges of tomorrow.

 

What plastics are used for packaging and plastic films?

There are many types of plastic films, stretchable, grouping, retractable, etc. They adapt according to the needs and particularities of use. They can be used to hold plastic bottles in a water pack, condition pallets or protect goods during transport.

Discover the plastics used for packaging and their properties:

Polyethylene (PE)

Polyethylene (PE) is a thermoplastic polymer that is often used in the manufacture of plastic films to package food or industrial products. It has many advantages, including:

1. Flexibility: PE is a flexible material that can be easily shaped and molded to suit different packaging shapes.

2. Low cost: PE is a relatively inexpensive material, making it a popular choice for mass packaging.

3. Transparency and waterproofing: Very often produced in the form of a transparent film, it is water and air resistant.

Polypropylene (PP)

Polypropylene is also a thermoplastic polymer commonly used in the manufacture of plastic films. It is often used in food packaging, shopping bags, parcel films, etc.

1. Heat Resistance: PP is a heat resistant material, making it suitable for applications such as hot product packaging or use in high temperature environments.

2. Easy to manufacture: PP is easy to manufacture and process into a variety of packaging forms, such as bags, sheets or boxes.

Due to these advantages, polypropylene is widely used in the food industry, logistics, pharmaceutical industry andother sectors where strong, leakproof and recyclable packaging is required.

Polystyrene (PS)

PS is used for food packaging, such as trays and lids. It can be recycled using a process called pyrolysis, which uses heat to break down plastic into basic chemicals.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

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PVC is used for food packaging, shrink film and bottles. It can be recycled, but this can be difficult because it may contain additives that make it difficult to recycle. Recycling PVC is also controversial due to the potentially hazardous emissions that can be produced during the process.

PET (polyethylene terephthalate)

PET is commonly used for plastic beverage bottles, food packaging and films. It can be recycled using sorting and washing techniques similar to PE.

 

What is the difference between stretch film and shrink film?

Stretch film is mainly used for packaging pallets and protecting products to be transported. As for the shrink film, it is first heated to conform to the shape of an object. Then it is shrunk and welded. The latter is particularly suitable for packaging products with irregular shapes. It also has the advantage of being very resistant to bad weather (as well as UV and strong temperature variations).

 

Packaging recycling: the steps

Plastic packaging recycling is a process that transforms plastic waste into new products. Here are the key stages in the recycling process:

1. Collection : Plastic packaging is collected in recycling bins or dedicated containers. Sorting centers can also sort recyclable waste.

2. Sorting: Plastic packaging is sorted according to its type of plastic (PET, HDPE, PVC, etc.) and its color. Sorting can be done manually or with machines.

3. Washing: Plastic packaging is washed to remove any contamination, impurities that can affect recycling as well as other unwanted or non-recyclable materials.

4. Grinding : Plastic packaging is crushed into small pieces or granules, which facilitates further processing.

5. Regeneration: The crushed plastic is melted at high temperature, filtered and molded into pellets or sheets.

6. Manufacturing: The pellets or sheets are used to make new plastic products such as bottles, bags, pipes, etc

 

The challenges of recycling industrial packaging

Recycling post-industrial and post-commercial plastic packaging, compared to recycling household plastics, can present several challenges, including:

1. The complexity of the composition: Industrial plastic packaging can be made from different types of plastics, composite materials and additives. These components can make recycling more difficult and complex, as they require more advanced sorting and processing technologies.

2. Contamination: Industrial plastic packaging can be contaminated by chemical residues, organic or inorganic contaminants, or foreign materials, which can compromise the quality of recycled materials.

3. Quantity: Industrial plastic packaging is often produced in large quantities, which can lead to storage and processing problems when recycling.

4. Cost: The cost of recycling industrial plastic packaging can be high due to the investment required in advanced sorting and processing equipment, as well as transportation and processing costs.

5. Regulations: Local and national regulations may vary regarding the recycling of industrial plastic packaging.

 

These challenges make the recycling of industrial plastic packaging more difficult than that of household plastic packaging.

In Europe, the recycling rate of plastic films increased from 47.7% in to 50.2% in (Source: PlasticsEurope).

 

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