One of the fastest growing segments of the packaging industry is the use of stand up pouches for pet food packaging. Whether a client is looking to package a series of dog treats, moist cat food, or an all natural mix of oats and grains, stand up pouches can be counted on to protect these items from moisture, vapor, and odor damage 一次性餐具. Further, the wide face on the front and the back allow for easy application of a printed label and also provide a large area for custom printed artwork. Below are 3 things you’ll need to know if you are planning to use a stock stand up pouch for your retail packaging.
Discuss your ingredients with your stand up pouch supplier. Everyone’s product is different. Some contain essential oils, but only a little. Some are saturated with oil; some are dry and have microscopic dust that can cause havoc with certain ziplock closures. Your supplier will be able to provide you with the particular barrier film combinations they use for their stock stand up pouches and should know for certain if your ingredients will react negatively with these materials. More often than not, there isn’t a problem, but better to be safe than sorry.
Determine the weight you want to package in a stock stand up pouch and again discuss this with your stand up pouch supplier. One of the biggest problems customers will encounter is having a stand up pouch made from material that isn’t strong enough to support the weight directly or indirectly if product shifts during shipping.
Choose the right size. Just as having too much weight for a particular stock stand up pouch can create problems, so can packaging using the wrong size. Often a client will try to use one size stock stand up pouch to hold 8 ounces and 10 ounces and even 12 ounces of their product in order to save money. While the idea is noble, nothing is worse or ultimately costs more than having to replace damaged product.
Get samples of different sizes and try them with your product. Reputable stand up pouch suppliers will gladly send several samples and even work with you when testing your product. They’ll allow you to ship sample packs and inspect them for you to assure you have the right size and they are holding up properly.
Try different color combinations. Many stock stand up pouches are available in all clear, all gold, all black, and all silver while also being available with clear fronts so you can see your product with all gold, all black and all silver backs. While many suppliers have pictures of what gold foil looks like or how a clear front and black back stand up pouch stands on a shelf on their particular website, nothing beats having samples in your hands to see for yourself or test with the label you plan to use.
One of the most popular types of hot melt food packaging equipment are hot melt labelers. These machines use an automatic rotary function for applying plastic pre-cut hot glue labels that completely wrap around glass, plastic and metal containers.
Labelers are most commonly used for cans and bottles. In fact, almost all cans (99%) are labeled with hot melt glue labelers. A can without a label has no aesthetic appeal; in order to be marketed and sold, cans have full wrap labels applied to their surface. At full production, can labeler machines apply labels at speeds up to 1400 cans per minute. In order to produce this fast, manufacturers use a labeler called a rotary labeler.
In the past few years, a new type of labeling started being utilized. A new low-temperature melting glue has come onto the market, saving on energy expenditures. The new low-temp glue machines have quick changing parts, making them easier for workers to switch out parts without as much waste.
To use a hot melt labeler, first the packaging labels are loaded into the labeler machine’s magazine. Then, as the can or bottle rotates in the labeler machine, a thin strip of glue is applied to the specific label attachment area on the container. When can or bottle with the glue contacts the label, the label attaches to the glue and wraps around the container. At the end of the label, another tiny strip of glue is applied to the edge of the label. This second glued area overlaps the first applied glue area and creates a full wrap around the container.
If the machines are specified as “neck ring machines”, they eliminate the need for switching out parts if both large and small bottles are being labeled. The bottles are fitted into the machine so to be supported by the neck (rather than the base), so there’s no need to swap out different fittings.
In the food packaging industry, speed and efficiency are key. Manufacturers select equipment that will maximize production with the least amount of time and material waste. Finding machines and technology that can work for various sizes and types of packages saves significantly on production costs.
