Cold-Seal Adhesives - Ushering In A Better World for Medical and Dental Packaging

The packaging pros are continuously working on new ways to package medical and dental products, and this has been a continuing challenge for them. Although they don’t have a problem rolling out carton sealers and taping machines for the consumer industry, the unique nature of medical and dental products and applications keep the packaging design engineers on their feet. One specific area they’ve had a tough time with is finding the right material and adhesive combination.

Cold Seal Adhesives – Medical and Dental Packaging’s Best Option

But now, design engineers are veering towards cold-seal adhesives. The cold seal technology has so far been known for its low cost, high bonding rate, and low temperature – three factors that make it a promising alternative to traditional sealing technologies. But engineers also found that this new technology solves several design problems in medical and dental packaging.

Cold-seal adhesives are made using a combination of synthetic rubber and a variety of adhesive components. In the past, natural latex rubber was used for this process, but this was banned from medical packaging back in 1999 due to the allergens commonly found in natural latex.

These adhesives feature a special type of pressure-sensitive adhesive that can form a very strong bond despite requiring very slight pressure at normal room temperature. But what’s unique about them is that the base polymer they use bonds only to itself. This means they will not bond with other substrates, which eliminates several problems in storage and assembly. Thus, they can be used without liners and without causing damage to the sensitive medical and dental products they house.

Cold seal adhesives come in different types. They are currently available in paper film, transparent carrier film, transparent plastic film, and other paper and plastic combinations. They also differ based on sealing forces, which range from 0.5N/15mm to 4.0N/15mm.

Assembly and Labeling – Other Important Considerations

After the design, however, comes another challenge: assembly. This is another common challenge for the medical and dental packaging industry, where factors such as antimicrobial protection come into play. The common assembly process used in cold seal adhesive packaging is ultrasonic welding, which provides a strong effective seal without using heat. Ultrasonic welding is also a top option for antimicrobial packaging as it minimizes seal contamination, minimizes rejects, and streamlines production.

Ultrasonic welding is a process that uses high-frequency, low-amplitude vibration to heat the area between the materials that need to be joined. The process is fast, clean, and can be used even for small objects.

After assembly, important considerations have to be made when it comes to labeling medical and dental products. It is crucial that the labels be tamper-evident and pressure-sensitive.The packaging design process is challenging enough as it is, with common concerns such as production efficiency and cost effectiveness, but the stakes are even higher in the medical and dental industry. Thankfully, design engineers continue to strive for new developments that help enhance production and eliminate the common challenges in packaging. 

Alternative Uses Of Carton Tapes

Be creative.  Carton tapes can be used in different applications.  These tapes are usually used in sealing light to heavy carton boxes. 

To begin with, there are several types of adhesive tapes such as drywall tape, heat sensitive tape, water activated tape and pressure sensitive tape.  A Tape comes in different forms but with the same function.

Whether its heat activated or water activated tape, you can still use these tapes for unconventional ways.  Below is a list of out of the box ideas where you can apply these tapes:

·      Hauling – if you’re using a truck with an open bed/dropside you would need the help of a sticky tape.  To avoid getting your stuff from getting wet, you can use a tarp or a canvass and seal it on the sides using an adhesive tape.  This will prevent air from coming in and getting your canvass flying away from the truck.  I have tried this and it works perfectly.  This is also better than using a rope for tying your cover.  I guess you won’t buy a bed liner just for 1 hauling trip, save your money for a more important stuff.

·      Cleaner – use it as a hair and dirt cleaner.  Those who love pets should know this.  Getting rid of your dog’s or your cat’s hair is tedious.  With the help of a tape, you just need to cut at least 4-5 inches of your tape and start pressing it onto your floor, furniture, beddings or on your couch.  You can apply the same principle when you’re removing broken glasses on your floor.

·      Stabilizer - Having a rug inside your house is sometimes dangerous especially if you have kids running around your living room.  Best thing to avoid slipping and bumping your head is to use a tape to stabilize your rug.  Use a double adhesive tape or a duct tape to ensure that it won’t move or slip. 

There are a lot of alternative uses to a tape if you’re creative enough.  Even the tape roll can be maximized if you want to.  Bestpack also supplies taping machine, case erectors and other carton sealers.

Enhance Your Creativity In Packaging

Your packaging will determine your marketability!

Whether it’s retail, delivery or manufacturing, your packaging should attract your targeted market.  Using packaging systems such as taping machines, carton sealers and tapes can definitely add to the value of your packaging. 

In an era of tight competition, every detail counts.  From the type of boxes down to the way it is packed and sealed, everything is vital to the image of the product.  So how do you stay in the game?  One key solution is to enhance your creativity through packaging ingenuity.

Here are some ideas that will interest you, so keep on reading.

·      If you’re selling toys:  make your boxes reusable!  Teach your market how to re use the boxes instead of just throwing it.  Remember that toys are for kids but the parents are still the one paying for it.  So if you can make a box that parents can use after opening it, this will definitely sell.  A toy chest made out of that toy box is something that parents will appreciate.

·      If you’re a pharmaceutical company: your boxes can serve as medicine cabinets as how it’s shown in the picture on your right.

·      Simply create boxes that can be used as organizers for books, important files, pictures or any other data that you have to keep inside your house.

There are a lot of ways on how you can be creative with your packaging.  But handling it is another story.  Making sure that your products inside those boxes are handled with extra care from the factory down to the marketplace is a huge consideration.  Using bubble wraps or bubble foams should also be considered especially for fragile items.  Ensure that you are using high quality carton sealers and carton tapes for consistency and durability. 

Be creative.  Be innovative.  

Taping Machine Systems In Focus: Textiles

In the past weeks, we have shared with you custom taping machine systems created by BestPack for specific industries. We’ve looked at book bindery, electronics, food packaging (for delicate food like tostadas), furniture and petroleum processing. This week, we are looking at another BestPack taping machine innovation: a custom system made for packaging filament yarn. This system uses breakthrough technology to enable yarns to be placed onto spools and to wrap these spools with plastic.

This one-of-a-kind taping machine system has three main stations.

1. Packing. This is where the spun yarn is placed onto spools. The spools with the yarn are then sent into a wrapper.

2. Wrapping. Here, the wrapper lifts the spun yarn to enable yarn to be completely wrapped by plastic. The wrapped yarn is then returned to the spool for packing.

3. Tray Erector. Once the yarn is wrapped, a tray is erected. This large traymaker was specially designed for the yarn industry. It then sends the traymaker to the packing area.

For the final instalment of our taping machine systems series, we’ll look at BestPack’s custom taping machine system for yogurt plants.

Taping Machine Systems In Focus: Petroleum Processing

Packaging canned petroleum in the form of motor oil is a delicate process that requires professional custom made machinery. BestPack, as a leader in efficient packaging solutions, has come up with this three-station taping machine system that will standardize the process of packing and sealing canned motor oil. While originally designed for petroleum processing, this taping machine system can also be used for packaging of other canned items.

1. Carton Erecting. Using the ESHBS erector, the box is erected and sent into the case packing machine. The ESHBS erector is designed with a bottom fed suction system that erects the case.

2. Packing. Using a suction system case packer, the cans of motor oil are initially arranged into an orientation that will maximize available carton space. A gantry arm with suction cups then packs the case.

3. Sealing. In this final station, the packed case is conveyed to one of BestPack’s carton sealers for professional sealing and then relayed to distribution for shipping.

Want to know exactly how a taping machine packs and seals canned petroleum? Check out our next blog post for a demonstration video. And watch out for the next part of this taping machine systems series as we share with you BestPack’s custom made packaging solution for textiles.

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Two More Days Before This Promo Expires!

Get a FREE BestPack tapehead when you purchase any BestPack taping machine and a pallet of carton sealing tape or two BestPack taping machines. Save up to $1,185! Two more days to go before this offer expires so visit BestPack.com now.

Taping Machine Systems In Focus: Book Binding

Last week, we shared with you real life business challenges faced by companies who have yet to put in a place a packaging system using taping machines. As an industry leader, BestPack believes in not just selling a taping machine. More importantly, it wants its machines to make business processes more efficient. Thus, it has come up with custom packaging systems for different kinds of businesses.

In this article, we will talk about the Book Bindery System. It is a mix of old standard machines and modern custom taping machines which are designed to make book packaging more efficient—physically and financially. The Book Bindery System consists of four parts: carton erecting, carton and book conveying, book packing into cartons and weight checking for each cartons.

1. Carton Erecting. The carton erecting is done by the ELVS carton erector.

2. Conveying. The custom conveying system transports the erected carton and the pile of bound books to a specially designed drop pack placepacker.

3. Drop Pack Placepacker. The pile of bound books is dropped into individual cartons using BestPack’s exclusive drop pack technology.

4. Weight Check. In this station, a high-resolution ink jet printer prints a barcode onto the packed carton. After the labeling process, the carton goes through a scale which checks if the box has been packed with the right number of books. Once that has been settled, the carton is sealed by one of BestPack’s standard taping machines. If, on the other hand, the carton is over or under filled, it will be diverted into another line which leads to repacking.

Next week, we’ll look at carton sealer systems for electronics so make sure to come back and check us out.

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In Action: MBD Taping Machine

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The Many Ways Products can be Packaged In

Different products require different packaging techniques. The most important factors to consider is the product itself and the degree of protection it needs in order to survive its transportation. Packaging is meant to protect products from shock, contain liquid; they must also abide by security and sometimes the packaging serves marketing purposes.

Blister Pack – Blister packing is for retail purposes. The product is served in a clear or opaque plastic or metal foil seal to hold it in place. This type of packaging provides individual protection which is especially useful for tablets, capsules, and even action figures. Other products are small consumer goods like electrical items, hardware, and toys. Manufacturers make the most of blister packs by incorporating marketing strategies such as placing company names at the back of the pack.

Tamper-Evident Packaging – Tamper-proof packaging is commonly practiced in the pharmaceutical and food industries to prevent the tampering of medical products such as pills and jars. The Food and Drug Administration has required induction sealing or cap sealing to hermetically seal the top of plastic and glass containers to help provide evidence of tampering. Shipping containers also have tamper-evident packaging to secure wholesale goods and items. Shrink-wrap is also an effective means to prevent tampering though it has always been overshadowed by other tamper proof packaging means.

Fully Automatic Sidedrive One Edge (AS1E) with Indexer

Cardboard packaging – Cardboard is an inexpensive means of packaging items and goods. Aside from being abundant in supplies, cardboard packaging can be done with carton sealers or case sealers – machines that automatically or manually pack cardboards, which saves businesses time and money. This form of packaging is very popular for transport of consumer and commercial products. Some products that use cardboard packaging include cereals, liquid products like milk and orange juice, and even washing powder.

BestPack.com proudly offers case sealers to make packaging easier and hassle free. Choose from random, manual, and automatic case sealers or you can also have custom built carton sealers that are suited for your business.

Why You Should Invest in a Carton Sealer

Packaging is a key component of many businesses, especially if you are an e-commerce merchant. Presentation can oftentimes make or break your business reputation, so as an entrepreneur you have to put as much thought to packaging as you do your actual product. Here is where a carton sealer plays an important role. Carton sealers, also sometimes called case sealers or box tapers, are essentially machines that apply tape to the top and/or bottom of cardboard boxes. Thus, if your business requires packing products in a box, you need a carton sealer. There are several types available on the market, but they can be generally classified into two: manual and automatic. Depending on where you purchase it, a carton sealer can be quite an investment, and that is why some entrepreneurs are sceptical about buying one. However, keep in mind that successful businesses are all about good investments and a carton sealer is one.

If you are an entrepreneur who has yet to purchase a carton sealer for your business, here are a few reasons why you should:

Fully Automatic Random Highspeed Sidedrive (CSS)

1. A carton sealer eliminates the need to seal or tape boxes by hand. Manual sealing is a time consuming chore (notwithstanding the trial and error involved when sealing a carton by hand) and in business, time is money. Additionally, sealing or taping by hand can result in inconsistently packed boxes. Poorly presented boxes like those that often occur when you try sealing a carton by hand make your business look bad, and your product will look as if it were of low quality. You need to have a consistent and presentable look for your products and a carton sealer will help you effectively achieve this.

2. A carton sealer may initially cost you upwards of a few thousand dollars, but in the long run, it is bound to improve efficiency in your packaging line. It is a time saver, a money saver, and even a space saver.

3. A carton sealer can be customized to your unique business needs. Boxes come in different sizes and even shapes and a carton sealer can be adjusted to the particular specifications you need.

Once you are ready to purchase a carton sealer, make sure you do from a reliable carton sealer provider with a track record of excellence like Best Pack.

Product Packaging with Case Sealers

Packaging products within a container or package serves many purposes which includes protection and marketing. Even if the final customer decides to purchase a product without a package, the product distributor and manufacturer still need to package products to ship safely to the store. There are basically two types of packaging that products go through before being sold to the final customer. With efficient case sealers, product packaging is both economical and less time consuming.

The first type of product packaging is the Final Customer Package. This is basically the primary package to which the consumer is exposed to upon making the purchase. The primary package is the outermost container that the final customer sees and touches. It can be divided into three parts:

• First-level package – this is the package that holds the actual product. Sometimes, the packaging is only minimal since it only serves to protect the product. For example, frozen goods can be sold in cardboard boxes with the product contained in a plastic bag that is inside the cardboard box.

• Second-level package – this could be the primary package if the first-level package is surrounded by one or more outer packages. In essence, it’s just another package that holds the first-level package.

• Package inserts – Nowadays, packaging products are not just for protection purposes. Marketers use packaging to communicate with consumers even after they’ve purchased the product. Often inserted within or on the product itself, package inserts include instruction manuals, warranty cards, promotional incentives, and software.

The Distribution Channel Package is the second type of product packaging, which involves how the products are packaged to the supply chain. It can hold multiple customer packages and that is why it offers a higher level of damage protection as compared to customer packaging.

Whether business owners choose a final customer package or a distribution channel package, using case sealers are the most efficient and low-cost means of doing so. Not only do case sealers save time and money, but case sealers are also durable and reliable.

The Different Types of Carton Sealers

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The use of carton sealers and carton sealing tape is an effective and cost saving for production and manufacturing processes. Many types of carton sealers are out in the market. It’s always best to know which carton sealers are the right ones for your business’s industry.

1. Uniform carton sealers – they are the most commonly used in production because all cartons produced are the same size. The ability to easily change from one size to another is also a reason why uniform carton sealers are very prevalent in the industry today.
2. Random carton sealers – they usually cost more because of additional mechanisms that allow the machine to switch from one carton sealer size to the other. However, they are still a practical investment since they automatically adjust carton size from one to the next.
3. Semi-automatic carton sealers – they are generally more useful for slower productions and employ the use of a second person because the packer needs to load the carton with a product, fold the flaps and place it in the machine.
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   Automatic carton sealers – they are more cost efficient because they do not require the use of a second person. Automatic carton sealers have an additional flap folding mechanism plus extra length to give room to the flap folding device.
5. Manual carton sealers – manual carton sealers have the capability to seal cartons 0.5" high to 50" high. With a maximum of 200 cartons that can be sealed a day, these carton sealers are the perfect machines for those businesses requiring the use of an operator to feed and fold the flaps of the carton before entering the machine.

When choosing the right carton sealer and carton sealing tape, consider the type of product and business you have. With big help from carton sealers and carton sealing tapes, more professional packaging is now possible.

Creative packaging solutions from BestPack

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Small and big businesses alike understand the significance of good product packaging. Because consumers also factor in packaging when purchasing products, companies invest in packaging equipment such as carton sealers and carton sealing tape for that professional look. With this in mind, it’s important to realize is packaging is an aspect that consumers keep in mind when shopping.

Creative packaging is a great way to help increase sales. Thus, businesses can make use of their packaging equipment by trying to find new ways to differentiate their packaging from competitors in the same field.

Product packaging serves a number of different purposes other than offering a more professional facade. Firstly, with the help of carton sealers and a high quality carton sealing tape, packaging protects the product from stressors such as shock, vibration, compression, and temperature. Another source of packaging typically used with electronics or fragile items is foam. The use of foam packaging is an added bonus because the extra padding gives additional protection for your product.

With the right carton sealers and carton sealing tape, outside elements such as dust, oxygen, and water vapour can be sealed off from the product. For example, some packages may contain oxygen absorbers while food packaging products are maintained in a controlled atmosphere to keep the contents fresh and clean. Suffice to say, packaging is just one factor among many that is dependent on the type of product.

When conceptualizing with product packaging, it’s important to put view the product as if you were the consumer. Ask yourself if you would be interested in buying a product with this design in mind. Product packaging should scream, “Buy me!” to persuade consumers to purchase your product. Because consumers often change their mind, product packaging should follow trends otherwise those products will become outdated and lose appeal compared to other competing products.

Contact reputable packaging equipment manufacturers to help you decide on the type of packaging equipment you need. The right choice of carton sealers and carton sealing tapes will matter a great deal when it comes to product packaging.

Carton Sealing Tape: The Solution to Packaging Problems

Fully Automatic Random Highspeed Sidedrive (CSS)

A lot of packaging problems arise in the production and manufacturing of products. With the help of carton sealers and specially formulated carton sealing tape, packaging has become a breeze for most companies. Not only are carton sealers and carton sealing tapes efficient, but they help reduce production costs as well.

Carton sealing tapes are used to seal small or large cardboard boxes. They are manufactured in different forms such as hot melt, natural or acrylic. Specially formulated carton sealing tapes are widely available from packaging equipment manufacturers and are manufactured with quality and durability in mind. In manufacturing carton sealing tapes, the most important factors are the type of adhesive, the type of film, and the manufacturing machine that produces the tape. Carton sealers are machines that automatically or manually seal boxes with carton sealing tapes.

Companies using carton sealing tapes usually utilize different colors for easy storage and inventory. The industrial sector, on the other hand, prefers pressure-sensitive carton sealing tapes made from hot melt and acrylic material. Hot melt carton sealing tapes are said to be more superior than acrylic because of its great initial tack and sheer. Acrylic carton sealing tapes, meanwhile, are ideal for extreme temperatures such as those found in Asia.

The importance of choosing the right carton sealing tapes cannot be stressed enough. Case packages and carton sealing tapes should be able to withstand pressure, temperature, and weather changes. Carton sealing tapes come in different widths and rolls per carton. Additionally, different carton sealing tapes have different resistance and tolerance to temperature ranges, colors, water, cracking, and drying.

Carton sealing tapes are designed for consistent quality and performance. Top-of-the-line carton sealing tapes should provide for the heavy-duty needs companies require of their packaging equipment. Your packaging equipment provider should be able to supply all your packaging needs and solutions based on the specific industry you specialize in.

Going Green with Carton Sealers and other Packaging Equipment

Everyone is alarmed at the rate of our environment’s disintegration. Major businesses and big companies can now play their part in helping to save the environment by going green on packaging equipment such as carton sealers, case erectors, palletizers, and shrink wrappers. However, there are three major players that influences the environmental standards businesses must adhere to.

The consumers play a major role in convincing businesses to go green on their carton sealers. Nowadays, clients prefer eco-friendly products for all their items. Yes, clients want efficient and low-cost packaging supplies but they are also environment-conscious.

Fully Automatic Top and Bottom Drive Edgesealer (AT4E)

As the urgency to save the planet increases, most packaging equipment suppliers turn eco-friendly. Carton boxes made out of recycled materials are a plus for businesses. Additionally, biodegradable materials help conserve the environment because unlike plastic, these can be re-used and help lessen pollution.

The government, on the other hand, sets rules and regulations that carton sealers manufacturers must adhere to. Companies that do not have certain harmful substances on their products are considered RoHS or Restriction on Hazardous Substances-compliant. When searching for packaging equipment suppliers, make sure that they are RoHS compliant. Not only are you helping save the environment, but you’re supporting a good cause by helping others be aware of the situation.

All About Shrink Wraps

Auto Sidedrive (AS)

Packaging equipment, such as carton sealers, shrink wrappers, and case formers, are less expensive means to packaging products. The industries that most commonly use such packaging equipment like carton sealers and shrink wrappers are the food industry, beverage industry, medical industry and pharmaceuticals.

Shrink wrappers are the most inexpensive ways to pack products. They are polymer films that conform to the shape of any object upon heating. The basic supplies of shrink wraps are bags, film, heat guns, and shrink systems while the main types of shrink wrap films are PVC, polyethylene, and polyolefin. PVC is the most economical films available while polyolefin are the most durable and stretchable. Polyolefin and PVC shrink wraps are used to package CDs, DVDs, and other products. The most effective shrink wraps during the cold weather are polyethylene films because of its ability to withstand cold temperatures.

Shrink wrap bags are perfect for small items and are made of PVC or polyolefin material. Though they are most commonly used to pack items that are small, they range from 4 x 6 inches to 18 x 24 inches. Shrink wrap bags have the ability to protect even fruit baskets, frames, and jewelry boxes.

51509 - Skid Plates, (MS Series) 2" Top"

Shrink wrap systems, just like carton sealers, are more efficient and time-reducing. They involve heat guns or tunnels. Shrink wrap sealers are machines that are manufactured with cutting-edge technology. They are used to seal shrink wrap films or bags. Because they are machines, they cost more than the average, ranging from $100 to $4,000.

When purchasing packaging equipment like carton sealers and shrink wrappers, it’s best to let the shrink wrapper or carton sealer manufacturer know the nature of your business as well as your budget and limitations. This will allow for a more productive transaction and easier communication too.

The Basics of Purchasing Carton Sealers

Carton sealers come in a number of different models. Carton sealers are available in manual, automatic, random manual, and random automatic machines. They are reliable, cost efficient, and durable. Additionally, carton sealers create professional looking seals and packages to complement productive packaging systems.

Carton sealers reduce labor but increase output. Injuries are also prevented because production is mostly run by packaging equipment such as carton sealers, case erectors, and formers. Tape wasted is also reduced as well as material cost. End products are manufactured with professionalism and uniformity, giving the company a good impression on its clients.

Before purchasing carton sealers, keep in mind a number of questions:

· Will it be best to purchase a semi-auto or an automatic carton sealers?

· How many cartons can be sealed per minute per production line?

· Determine the carton sizes.

· Will bottom applicators be needed with top applicators or only top applicators will suffice?

Should standard carton sealers not be enough, businesses can request packaging equipment providers to provide custom built carton sealers that are perfectly suited for each business. Always maintain an open communication with packaging equipment providers for them to manufacture the right carton sealer for your business.

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What Businesses Should Know When Purchasing Carton Sealers

Carton sealers are an efficient tool to save production, material, and labor costs; increase output; or create a stronger package. It is vital that the carton sealer you will purchase serves the needs of your company and industry. Investing in carton sealers needs research and effort before purchasing one.

Know your budget. It’s easier to know what you want and need when you’ve set the limit of how much you are willing to spend on your carton sealer. Carton sealers will efficiently package your product, lessen motive injuries, and aesthetically improve your packaging product. Vertical style cartooning equipment is suited best for granular and free-flowing products such as cereals or cough drops.

Decide whether you would want an automatic or a semi-automatic carton sealer. Automatic carton sealers automatically detect height and width, folds flaps, and seals boxes, and are an effective means of reducing production cost.

Knowing what speed is needed depends on the product to be packaged. Different speeds are likewise required for online packaging or offline packaging. Online packaging is when packaging happens at the same time the product is manufactured, while offline packaging means packing from existing items. Be realistic as possible when setting the speed of your carton sealers.

Search for suppliers with the best packaging equipment solutions. At this point, because you know what you want, it will not be difficult to search for carton sealer manufacturers that can best suit your needs. Always keep in mind, accept suggestions from professionals and communicate what you want to achieve with the carton sealer you are planning to purchase.