BLISTER PACKAGING

Blister packaging has become a favorite choice for marketing and manufacturing companies when selecting a retail package design. It combines a high perceived product value with a low cost packaging proposition. Blister packaging is most popular as a consumer retail packaging solution as it displays a product or products clearly to the consumer but still provides the security of a theft resistant package.

 

DEFINITION

Blister packaging is made up of 2 vital components: A thermoformed "blister" which houses the product, and then a "blister card" that is a printed card with an adhesive coating on the front surface. During the assembly process, the blister component, which is most commonly made out of PVC, is attached to the blister card using a blister machine. This machine introduces heat to the flange area of the blister which activates the glue on the card in that specific area and ultimately secures the PVG blister to the printed blister card. The thermoformed PVG blister and the printed blister card can be as small or as large as you would like, but there are limitations and cost considerations in going to an oversized blister card.

Here are primary considerations in determining the cost and effectiveness of a blister packaging solution:

1. Blister card size : (The smaller the card, the lower the assembly cost)

2. Artwork : How many colors would you like the blister card to be printed? (The best industry pricing would be based on a four color front side over a one color back side. The back is usually printed in black text and is used for instructions for the product, warranty information, company profile and other information that the consumer might need)

3. PVC blister design : Would you prefer a stock "standard" blister that is symmetrical (square, round or rectangular) or would you like a "custom" blister where the PVG will conform to your product and hold it in place? (A "custom" option will require prototype and production tooling dollars where a “stock” blister would have no tooling)

4. Pack out : How many completed blister packaged units would you want to have packed into a master carton for?

5. Tooling : There will be tooling charges for the following phases of a blister packaging project:

•  Printing plates and films for the blister card, which are assessed on a “per color” basis
•  Molds for a custom PVC blister design
•  Blister packaging tooling. These are either wood or aluminum nests that are needed to house the blister during the heat seal and assembly process. Wood tooling would only be appropriate for one-time runs or ‘per run' volumes of 25,000 pieces or less. Aluminum tooling would be required for larger and more regular production runs but are much more expensive.

6. Features: 2 features of a blister package that you should consider incorporating into your design based on where your product will be marketed are 1) hang hole in the blister card for hanging on a hook and 2) foot for the PVC blister if you would like the product to stand vertically on its' own.

•  Material choices : Blister cards are run typically in a .014 point SBS or a .021 pt. Stock, depending on the weight of the product. A typical PVC thickness is 10 mil or 15 mil, but for products that are thick would require a thicker gauge like 20 mil or 25 mil. Also, for heavy products that go into the blister pack, a thicker gauge material is recommended.

APPLICATIONS

Any product that is small in size and is a consumer retail item is perfect for blister packaging. Some of the items we have blister packed include:

•  Hardware
•  Tools
•  Toys
•  Personal care products
•  Cosmetics
•  Office supplies
•  Food
•  Cellular accessories

Blister packaging at Assemblies Unlimited

Assemblies Unlimited Inc is your best source for blister packaging because we provide the following value proposition to insure that your project is a success:

•  Quick turnaround on pricing
•  Turnkey sourcing: We will purchase all your components locally, deliver them to our plant, blister your product, put it in cartons and drop ship the completed units to your end customer
•  Design: We will walk you thru each step of the design process and make recommendations based on our 25 years of packaging experience.
•  Tooling: We will recommend the most cost effective tooling for your project and then make sure it is ready when it is time for production.
•  Project management: We are responsible for your complete project from start to finish and will not let you down.

CALL ASSEMBLIES UNLIMITED TODAY AT 1-877-ASEMBLY (273-6259)
to help you with your next project that requires blister packaging

More Information about Blister Packaging:
Institute of Packaging Professionals
Contract Manufacturing & Packaging Association
Jobwerx Manufacturing Network