Packaging

Question 1

Give some examples of typical card materials used

Answer 1

• Duplex board – bleached liner therefore cheaper for general packaging.
• Solid white board – bleached woodpulp, used for more expensive packaging.
• Foil lined board – keep heat and moisture in.
• Corrugated card (transit packaging) – cheap, rigid, good insulator, recyclable.

Question 2

What is die cutting and what is it used for?

Answer 2

Creasing done with a rounded blade, it is used for cutting card nets.

Question 3

What is CNC cutting and creasing used for?

Answer 3

Sampling and very small batches. Around 2000 packages could be made.

Question 4

Describe offset a lithography

Answer 4

Flat aluminium plates are photographically exposed then wrapped around a roller. The exposed parts attract water. Non exposed parts allow ink to stick. To reverse the image, you print on a plain roller. Transfers to card or other materials.

Question 5

What are the two main types of carded packaging?

Answer 5

Blister packaging and skin packaging.

Question 6

What are the key points of blister packaging?

Answer 6

• Uses film (PVC/PET) and paperboard.
• Ideal for small retail items.
• Excellent for point of sale display.
• Provide good visible stock security.

Question 7

How does skin packaging work?

Answer 7

The product is placed on a type of paper/board which allows air to pass through it. The board also has a heat seal coating. Plastic film is heated then stretched out over the product and the air is sucked out. The plastic film sticks to the heat seal coating on the card.

Question 8

What are the advantages of using cans for food storage?

Answer 8

• Canned food keeps well.
• Convenient because food has already been cooked.
• No need to add preservatives.
• No food is wasted.
• Drink cans are easy to open and easy to chill.

Question 9

What are the advantages of using glass packaging?

Answer 9

• Can see contents clearly.
• Opened and sealed easily.
• Does not affect taste of food.
• Glass is impermeable.
• Can be reused/recycled.
• Raw materials to make glass are cheap.

Question 10

Give some examples of other packaging materials

Answer 10

• Expanded polystyrene – insulated cups and trays.
• High impact polystyrene – vacuum formed trays.
• Low density polythene – carrier bags, film, bottles.
• PET – pop bottles, blister packs.
• Aluminium – foil containers, drinks cans.
• Tin-plated mild steel – cans.

Question 11

What are the reasons for packaging?

Answer 11

• Protect
• Inform
• Contain
• Transport
• Preserve
• Display