Packaging guide
All around packaging
Here you can learn a little about packaging in general:
Under This & That you will get information about the different functions of the packaging such as:
- Bearing function
- Loading and transport function
- Sales packaging as an advertising medium
Under Materials from A to Z you will find information about the materials we use.
"Many products, especially food, cannot be stored, distributed or sold without packaging. Packaging forms a logistical unit (unit load, see Glossary of Logistics) from one or more product units and thus supports logistics and retail processes. To do this, it must fulfil various functions:
Protective function:
The main purpose of packaging is to protect the goods themselves from environmental influences, damage, contamination and loss of quantity. In addition, the packaging also protects people from injuries caused by sharp-edged goods, pointed or poisonous objects. Furthermore, the means of transport, the environment and the other goods are protected, e.g. from damage caused by leaking liquids. Another aspect is the preservation of food, for example through airtight packaging. Aseptic filling techniques, sterile filling or protective gas (or vacuum packaging) are common methods.
Storage function:
Every good is stored and transferred several times from the time of production to the time of use or consumption. Thus, storage is possible at the manufacturer's or importer's, at the wholesaler's or retailer's, at the forwarder's or warehouse keeper's as well as at the consumer's. With the help of suitable packaging, goods can be stored more easily, safely and quickly.
Loading and transport function:
During transport, the packaging should prevent the goods from being exposed to excessive stress. This can be done by multiple protection (carton + pallet). In addition, standardised packaging leads to a smaller space requirement on the means of transport. Standardisation can even go so far that the dimensions of the packaging (e.g. pallets or pallet cages) are exactly matched to the dimensions of the means of transport, thus leading to optimum utilisation of the means of transport and speeding up the loading and unloading process. These circumstances are mapped in the DPR model.
Sales packaging as an advertising medium:
The sales packaging allows the buyer to recognise the product, be it by the name, the logo, the colour or the shape of the packaging. Attractive sales packaging promotes sales, thereby increasing sales and attracting new customers. The sales packaging often conveys the first and decisive impression.
Sales packaging as an aid to streamlining the sales process
The self-service system could only achieve its upswing through modern packaging methods. At the meat counter, for example, there is no need to weigh and pack the desired goods if they have been previously packed, weighed and labelled and are now available for self-service."
PA
Polyamides. The term polyamide is usually used to describe synthetic, technically usable thermoplastics and thus distinguishes this class of substances from the chemically related proteins.
Most polyamide production is used as synthetic fibre for textiles. Examples are fishing line, brassieres, lingerie, smocks, artificial sponges, mowing thread for lawn trimmers, nylon stockings, rainwear, ropes of all sizes from climbing ropes to deep-sea tugboat hawsers, tension wires, jumping cloths for trampolines, technical fabrics (paper production), tennis strings, carpeting, sportswear (especially gym shorts and tracksuits), military jackets (e.g. flight jackets, parkas), techno clubwear, etc.
It is also used in the manufacture of unbreakable household items and technical parts that need to be very resistant to abrasion, such as dowels, screws, housings, sliding bearings, insulation parts in the field of electrical engineering, cable ties, adhesive sockets, knot pieces for medical tents, kitchen utensils (ladles, spoons, etc.), machine parts (covers, gears, bearings, rollers) and toothbrush bristles.
Due to its resistance to lubricants and fuels at temperatures up to over 150 °C, it is also used in vehicle construction for engine attachments such as intake systems, fuel lines, engine covers etc.
More about polyamide at Wikipedia
PE
Polyethylene (abbreviation PE, outdated polyethylene, occasionally also called polyethene) is a thermoplastic produced by polymerisation of ethene [CH2 = CH2] with the simplified chain structure formula.
Polyethylene belongs to the group of polyolefins.
Known trade names are: Alathon, Dyneema, Hostalen, Lupolen, Spectra, Trolen, Vestolen.
More about polyethylene at Wikipedia
PP
Polypropylene (abbreviation PP, sometimes also called polypropene) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic and belongs to the group of polyolefins. Polypropylene is obtained by polymerising the monomer propene with the help of catalysts. In 2001, 30 million tonnes of polypropylene were produced. PP has a higher stiffness, hardness and strength than polyethylene, but these are lower than other plastics such as polyamide.
Many products are used in the food industry, in households and in packaging technology: bottle caps, inner parts for dishwashers, for boil-proof films, reusable containers, thermal transport boxes or heat-retaining containers (EPP), packaging parts, drinking straws, ...
POLYSTYROL
Polystyrene (abbreviation PS, IUPAC name: polystyrene) is a transparent, amorphous or semi-crystalline thermoplastic. Amorphous polystyrene is a widely used plastic in many areas of everyday life.
Polystyrene is used either as a thermoplastically processable material or as foam. Well-known trade names for polystyrene are Lustron, Styropor, Styrodur, Styroflex, Sagex (in Switzerland) and Telgopor (in the Spanish-speaking world).
More about polystyrene at Wikipedia
PVC
Polyvinyl chloride (abbreviation PVC) is an amorphous thermoplastic. It is hard and brittle, white in colour and only becomes softer, malleable and suitable for technical applications when plasticisers and stabilisers are added. PVC is best known for its use in flooring. It also plays an important role in the construction industry, where it is used in the form of window profiles and pipes, among other things.
The low weight of the plastic can lead to energy savings in application areas such as packaging (fuel savings in distribution) and transport (lower fuel consumption).
