For a new manufacturer in food industry, it’s always a head-scratching issue to determine the package for your elegant products. You will need to design the appearance of the packs, the printing, pack size, packing material, sealing method, etc. In this article, let’s talk about the packing material used on multi-function automatic form fill seal machines on the market.
In general, 3 kinds of packing material are widely used in the food packing industry: flexible film, rigid film, aluminum foil.
Firstly, we need to understand the commonly used food packaging terms:
- Barrier Level — means a films ability to prevent moisture from penetrating the film itself
- Clarity degree: means the measurement of a film’s transparency
- Converting: process of cutting a plastic film into lengths, bond the edges, resulting in plastic bags
- Film Gauge: film thickness measured in mils
- Laminated Films: Lamination (bonding together) of two or more films that improves the appearance, barrier level
- Properties Metallized: applying a thin coating of metal to a nonmetallic surface by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber
- Packaging Films: are melted plastic resin which are extruded into sheets or rolls
- Sealability: bonding process between two layers of film
LLDPE, short for LDPE Films Linear Low Density Polyethylene
LLDPE Properties: Inexpensive, good clarity degree
Application: They are often used used to package fresh, produce, frozen foods & baked goods
HDPE Films: High Density Polyethylene
HDPE Properties: HDPE film is found in many of the same applications as LDPE and LLDPE. it’s stiffer than other PE which makes it an ideal film that needs to hold its shape. High barrier level for moisture, it is resistant to grease and oils.
Application: HDPE is often used inside a box to preserve its contents such as cereal bags or cake mixes
PP Films
PP Properties: Soft, clear, glossy, with good moisture barriers & high oxygen transfer rates. Less flexible than LDPE Polypropylene
Application: PP films are often used as plastic food bags in bakeries, and food markets
CPP Films: Cast Polypropylene
CPP Properties: they are easily printable, and run efficiently on packaging equipment like baggers & VFFS
Application: CPP films are used to package baked goods, confectionary items, they’re also used to make flexible & stand up pouches
OPP / BOPP / MET BOPP Films
Properties: BOPP & OPP are the same types of film. The film is stretched in both the machine and transverse directions after it’s extruded, this increases the film’s stiffness, clarity and tensile strength. High resistant to heat and moisture, and has a shiny high gloss appearance. When OPP/BOPP films are laminated with metal foil (MET) it will increase the film’s oxygen & water barrier, and block out UV rays Orientated Polypropylene.
Application: Because of the film’s stiffness its used as a wrap for hard candies and chocolates.
PET / Metallized PET
Properties: very good oxygen barrier, heat resistant, strong film with good durability. when PET films are laminated with metal foil it will increase the film’s oxygen- water barrier & block out UV rays. Metallized films for flexible packaging are essential when the product requires extra protection to ensure a longer shelf life.
Application: MET PET provides protective properties for food items requiring restricted visibility.
Nylon Films Properties
Properties and Application: Nylon film has very good clarity and moisture barriers, is considered a very strong film. Nylon films have a high melting point, they are used for cooking applications such as boiling, microwaves & baking.
Polyolefin Films
Properties and Application: These films are also used for shrink wrapping applications & allow products to stand out when displayed
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