The Blister Pack Machine for Packaging Applications

The Blister Pack Machine provides a packing method that protects products from the elements while sealing them tightly enough to create tamper-resistance, in effect protecting them from both human and environmental interference via a single automated process. This type of packaging consists of a blister card atop which the item or items to be packaged are affixed and around which a clear plastic or foil shell is placed and then sealed, thus covering both product and card. Cards are often made of non-corrugated cardboard and depending on the application and covering material, can either be blank or may contain colorful artwork and/or printing on one or both sides to facilitate sales at the retail level. Other cards used in this packing process are metal-laminated sheets between the outer and inner layers of which the package contents rest and around which an outer wrapper is then either heat sealed or cold formed. Both types of outer wrapping materials combine with the appropriate card type to create an all-in-one packaging solution for many smaller items which might otherwise be difficult to package.

Products and Industries that Use this Technology

Many different types of products are packaged using blister pack machine technology, including products desiged for the medical and pharmaceutical fields and those manufactured for the consumer products industry. In the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the nutritional supplement field, pills are sometimes packaged using this method—particularly when packaged in pre-measured dosages or single-pill dispenser packs. These packages often use a push-through dispensing method whereby the pill is pushed out through the foil that covers a well created in the clear plastic that covers the other side of the card. The card is, of course, also designed with holes that correspond to the pill wells in the plastic covering, so the pills can be easily pushed through the foil for removal from the package. Medical devices and supplies also use blister packaging technology, though the type differs from that used for individual pill packaging and is more likely to use the less-complex clear plastic shell covering the card and the item that rests on it. Other products that are packaged in this manner are small electronics items and supplies, hardware items, toys, games, stationary and craft supplies, writing implements, makeup, hair care accessories, and more.

Types of Blister Pack Machine Technology

Blister pack machine models differ in the type of packaging they produce. Some use a thermoform process which applies heat to mold a sheet of clear plastic into the shape of the item to be packaged. Heat sealed clear plastic blisters provide a sturdy, transparent outer product package that somewhat resembles clamshell packaging. It is rigid and impact-resistant, which suits it well for many of the applications mentioned above. Cold forming equipment produces the second type of blister packaging material by stamping a laminated aluminum film onto the package backing. This backing is often used in conjunction with the molded clear plastic outer covering, as in the case of the pill packaging described above. Link back to the Blister Pack Machine page.