Decoding Flexible Packaging

February 12, 2016 5:09 pm

Advantages of flexible packaging over the hard or conventional packaging and the best technology to code on flexible packets
  During our growing days we all remember the way when most of the goods we consumed used to come in loose form. With the advent of the modern era when the globalisation knocked at our doors, the entire way or process of packing goods changed and went through an evolution.The advent of modern packaging has given the us, the end user a lot of ease in selecting the right product, compare quality, buying, carrying and storing the product. Today the consumer more evolved and is more informed, so all possible product information is the need of the hour.
With the change in time, there was introduction of various technological innovations in the arena of packaging for the consumer goods. The packaging evolved and started the era where goods were packed in boxes, cans, glass bottles, paperboards, plastic bottles and flexible pouches.
In the recent time, a certain trend that has started to evolve especially after humongous popularity of super markets or super stores among the end users in the current market scenario, majority of the consumer goods that are available across categories are mostly packed in flexible packaging.
There are certain advantages that flexible packaging provides over the harder conventional packaging which can be laid as under:
1. Economical: It is the most economical method to package, preserve and distribute goods. Food, beverages, other consumables and pharmaceuticals feel the need for flexible packaging the most. The other major advantage that the flexible packaging provides is the need for extended shelf life.
2. Tailored to fit products: One marked advantage that flexible packaging can provide is that, it can be designed with barrier properties tailored to fit the products being packaged and their end-uses, whereas other barrier packaging formats generally provide a one-size-fits-all approach.
3. Uses lesser resources and energy: In today’s world where there is a regular dearth for resources, flexible packaging uses lesser resources and energy than other forms of packaging, to keep our environment clean and green. With the regular impetus on saving the environment, flexible packaging should be the way forward for a win-win situation.
4. Reduction in materials use and transport costs: Flexible packaging provides a very significant reduction in materials use and transport costs between the converter, packer or filler, retailer and end user. Through the use of flexible packaging one can be assured on the fact that the packing of the primary packs into the pallets would be comparatively space saving.
5. Occupies less space, minimise transportation: Flexible packaging not only takes up less space when empty than rigid packaging, but can also be constructed on the spot from roll materials at the filling location, thereby minimising transportation of ready-formed empty packaging.
6. Variety of shapes, sizes and appearances: Flexible has a very definitive advantage over the rigid packaging is that of, it can be made in a wide variety of innovative shapes, sizes and appearances, and can include difficult components, such as handles, electrical switches, automotive spares etc. with opening and reclosing features, such as zips and spouts to keep the freshness of the items packed.
7. Providing business opportunities to related industries: Flexible packaging’s ability of innovation is providing a huge scope of business growth to related industries especiallypackaging machines, flexible laminate, variable data coders and printing industry.Various types of packaging machines are now available in market to pack any kind of product into a flexible packing form irrespective of its nature i.e. hard, soft, fragile, liquid, semi-solid etc.
On the flexible packaging when it comes to meet the packaging compliance of coding the variable data such as Batch No, date of manufacturing, price, nutritional facts and best before on the flexible packaging, Thermal Transfer Overprinter (TTO) is most widelyused technology which is gaining the market globally day by day. Customer prefers online TTO coding over conventional offline or ink based technology due to its finest print quality, lowest cost of operation and highest flexibility offered to the user. With the modern and chic packaging result provided by flexible packaging TTO is one of the most suited technology to write on flexible packets.
 
Authored by__
Sachin Mall,Sr. Manager-SBU (Thermal Transfer Overprinter), Domino Printech India Pvt Ltd.Domino Printech India is a global organisation that deals in variety of coding and marking machines suiting different applications and variety of products. For more details, visit www.domino-printing.com.