Flexible plastic is any packing material made of flexible, easily modifiable materials that can be formed into nearly any shape. With the flexible packaging industry on the rise, particularly in the food and beverage businesses, more and more companies are opting to include flexible materials in their product?s container packaging. For those who are new the flexible packaging craze, here are a few different terms that are often used by flexible packaging companies.
Coating
A coating is any fluid material that is applied to a packaging material or object. There are a variety of different coating types that can be used in flexible packaging. Heat-seal coating is an adhesive that can be applied to a packaging material and uses heat to create a bond. Or, a package can get a thin coating of wax or other coating material through a free-falling curtain or film.
Film
In packaging, a film is a thin plastic material used to cover a product, and is usually no more than 0.003 inches thick. There are a variety of different film technologies that can be used in flexible packaging, including laminated film, which is a combination of two or more films, or cast film, which is produced by a molten resin cast process.
Liners
Liners are made from different types of plastics, and are used to protect both dry and semi-dry products, including food, chemicals, and cement. By creating a strong barrier against outside contaminants, liners keep products as fresh as they were when they were first packaged.
Zippered Pouches
A zipper pouch is a type of packaging design that uses a sealing device that is molded in place. This allows for resealable packaging, which is in high demand with customers of the food and beverage industries. Different packaging technologies allow for different packaging perks, such as child-safety measures and the sealing of freshness. Zippered pouches are quickly becoming the standard for all small and bit sized custom food packaging.
