Packaging is often the first point of contact between a customer and a product. As such, it can impact consumer perceptions. Therefore, choosing the most suitable type of packaging that protects the product and conveys the brand’s message effectively is essential. Clamshells and blisters are two popular packaging types that can provide various benefits, from increased visibility to enhanced protection. This article will closely examine each type’s features and applications. We will also explore their key benefits to help you make informed decisions to determine which one to use. What Are Clamshells? Clamshells are typically made from clear plastic, making the product inside easily visible to customers. The plastic is usually made from PVC, PET, RPET, or PETG, which are durable, lightweight, and easy to mold into different shapes and sizes. This makes clamshells a versatile option for packaging merchandise of different shapes and sizes, ranging from small electronic items to food products. Benefits of Clamshell Packaging Common applications of clamshells include cosmetics, hardware and tools, medical devices, office supplies, and stationery. This packaging has become increasingly popular due to its superior product visibility and protective qualities. The following are three of the most significant advantages of this packaging type in more detail: Enhanced Product Visibility The clear plastic material provides exceptional product visibility, enabling customers to inspect the product before purchasing. This feature is particularly important for products with specific attributes that customers want to see, including color, texture, or design. For example, customers can easily check the freshness and quality of food items or the features and functions of electronic gadgets. Increased Product Protection Clamshells are designed to provide a tight seal around the product, preventing contamination, tampering, or damage during transportation or storage. They can also be customized with various features — such as snap closures or tamper-evident seals — further enhancing their protective qualities. Convenient Storage and Display Generally, clamshells are lightweight, nestable, and take up less space than other types of packaging. This makes them ideal for businesses with limited storage space. Furthermore, they can be customized with hangers or hooks, making them easy to display on pegboards or store shelves. What Are Blisters? Blisters are packaging designed to protect and secure products by encasing them in a plastic bubble or cavity. The bubble is typically made from PVC, PET, RPET, or PETG plastic and is sealed to a cardboard backing or sheet. This design provides secure and tamper-proof packaging that can protect products from damage and contamination. Benefits of Blister Packaging The common applications of blister packaging include pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, stationery, food products, and medical devices. It offers a range of benefits to manufacturers and consumers alike. The plastic bubble or cavity design provides excellent product protection and can help prevent damage during storage. Here are three more advantages of utilizing this packaging type: High Degree of Customizability Blister packaging offers manufacturers customizability, making it an ideal choice for companies looking to stand out on store shelves. The plastic surface allows for easy printing of branding, logos, and designs, providing an opportunity to showcase a product’s unique features or benefits. This can help products catch potential customers’ attention and stand out. Versatility Blisters are highly versatile and compatible with a wide range of products. They can be designed to fit products of various shapes and sizes, from small electronic components to large hardware items. This feature allows manufacturers to use a single packaging solution, reducing the need for multiple designs and lowering packaging costs. Security and Transparency Blister packaging offers a unique combination of security and transparency. The rigid plastic shell creates a protective barrier around the product, preventing tampering and theft. At the same time, the clear plastic material allows customers to see the product inside, giving them confidence in its authenticity. Choose Jamestown Plastics for Innovative Retail Solutions Looking for the best packaging solutions for your products? Jamestown Plastics has you covered! One of our patented products — Clamtainer® — is a frustration-free clamshell addressing concerns around single-use and sustainability. It reduces plastic consumption and provides customers with a reusable and recyclable packaging solution. We also offer Click It Card®, a versatile and sustainable alternative to traditional blister packaging. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create innovative and sustainable retail solutions for your business!
Medical Thermoforming Applications Thermoforming is a versatile manufacturing process that entails heating plastic sheets to a malleable state and then forming it with molds. Its significance in the medical field stems from its ability to produce cost-effective, lightweight, and disposable products that meet stringent quality requirements. Moreover, its accessibility, dependability, and efficacy make it indispensable for delivering safe [...]
Thermoforming 101: The Process That’s Revolutionizing Product DesignThermoforming is a manufacturing process that shapes plastic sheet into specific forms using heat and pressure. It is commonly employed to produce various products, such as packaging, trays, containers, and automotive components. This method offers cost-effectiveness, rapid production cycles, and the ability to easily create complex shapes. What is thermoforming? In this article, we will answer [...]
The Ultimate Guide to Plastic ManufacturingIn the plastics industry, each polymer option presents unique mechanical characteristics. As a result, it is possible to fabricate almost anything with every material, and most plastic manufacturing processes cover a vast array of product development requirements. In […]
Why Plastic Medical Trays Are Essential for Safe and Sterile Procedures Click to Expand Plastic medical trays are often used in healthcare settings to assist in keeping those areas contamination-free. These trays can also be used for organizing and sterilizing healthcare instruments and equipment, transporting medications and supplies, for specimen collection (providing a clean and secure environment for handling biological samples), or found within labs. Plastic medical [...]
What Is Thermoforming? Thermoforming transforms thermoplastics through a series of processes, including heat, vacuum, and pressure, applied to a plastic sheet material. It utilizes a variety of machines to produce plastic products, including high-speed in-line thermoforming lines with robotic automation, light-gauge roll-fed machines, and larger sheet-fed machines for heavy-gauge products. This process allows parts to be produced with lower [...]
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Industries Leveraging Custom Plastic Thermoforming Plastic thermoforming has become increasingly popular as a top manufacturing process in various industries. Using heat and pressure to shape plastic sheet into proper forms provides an efficient and cost-effective solution for product manufacturing. Moreover, it presents numerous benefits over alternative manufacturing methods, including decreased tooling costs and improved material efficiency. Here are some of the [...]
Unlocking the Future of Design With Plastic Thermoforming Techniques Thermoforming is a manufacturing process employed to shape thermoplastic sheet into specific designs. This method involves heating plastic sheet until it becomes pliable, then forming it over or into a mold to achieve the desired shape. Its versatility and efficiency make it a preferred choice for creating products ranging from disposable containers to intricate parts [...]
Electronics Thermoforming Applications While the origin of thermoforming can be traced back to the 19th Century, it was the mid-20th century when it was first introduced to the electronics sector. The process entails heating plastic sheet and shaping it into a specific form to manufacture various electronic products or packaging for those products. This approach has revolutionized the [...]
Reshoring and Nearshoring In recent years, global supply chains have encountered challenges such as trade conflicts, political volatility, natural calamities, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Consequently, numerous companies in the United States have had to reconsider their supply chain approaches. For instance, some are halting decades of outsourcing and offshoring by bringing their production back home or closer to [...]
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