Packaging & Labelling

Brian Russell and Graham Penkett

Exam expectations

Paper/card are the compulsory materials so always expect questions in the exam to relate to this topic. Packaging is also a topic on its own and you are expected to know about a range of packaging solutions and the materials and processes used. You may be asked to solve a packaging problem

Interesting Facts

• Packaging stops goods going to waste but ends up as waste itself. About eight million tonnes each year – the same as the amount of old carpets thrown away each year.

• This figure has been constant for the past 20 years – because of thinner materials and new technologies.

Some products break easily, go rotten, dry out, lose flavour, go soggy etc.

Write a list of the different kinds of special protection these products need

Look at the pictures again – how do you know what is in the pack? How is this done?

Why package?

• Protect

• Inform

• Contain

• Transport

• Preserve

• Display

I PICT PD

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

• Protect• Inform• Contain• Transport• Preserve• Display

Food packaging

Typical themes:• Materials (food grade)• Composite materials• Spillage• Security• Hygiene• Insulation• Legal requirements• How are they made?

Card materials

Who invented the first carton?• 100 years ago a printer (in New York) who

made paper bags produced a carton from strong paper and board.

• He also developed the creasing/cutting of the board. (Die cutting)

• Kellogg Corporation were the first big users.

Card nets

• Flat shapes which fold into 3D forms• Often food related in exam• Glue tabs• Locking tabs• Position of images• Position of text

Cutting card nets

Die-cutting(creasing done with rounded blade)

I Cut – Die Cut

PlywoodFoam layer

Card to be cut

Blade

Die cutting

• In the packaging industry these are called cutting formes

• Usually, the blade is fitted into a flat plywood sheet

• For very large scale production these blades can be made to fit a roller

CNC Cutting & creasing

• Used for sampling and very small batches• Around 2,000 packages could be made• Slow but saves making cutting forme and setting up

automated folding and gluing

Card materials

Typical card materials used:• Duplex board - bleached liner therefore cheaper for

general packaging• Solid white board – bleached wood pulp, used for

more expensive packaging• Foil lined board – keep heat and moisture in• Corrugated card (transit packaging) – cheap, rigid,

good insulator, recyclable…

Typical order of work:

• Finishing – print, varnish, emboss…

• Wastage/separation – die-cut/crease

• Forming - folding

• Assembling – glue, inserts…

Commercial manufacturing

Other packaging materials

Common materials:• Expanded polystyrene – insulated cups and

trays, protection in transit• High impact polystyrene – vacuum formed

trays• Low density polythene – carrier bags, film,

bottles• PET – pop bottles, blister packs• Aluminium – foil containers, drinks cans• Tin-plated mild steel - cans

Design issues

Sometimes asked to design in exam:• Graphic images – logos, ideograms, symbols…• Text – to create impact, position on nets• Nets – accuracy, scale, tabs…• Input images onto computer – scan, digital camera,

drawing package, clipart…

• Explain use of ICT • Communication skills – colour, tone, line etc

Packaging information

Key information found on packaging includes:• Product name• Description/contents• Manufacturer’s details• Technical information• Safety information• Consumer Protection• Storage/maintenance information• Environmental information• Barcode• Design protection 3409987655444226

Design Protection

CCopyright

Registered Design(often used with trade marks)

Trade Mark

Patents

T M

R

P