The Advantages of Polythene Bags

While it is easy to label a product as good or bad, it is important to understand that everything has its advantages and disadvantages. For a long time now, polythene bags have been labelled as bad products since they are not easily recyclable and take a long time to disintegrate. However, there are a number of advantages to using a polythene bag as well.

For store owners

When bought in bulk plastic bags are much more economical as compared to paper bags or cloth bags. This translates to a higher profit margin for the store. Polythene bags are also available in a large number of sizes as compared to cloth bags which makes them more versatile. When it comes to branding, the cost of printing a paper bag and a polythene bag may be comparable but printing a cloth bag involves a much higher cost. The print also has a longer life on plastic as compared to fabric where it may fade or get washed off in the washing machine.

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An introduction to clear polythene sheeting

If you were asked to name something commonly found in homes, offices, factories etc, plastic would be one of the first things that comes to mind. Of the many forms of plastic available in the market, clear polythene sheeting is one of the most popular types of packaging materials for domestic as well as commercial use. This is typically available in the form of rolls of variable length and thickness.

Polythene sheets are categorised according to their thickness. This may be expressed as microns or gauge with 1 gauge equal to 4 microns and 1 micron equal to 0.0001mm. The micron or gauge value is directly proportional to the thickness of the plastic sheet and its cost. The micron value of a polythene sheet also determines how it can be used. Thin plastic sheeting can be used for general packing and storage of goods while thicker plastic may be used as a temporary roof, to create greenhouses or for heavy duty packing of for products being transported. However, it is important to note that the thickness of the plastic sheet is not related to the durability and longevity of the plastic.

Another factor that influences the price of clear polythene is its clarity. One of the biggest advantages of using clear plastic over coloured plastic is that this allows you to see what is inside the packing without having to open the package. Thus the clearer the plastic, the better it is. Virgin polythene sheets are much clearer than recycled polythene sheets but can be more expensive as well. Light duty virgin polythene may be used to package food items and other groceries that need to be seen clearly through the packaging while recycled polythene sheets may be used as drop cloths or temporary walls.

If the polythene sheeting is going to be used outdoors or exposed to considerable sunlight, look for sheeting that is UV stabilised. This type of polythene sheet is treated so as to make it more resistant to the sun’s UV rays. Non stabilised polythene can get discoloured or turn brittle when exposed to UV radiation. Stabilised polythene will also typically have a longer life as compared to non-stabilised polythene.

Enhance Promotion Of Consumer Products At A Low Cost With Banding

Consumer products need to be packed in attractive packaging, the cost of which can eat into your profit margins. Manufacturers of high value products can afford glitzy packaging but for mass produced and mass sold items with slim profit margins, packaging must be optimised so that it serves as a promotional material but at a lower cost. In such a scenario, Banding is the answer!

What Is Banding?

Banding consists of wrapping a printed band around a pack. The band may be as wide as 2 inches or as narrow as a half inch, and it can be made of polymer material as thin as 35 microns. Rolls of pre-printed bands may be fitted to the dispenser of a banding machine, and as the products move on a conveyor, the machine dispenses the band which is wrapped around the package. It not only enhances brand appeal but also serves as a tamper-proof seal thereby enhancing confidence in the quality of the product.

The Need For Banding Equipment

One can, of course, apply the band manually or by using a manual tool. However, most consumer products are sold in bulk and at low margins and banding must keep step with output of the packaging equipment. Installing banding equipment to take care of banding is a logical step.

However, there are differences in the types of machines available to suit the package and the way the band needs to be applied. One machine for banding purposes also handles bundling. It allows for rotation of product to be banded. In a high volume production environment a conveyorised banding system is preferred for fast and accurate as well as precision application of the bands on a variety of packaging that can include boxes, trays and punnels. Typical areas of application are consumer and food products. The band also serves as a tamper-proof seal. Then there are instances when multiple packs may need to be banded together to form a bundle for which another type of equipment for banding can be used. Machines are best selected based on the end product, its size and structure as well as its rigidity.

Buying the machine from a reliable supplier with experience and knowledge in this area is a good idea. If the same supplier also offers consumables, then it is an additional treat that you should go for.

Tips to Operating an Automatic Strapping Machine

Strapping machines have a very crucial role to play as it is what holds boxes, bundles and various other packages together. These machines are loaded with strapping material which is dispensed by the machine to hold the packages together for safe and secure shipping. The transport is made tons easier when the products get strapped together. It also saves hugely on time and manpower, thereby optimizing the efficiency of any machine. However, some basic tips must be kept in mind while operating an automatic strapping machine, especially, if one is operating it for the first time.

Foremost, the safety instructions given by the supervisor, manual and even the unit provider must be listened to and understood properly and carefully. These may seem trivial but are extremely important for the safety of all as well as the machine’s smooth operation.

The types of machine must also be understood well. In case the machine is a hands-free unit, it is important to understand that jobs would be done chronologically. Moreover, there would be a cycle time which must not be tampered with even if there is a delay seen.

Some machines have to be programmed for the type of material being strapped. Here, one must ensure that the program is done correctly since an incorrect strapping may prove dangerous for those who are transporting the materials.

The item to be strapped must also be looked into. No matter how reliable the machine is in strapping the items correctly, the finished strapping must be checked by tugging it to ensure that everything is perfect before actually transporting it. This would prevent any strap break or any injury during the whole journey of transportation.

Finally, before or while operating the machine, if any doubt arises, it should be immediately clarified with the supervisor or any other expert. This can prevent any careless or unforeseen accident or wrong packing.

Versatile Polythene Sheets for Multiple Uses in Packaging and Construction

Polythene is a widely used polyolefin. A thermoplastic material; it is known for being one of the best vapour barriers. This property is exploited by making use of polythene as a protective covering for products and for the outer cartons. Thicker sheets of polythene are also used in construction, laid over concrete to form a protective barrier against ingress of moisture. It is low in cost compared to other polymers.

Polythene sheets also find use as flooring, protection for countertops and window films. On larger scales, these sheets are used in shipbuilding in order to prevent toxic chemicals from contaminating sea water. Large sized sheets can line water tanks to prevent water from seeping inside and these sheets can be used in waste water treatment tanks to prevent toxic chemicals from contaminating the environment. While thin films of high-density polythene are used as vapour barriers for product packaging, heavier and larger packaging and wooden boxes can be lined with sheets of low density polythene or medium density polythene before being sealed to provide protection to machinery or other boxes packed inside a container or a crate. In one word, polythene is versatile. 

The basic qualities of this versatile polymer can be enhanced with the use of additives during production. Additives endow the sheet with anti-static property, UV resistance, linear rich property and slip-coefficient enhanced for specific applications. Using the right type of polymer and with the right property does make a difference to its use.

It may not always be possible to source LDPE, MDPE or HDPE sheets from a single source or ask for specific enhancements because most dealers of packaging materials cater to only one segment. However, you can still find packaging specialists offering the widest range of sheets of polythene to suit virtually all types of users. Such a specialist may offer the plain sheets in LDPE/MDPE/HDPE types and additive enhanced sheets. He may also offer end products such as bags and printed packaging made out of this versatile polymer. Whether it is a small retailer looking for limited quantities of PE bags or a construction company looking for thicker gauge PE in larger quantities, one source can satisfy all of them and that is Focus Packaging.

Know About Strapping and Strapping Machines

Finding the apt packaging machines is essential for any business or industry. There are certain factors to be considered before doing so. You need to be sure about the type of packaging required for your specific products. An appropriate one can be bought by contacting the right suppliers who can advice and guide you in the right manner.

Coming to strapping, straps are made from different materials with steel being one of them. Strapping machines are used for keeping packages, boxes, held bundles together in a tight manner. These machines are loaded with the strapping material required and then it seals the box after being dispensed.

Different Types of Strapping Machines

Different strapping machines have different versions and speed. There are the low volume ones which are semi-automatic, the moderate volume ones in the semi-automatic and high volume fully automatic ones. The styles of these machines also differ like the table top strappers, pallet strappers and the RQ-8 strappers.

Volume of the Different Strapping Machines

An industry or a business which is of a smaller size can opt for low volume, semi-automatic strapping machine. The moderate volume, semi-automatic one is ideal for those companies which does not do mass production but ship on a steady basis. Large industries like shipping companies or postal outlets need the high volume fully automatic strapping machine.

Different types of strapping

Strapping is made of different materials like plastic, metal, and replacement material of ultra band steel or other materials. The selection of the strapping depends on what needs to be shipped. The plastic straps which are made of polypropylene are generally used for packaging products that are not very heavy. The sizes, too, differ, like you have the ¾ of an inch right up to 3/16 of an inch.

Strapping Machine Price

The strapping machine price tends to differ from one manufacturer to another. This also depends on the model opted for. Check out a few machines and compare their features and pricing to take an informed decision. There is an option of handled devices also. These tend to work out an ideal option for packaging and shipping goods.

Knowing Carton Strapping Machine and Its Importance

All products or items manufactured in the market, be it consumable or machinery or something else, it must be packaged in the most professional way before it reaches the retailers, wholesalers and distributors from where they are individually stored. The professional packaging keeps the items secured as they reach their destination. Carton strapping machine is a most important type of packaging machinery that package cartons containing goods in a secured way. The strapping machines strap the cartons in such a way that products remaining inside them are kept safe until they reach their destination, especially to remote areas. The main aim is to achieve useful packaging wherein inside goods are safely kept and coming out of the cartons can be prevented. 

Automatic strapping machinery and its key features:

Automatic carton strapping machineries bind cartons and boxes with hard bands like metal straps or metal wires at steady intervals depending on the type of cartons that are to be strapped. As these machines are automatic they can be programmed to strap the cartons or boxes at desired intervals. The key features of these machines are as follows:

• Many different kinds of automatic machines are available that can be customised as per standard requirements.
• A number of size variations of these machines are available in the market and you can select the size of the machine depending on your area of installation.
• Inbuilt features like crank holder, leg height, tape tension, etc are adjustable easily.
• The machines work with electronic controls that enhance the work practicality of these automatic machines.
• Beneficial features like programmable head, rolling working table etc. make these machines more functional and efficient.
• Time saving machines and easy operations.
• Cost effective machines with extremely less maintenance.
  

These machines are mainly used for binding the boxes. These can be useful to all kind of product manufacturers. Apart from the automatic ones semi- automatic, manual, low volume, moderate volume models of carton strapping machines are also available in the market. The machines come in different style versions as well.