Mastering the Art of Packaging: Exploring Extrusion Techniques
Plastic materials are widely used today throughout the world. They are omnipresent and used in the packaging of various products. However, the question that usually arises is how these packaging are produced. Read more to discover the different packaging extrusion techniques used to obtain them.
Extrusion techniques in plastics processing
In the plastics industry, packaging design is done through extrusion. This industrial process makes it possible to create profiled products. For this, turning to a packaging specialist for any design is the best option. Indeed, extrusion is a set of thermomechanical operations which make it possible to manufacture flat, hollow, long plastic products, etc. The following products are designed using this process:
- Electric cables
- The pipes
- The cans
- Plastic bottles
- Plastic films
- Plastic bags; etc
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The principle is simple! The raw material in the form of thermoplastic granules or powder undergoes continuous processing and the main tool used is called the extruder. The material is then heated to a high temperature to produce malleable dough. For packaging manufacturing, there are 6 techniques detailed below.
Inflatable extrusion and coextrusion techniques
The first method makes it possible to manufacture sheaths and films of various dimensions. It is often used to make agricultural films, plastic bags, oilskins, etc.
As for the second technique, that of coextrusion, it should be noted that it involves the use of several extrusion screws. These screws feed the die and make it possible to extrude nearly 9 polymer layers. This process is used much more for the manufacture of food packaging which has multilayer films with barrier effects to oxygen (O2).
Extrusion calendering and extrusion blow molding techniques
Extrusion calendering is an operation that allows the thickness of the packaging to be calibrated more precisely as it leaves the die. It consists of passing the already melted plastic between 02 cylinders, which ultimately allows a thin film to be obtained.
Concerning extrusion blow molding, it must be said that it is often used for the manufacture of hollow packaging such as bottles, tanks, cans and others. However, the capacity of the manufactured body can vary considerably.
The techniques of sheathing extrusion and plate extrusion
Sheathing is a form of extrusion that makes it possible to manufacture electrical cables. It makes it possible to produce material useful for covering electrical conductors using a layer of polymer materials, in order to ensure good insulation.
The last technique, that is to say plate extrusion, is a method whose results lead to the creation of plates. These can then be used to form coils used during thermoforming processes. This technique also allows you to have varied thicknesses, especially finer ones.
Where to find quality customizable packaging
If you are a company that markets food products or other types of products that require packaging and want to reduce pollution, you need to think about personalizing your packages. This benefits your branding and allows you to build customer loyalty. There are thousands of agencies specializing in the manufacture of industrial packaging and which provide reliable packaging solutions for several sectors such as: aeronautics, food processing, textiles, etc.
You can contact them online on their websites and ask to speak with experts. This way, you will be able to obtain a catalog of various packaging designs and the quotes relating to them.
The different packaging extrusion techniques are increasingly refined due to the advancement of technology. You can therefore find a wide range of recyclable or reusable plastic packaging on the current market.
Plastic materials are widely used today throughout the world. They are omnipresent and used in the packaging of various products. However, the question that usually arises is how these packaging are produced. Read more to discover the different packaging extrusion techniques used to obtain them. Extrusion techniques in plastics processing In the plastics industry, packaging…