Contract Packaging Industry Information

Contract packaging refers to the service of packaging products for a manufacturer, and sometimes, may involve the shipping of items as well. Contract packaging can also include the design and production of the container or wrapper for a product. These contract packaging services are important for any business that makes products requiring labels, containment or effective presentation. Contract packaging services can also help customize general merchandise like candy, matches or toys. Every industry has some involvement with contract packaging, from automotive parts to food items.

The materials used for contract packaging range from glass, paper and plastic to various combinations. Boxes, cans, bottles, cartons, glass and flexible items, such as shrink wrap, are examples of common contract packaging vessels made by contract packagers. Cardboard and other paper-based materials are used most often in the material contract packaging industry. Plastic and other synthetic materials are also used in varying thicknesses and amounts as either coatings or the primary enclosure, whether as shrink wrapping or a clamshell assembly. The cost of the contract packaging can vary, depending on the type of material used.

The contract packaging process not only involves the material that encloses or wraps the item, but can - and often does - involve the printing and graphic design of the contract packaging. Brand and product identity can be communicated very well through the package design. Not all contract packaging services are involved in the visual or graphic design end of packaging, but some do offer this value-added service, which saves many companies the trouble of doing it themselves. Once the product packaging is designed, various packaging methods can be used to complete the product, including blister packaging, shrink packaging and stretch packaging. Blister packaging uses thermoforming to create a plastic bubble that holds the product to a back card. Shrink packaging involves shrinking a heated plastic film to exactly fit to a product, and stretch packaging uses stretched plastic film to cover a product.

The size, durability and composition of a product affect how it should be packaged and labeled. The contract packaging itself plays a role as a protection device of the internal product during the transportation and handling of the product prior to sale and use. The contract packaging protects the product from damage caused by simple dust, accidental dropping or even from liquid or chemical spill damage. When choosing a contract packager, the capabilities of their facility and packaging equipment should be evaluated to ensure that they meet the needs of the manufacturer. Price depends on the size of the product, the number being packaged and the intricacy involved with the contract packaging. The ability of the contract packaging to be recycled is becoming more crucial in the consideration of material as well.