The scope of contract packaging is vast, encompassing a wide array of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and consumer goods. Each sector has unique requirements, and contract packagers are equipped to meet these demands through specialized machinery and expertise.
As a result, the number and type of services that co-packers offer is as vast as it is diverse. Learn more about these specific services below!
(Sourcing acknowledgments to the BCMPA.)
Gift Packing
Gift Packing is a major part of the consumer goods industry for Christmas, Easter and other special events. Usually performed by hand, it requires a number of disciplines from skilled labour to sourcing of components. Contract packagers can also advise on warehousing and distribution, pack design and managing customer call-offs.
Hand Packing/Rework
Where machine production is not feasible, hand packing by skilled experienced teams is the most efficient answer. Re-work addresses pack quality issues such as incorrect labelling, damaged goods or missing components, or simply that the product needs to be relabelled or repacked in a different format.
Rectification/QC
The process by which faulty products are subjected to quality control checks to examine for defects against agreed benchmark standards or to provide a statistical number of rejects. Where possible, the product will be rectified to make good and returned to the inventory.
Kitting/Collation/Assembly
This service involves collating products/components, for example engineering parts or toy kits, into a single unit for distribution. Operations could include counting, bagging or placing products into specially designed boxes. This is usually performed by hand as components can be varied and may require an element of assembly work.
Netting/Clip Stripping
Netting provides a low-cost way of collating and displaying products from bird food to beach toys. Clip strips offer an eye-catching method of hanging small bagged products such as peanuts in-store or in the pub. The clip strips can be pre-loaded with product by the contract packager.
Packaging Design
Good packaging design can be vital to a product’s success. Packaging that is appealing but also fulfills its role of protecting the product is essential to discuss at the concept stage. Speed of assembly on the production line can also impact unit costs and timescales.
Artwork Design/Print
Graphic design is an essential part of attracting the customer to the product and to establishing brand identity. Together with designing packaging, many contract packagers have in-house graphic design services with the facilities to produce and print leaflets, labels, sleeves and cartons.
Labelling
Labelling is often used to change packaging and provide rectification of a mistake or to endorse promotions with additional marketing messages. Different retailers will require different labelling options and automatic or hand labelling is used as an efficient and economical method of customizing generic packaging stock.
Overlabelling
Overlabelling is a method used to provide rectification to one-off mistakes or last-minute changes to packaging, or to provide different alternatives for overseas markets. Overlabelling can help to extend the life of a product by complying with specific labelling requirements for individual markets.
Decorative Shrink Sleeving
Sleeving is a process for combining products using film: for example, with multipacks or two-for-one promotions. Some applications are suited to stretch sleeves; however, most (including tamper-bands) use shrink film, applied in hot air or steam tunnels. Sleeving can also provide a high quality 360-degree labelling solution.
Shelf-Ready Packaging
Shelf-ready packaging (SRP) and retail-ready packaging (RRP) help products get from storage area to retail shelf in one simple operation, saving time for shop staff. Predominantly made of corrugated cardboard, the merchandising unit consists of a tray and cover, with the latter being easily detached by a perforation.
Shrink Wrapping
Shrink wrapping utilizes clear plastic film which shrinks snugly onto the product, usually by passing the wrapped product through a heat tunnel. Polyethylene shrink film is mainly used for transit purposes or collating multi-pack canned products. Higher quality display films can enhance the look of and protect retail products such as games boxes and hampers.
Flow Wrapping
Flow wrapping, also known as horizontal form-fill-seal, is a process that wraps film around a product, initially crimping a fin seal along the length of the pack and then crimping it at each end. The system can handle a very wide range of products from crisp packets and confectionery to packs of scratch cards.
Cello/Over Wrapping
Over wrapping is a system where high quality heat-sealable film is wrapped over square or rectangular products and finished with neatly folded ends. Applications include perfume cartons, DVDs, reams of paper and cigarette packets. The film often incorporates “tear strips” for easy opening.
Poly Wrapping
Mainly used in the direct mail and magazine industry as an alternative to traditional mailing envelopes, polywrapping (or polybagging) is a cost-effective way of enclosing printed matter within a sealed usually see-through polythene wrap. It also allows for the insertion of loose items.
Blister Packing
Blisters are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for packing pills, and in retail where a product is securely displayed beneath a clear thermoformed blister, fixed to a pre-printed backing card. Clam packs are fully encased, tough two-cavity blisters, high-frequency welded to aid security.
Clam Packing
Also known as clamshell packaging, this is made by thermoforming the shape of the package to fit closely around the contents, making it ideal for presenting and packaging a variety of products of different shapes and sizes such as electrical goods, household, automotive parts, toiletries and cosmetics. A clam pack is hand filled and then secured simply via a clip and can be further welded for additional security. Popular for retail displays, offering a high degree of visibility.
Thermoforming
Thermoforming is a manufacturing process where a plastic sheet is heated to a pliable temperature, formed in a mold to a specific shape and trimmed to create a packaging product. They are typically used for food trays, confectionery, box inserts and blister/clam packaging.
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