What is clamshell blister packaging?

06, May. 2024

 

A Guide to Blister & Clam Packaging - WePack

Blister packaging and clam packaging what they are and why your business should be using them

What is blister packaging?

Blister packaging is a type of packaging produced by heating a sheet of plastic and moulding it into shape to form a bubble or pocket the ‘blister’ that completely covers the product.

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A traditional blister pack is known as a face seal blister and has a cardboard back. The plastic blister is fixed to the front of the cardboard, to contain and protect the product. You can read more about the different types of blister packaging below.

The blister can be made in any shape a uniform shape to protect tablets, for example, or an unusual shape to protect a less consistently shaped product, like the football figurines shown in the image below.

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What products do blister packs suit?

Some products typically packaged with blister packs include:

  • electronic goods and accessories (e.g. USB drives, cables, headphones)
  • toys
  • stationery (e.g. pens, drawing pins, paper clips, superglue)
  • batteries
  • toothbrushes and dental floss
  • DIY goods (e.g. screws, nails, nuts and bolts)
  • tablets and capsules
  • products with delicate parts
  • products that are vulnerable to breaking (e.g. printer ink cartridges)

Blister packaging is all about protecting the product. If the product’s shape makes certain parts of it vulnerable—for example, the arm of the football figurines in the picture above—blister packaging can protect it in a way that a bag or box can’t.

Blister packs also keep products clean and uncontaminated, which is why they are almost always used to package tablets.

They are also tamper-proof. In other words, if someone has tampered with a pack of tablets (e.g. removed some of the contents), you’d be able to see that clearly from a break in the packaging.

What types of blister packaging are there?

The most common types of blister packaging are as follows:

Face seal blister

The plastic blister is moulded around the product and heat-sealed to a cardboard backing. This type of blister packaging is fairly inexpensive and so is generally used for products made in large volumes.

Full-face seal blister

The blister surrounds not only the entire product but the card backing too. The plastic is either heat-sealed to the card or slid through additional plastic pieces on each side. This type of blister packaging is used to make the packaging stronger (the corners are harder to bend, for instance) and better-looking.

Full card blister

Like the full-face seal blister, the blister covers the full size of the card. But rather than be heat-sealed to the card, it has flanges that wrap around it. The card is slid, and sometimes stapled, into place.

Trapped blister

A trapped blister is almost the same as a traditional blister pack but the plastic part that sticks to the cardboard has another piece of cardboard in front of it that fits around the shape of the blister. The plastic is then trapped between two pieces of cardboard. The top piece of card is die-cut to fit the blister where the product sits. As this type of blister packaging uses no heat-sealing methods, it’s cheaper to produce than those methods that do. This makes it more tamper-proof as it becomes obvious if the front cardboard has been ripped. It also looks better as it covers the plastic.

Clamshell

A hinged blister where two sides fold together to create a closed container. Clamshell packaging is explained in more detail below.

What is clamshell packaging?

Clamshell packaging (also called clam packaging or clam packs) is a type of blister packaging. Unlike a normal blister pack, clamshell packaging doesn’t have a cardboard back. Instead, it has a plastic back which is hinged to the front of the packaging, either at the side or the base. Some versions are made so they can stand upright on shop shelves, while others are given a hole to be hung from racks. They might have a button to snap them closed, or be heat-sealed shut. The bubble can be evenly sized on the back and front or can be a different size and shape depending on the product inside it.

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What products does clamshell packaging suit?

Clam packaging offers the same kind of protection as any other blister packaging but works best for products that won’t really fit in a blister pack, or for sets that have several different parts. For example:

  • small tool sets
  • sets of lightbulbs
  • gift sets
  • cosmetic sets

What are the advantages and disadvantages of blister packaging?

Advantages

  • Visual impact: Blister packaging helps catch the consumer’s eye easily by letting the product speak for itself. Products in blister packs often stand out much better than those in boxes.
  • Protection: Blister packs shield the product from damage and keep it clean. They also show when the packaging has been tampered with (unlike a box, which someone can open and close without it showing).
  • Harder to steal: Blister packs particularly clam packs are often made in unusual shapes, which makes them harder for a shoplifter to conceal. This appeals to a lot of supermarket chains at present, since shoplifting is a frequent problem.
  • Lightweight: Blister and clam packaging is very light, which lowers transport costs.
  • Easily recycled: Clam packaging in particular is simple to recycle as it’s made purely of plastic.
  • Helps with following routines for medication: The packaging can be marked so each little pocket holding a tablet or pill is numbered or listed by days. It also helps people monitor how many pills they’ve taken, unlike bottles.

Disadvantages

  • tends to cost more than alternative packaging methods
  • takes more time to produce than alternatives like bottling, for example

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Clamshell Packaging ...

Question:What is a clamshell package?

Answer: Clamshell packaging has hinges that allow them to open like a clamshell. A clamshell package usually includes a hanger tab so it can be displayed on a store peg. Some clamshells have multiple hinges which gives them a flat base and allows them to be stood upright on a shelf. Retail products can be displayed for maximum visibility in clamshell packaging. High clarity and visibility allows consumers to see the product in great detail. Clamshells can also be formed to take on any shape and hold virtually any type of product. Clamshell packaging may not be perfect for every product, but its advantages make it a great choice for a variety of products from food and smart-phones to medical supplies and electronics.


Key Benefits

Tamper resistant

Good product protection

Forms a tight fit around product for no wasted space

Single-piece construction

 

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Question: What is a blister package?

Answer: Blister packaging is commonly used in the medical and pharmaceutical industries and many others. This type of packaging is excellent at sealing and keeping sterile pills and other pharmaceutical safe.

Blister packaging is also commonly used in retail packaging but usually small consumer goods, food, and electronics, etc… The main difference between a blister and a clamshell is that a blister doesn’t have a hinge. Blisters are usually attached to a paperboard card (header card) where the “blister” holds the product in place. Blisters are also great for showcasing products because their clarity leads to great visibility for the product.

Key Benefits

Blister card is ideal for communicating product information

Many packs can be made at the same time to hold different items

Cost effective to package single and low cost items

 

Question: What is thermoforming?

Answer: Blister packaging and clamshell packaging are made from a process called thermoforming. Thermoforming is the process of heating rigid plastic into a softened state, then cooling it back into a rigid state, around a mold, with the use of vacuum. This allows blister or clamshell packaging to be formed in to virtually any shape.

 

Question: Why should a manufacturer consider using a blister package or a clamshell package?

Answer: A blister or clamshell should be considered whenever there is a need to protect, contain, transport or merchandise an item.

 

Question: What is the best use of a clamshell package?

A clamshell has two sections, typically formed with a hinge on the centerline, which can fold over and attach to itself, creating an enclosed container. Clamshells are commonly used for food, smart-phones, electronics and much more. Clamshell packaging is usually associated with higher value items. For example, high end golf balls may come in a clamshell package while an inexpensive household 9V battery would typically be packaged in a blister package.

 

Question: What is the best use of a blister package?

Answer: A blister is a single, vacuum-formed shell that can contain and merchandise a consumer product, after it’s sealed to a header card.  Blisters are commonly used on consumer product packages that have a relatively low value. A tape measure is frequently packaged in a blister package while an expensive automotive part may be packaged in a clamshell package.

 

Question: Are there any size limitations to clamshell or blister packaging?

Answer: Clamshell or blister packaging can have little restrictions on size. Limitiation on size will be determined by machinery and tooling. Most consumer and industrial products can be accommodated, particularily, if they are of the size and weight that can be hung from a display peg.

 

 Question: What is a normal starting quantity for clamshell packaging or blister packaging?

Answer: 5000 units is usually considered a satisfactory quantity justify the expense of tooling and design; however, a high value product be justified at just 1000 or fewer units.

 

Question: What kind of plastic is used in clamshell packaging or blister packaging?

Answer: There are several types of plastics available for thermoforming.  Most clear packages are formed using pvc, rpet, petg and styrene, but there are many choices when it comes to plastic selection:

  • HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene)
    durable, low-cost plastic that’s easy to form and print on.
  • PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
    One of the most widely used plastics in the world due to its diverse range of properties.
  • PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
    A globally recognized safe, recyclable packaging material. Also known as PETE.
  • PETG
    Modified PET with Glycol, PETG offers better sealing properties and durability than regular PET.
  • RPET
    Recycled PET.
  • PP (Polypropylene)
    A versatile material used for various types of packaging applications.
  • Polyurethane
    Another versatile material used for various types of packaging applications.
  • HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
    A recyclable plastic used in a variety of packaging applications.
  • ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
    A moderately heat resistant plastic.
  • ESD (Electrostatic Discharge)
    A plastic that’s less resistant to static charge build up, great for the Electronics Industry.
  • Conductive
    A specially developed plastic material that conducts modest amounts of current.
  • PLA™
    A corn-based plastic that sometimes used as an alternative to petroleum-based plastics.
  • Post-Consumer RPET
    25% – 100% Post-Consumer Recycled PET

 

Question: How long does it takes to make clamshell packaging or blister packaging?

Answer: Thermoforming cycle times of vary, depending on the thickness of the plastic, the size of the mold, and the type of machine it’s running on.  A machine can make thousands to tens of thousands of clamshell or blister packages on a single machine.

 

Question: What are the steps to create blister packaging & clamshell packaging?

  • The first step is to come up with a basic design of what the package should like and create a drawing or sketch depending on complexity.
  • The next step is to engineer the components that make up the package. Depending on budget, quantity, artwork, assembly and packaging, etc…
  • The third step is to prototype all the components in the package and get approval of samples.
  • final stage is to order materials, tools and fixtures and produce the package.  Lead-times vary, depending on what’s involved, but can take anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks or more.

 

Go ahead and bookmark our Frequently Asked Question  page to get your packaging questions answered at your convenience.  Feel free to call us at 888-768-8403 or email info@southpack.com If you would like to discuss any packaging issues or challenges you have. We thank for being part of our packaging community.

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