Packaging Resource Center: The Latest in Lidding and Trays

Blister and Tray Films

A cyclic olefin cololymer resin provides barrier blister and tray packaging applications with chemical resistance, thermoformability, and moisture barrier. Barrier applications for halogen-free COC include dental whitener blister packs and clear deep-draw medical device trays. Blisters and trays can be lined with films to create outer layers of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or PETG to increase flexibility, protect the barrier polymer, and provide a contact layer for sealing systems. COC resin thermoforms at low temperatures on standard blister and tray equipment. Topas Advanced Polymers Inc., Florence, KY; 859/746-6447; www.topas-us.com.

Tray Denester

A device denests up to 90 trays per minute with two lanes operating at 45 cycles per minute. The machine measures 750 mm wide and offers a 900-mm-long magazine. The iSys Pick ’n’ Place Denester operates as either a sidewall pick or in a straight-line motion. Its Kwik Klip assembly for tray holdback and its magazine adjustments reduce downtime. Washdown construction is available for caustic environments. Its air cylinder motion-control and drive system re­quires little maintenance. MGS Machine Corp., Maple Grove, MN; 763/425-8808; www.mgsmachine.com.

Peelable Sealants for Lidstock

A sealant line can be applied to a variety of stable lidstock materials, including oriented polyester and nylon. Applications requiring additional barrier can add aluminum foil or transparent high-barrier films to the PropaPeel sealants. The item peels from PP and suits cold-temperature applications. PropaPeel F offers peelable seals for PP trays and weld seals to itself, while PropaPeel A, a higher-cost version, retorts and peels from rigid PP, PP film, uncoated paper, and itself. Rollprint Packaging Products Inc., Addison, IL; 630/628-1700; www.rollprint.com.

Stock Medical Tray

Stock medical trays are made of clear recyclable APET material and come in four standard base sizes with available snap-on lids. Tray flanges can also be heat sealed using Tyvek, paper, or film lids. APET trays can be ETO and gamma sterilized. The interior of the trays can be customized to fit. Custom trays can be produced in a variety of materials, including PETG, HIPS, and PVC. Placon Thermoformed Products, Madison, WI; 800/541-1535; www.placon.com.