Protecting Your Product with Lidding

A package is only as good as its seal, and for many packages, a good seal depends upon effective lidstock materials. To meet the special requirements of the medical device and pharmaceutical industries, lidding suppliers have come up with materials that withstand sterilization, handling, punctures, and temperature extremes. These materials can therefore protect the sterile packaged devices under the most rigorous of conditions.

Lidding materials are available with a wide variety of options, including all barrier levels from breathable to virtually impermeable, and the ability to seal and peel from a diverse range of substrates. The materials are supplied either in rollstock form or as precut lids, printed or unprinted. Other options include chemical resistance and compatibility with any sterilization method. Manufacturing processes include adhesive laminating as well as extrusion coating and laminating to allow for wide flexibility in material selection. The supplier's extensive testing capabilities ensure conformance to the strictest requirements. Rollprint Packaging Products Inc., Addison, IL.

A synthetic polymer—reinforced medical-grade paper and adhesive combination is designed for fiber-free, peelable lidding and pouching. The material consists of a nontoxic hot-melt sealable adhesive that is applied in a smooth dot pattern to maintain breathability. The adhesive coating uses controlled cohesive separation to prevent fiber tearing of the seal while providing uniform adhesive transfer on most flexible and rigid plastics. The paper and adhesive combination can be sterilized by EtO or radiation. Oliver Products Co., Grand Rapids, MI.

A manufacturer of high-performance packaging offers a variety of paper, film, foil, and Tyvek spunbonded olefin products for many uses. The products include creep-resistant Tyvek lidding for rigorous EtO sterilization, impact-resistant lidding for cold-temperature transport, lids and pouches for steam and dry-heat sterilization, precision-patterned adhesive coatings, high-barrier peelable structures, controlled-atmosphere packaging, and porous package vents. Adhesive coatings are custom formulated to match specific substrates and applications. Tolas Health Care Packaging, Feasterville, PA.

A high-performance coating for spunbonded olefin is suitable for die-cut lids, rollstock, chevron peel pouches, and header bag strips. SBP2000 coating resists self-failure because of moisture, heat, and stress, which all can occur during EtO sterilization. It maintains seal integrity at low temperatures, even when a package is dropped, and improves the porosity of coated Tyvek, resulting in less stress on the seal and minimizing the chance of seal creep. SBP2000-coated Tyvek features excellent machinability because of its wide operating window. Perfecseal, a Bemis Co., Philadelphia, PA.

Spunbonded olefin, when coated by a variety of sterile packaging manufacturers, is suited for use as lidding with rigid trays and with bottom webs formed by form-fill-seal machinery. Tyvek 1073B is compatible with all major sterilization methods, including newly emerging techniques, and provides protection against bacterial penetration. DuPont Nonwovens, Wilmington, DE.