Author Archives: Mauricio Barboza

  1. A Guide to Shrink Wrapping Retail Products

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    Shrink wrapping is a secondary packaging that’s ideal for bundling bonus products and multi-packs, protecting merchandise, and creating a polished look for presentation on the shelf. It’s used in numerous industries, from health and beauty to food and beverage and cleaning products. Retailers and manufacturers alike find it to be a cost-effective solution for maintaining the appearance and integrity of products on the shelves. 

    Film wrapping packing machine for jars

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    What Is Shrink Wrapping?

    Shrink wrapping is a great way to seal products to guard against moisture and tampering, contain small pieces, or bundle objects together. A plastic film is wrapped around the products, then exposed to heat, which shrinks the plastic and molds it around the object. Polyolefin and PVC are the most common shrink wrap materials used in retail, but there are others; the one you choose depends on how much and what type of protection you need for the items. For example, polyolefin is slightly more expensive than PVC, but it’s less susceptible to temperature changes.

    When choosing a material, you’ll want to consider the conditions your products will be exposed to in the warehouse and during transportation, the weight and shape of the objects (for example, do they have sharp edges that could puncture the shrink wrap if they were jostled around?), how long they’ll be on the shelf or in storage, and how you want the product to look to consumers. A contract packaging expert can offer advice on which material to use with consideration for your products and circumstances. 

    Shrink Wrapping Options for Retail Products

    There are several ways to overwrap your products for protection and aesthetic purposes. Cello-wrap and multi-packs are two popular options.

    Cello-Wrap

    Shrink film wrapping machine for bottle of water

    Fast and cost-effective, cellophane overwrapping is done by an efficient machine, making it ideal for high-volume production runs of small retail items. It’s easy to print on the cellophane, so you can include clear, attractive branding as well as usage instructions and product warnings. Because cellophane is available in various thicknesses with different protective properties, it’s easy to customize your wrapping to suit any unique industry requirements and prolong shelf life. 

    Multi-Packs

    Shrink wrapping makes it easy to bundle multiple items together for a two-for-one sale, to add a gift with purchase, or simply to increase perceived value of the items. It’s common with cleaning products, aerosol cans, shampoo and conditioner bottles, snacks, toys, and holiday promotions. Even products of different sizes or irregular shapes can be bundled together in an attractive, eye-catching variety pack. 

    Shrink wrapping has long been a popular way to bundle products. It offers the cost-effective protection those items need during shipping and handling, and it can be placed directly on the shelf in that attractive packaging. It’s easily customized with printing and labels to ensure your branding is aligned with your company. 

    At Jonco Industries, our shrink wrapping service is one of our many packaging capabilities. Proudly based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we specialize in custom packaging and labels, and our years of experience, extensive capabilities, and commitment to ongoing learning and adoption of new technology ensures we can handle projects of all shapes and sizes. With full-contract packaging solutions, we help you save time and money by managing all primary and secondary packaging under one roof. Contact us to learn more about our shrink wrapping service and more.

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  2. Why Should You Use Flexible Packaging for Your Products?

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    Flexible packaging, such as gusset pouches, VFFS and stand-up pouches, is an excellent alternative to rigid packaging for many powder, liquid, and solid products. It can be made from a wide range of materials to suit different preservation and presentation needs, which is why it has become a go-to packaging option for companies in various consumer-focused industries, including food and beverage, health and beauty, cleaning and disinfecting, and more.

    Set of different types of white pouch packaging, isolated on white background

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    Flexible Packaging Is Customizable

    Another reason for the popularity of flexible packaging is its customizability. While there are many standard flexible packaging product options available, from resealable plastic bags to foil pouches and so much more, manufacturers can also create new packaging designs that are not possible with traditional methods. This gives them an opportunity to stand out from the competition with unique packaging that’s perfectly suited to their products.

    Flexible Packaging Is Marketable

    The customizability of flexible packaging is not limited to the functional design. Companies can also customize the aesthetic design of their packaging. They can add high-quality logos, images, and text that both attract consumer attention and build brand awareness.

    In today’s social networking age, beautiful or unusual packages are often photographed and shared, increasing market reach at no additional cost to the company. This is all the more important in competitive industries, such as food, beverage, and cosmetics, where new products are hitting the shelves on a regular basis. Failing to differentiate your company and your offerings means blending into a crowded space.

    Rich collection of colorful doypacks, isolated on white background

    Learn More About Flexible Packaging From the Experts at JONCO

    Flexible packaging is a perfect packaging solution for many companies. Both protective and customizable, it can keep products safe while promoting the brand.

    Want additional information on the benefits of flexible packaging? Ask the experts at Jonco. As an experienced provider of a wide range of contract packaging services for food and non-food liquids, powders, and solids, we can answer and address any questions or concerns you may have.

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  3. Reducing Costs With Contract Packaging

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    Packaging is about creating a positive end-user experience. How the public perceives your product and whether they decide to buy it depends largely on how it’s presented; how they open it, reseal it, and discard it can enhance or diminish their opinion of your company. Packaging decisions have to weigh that perception and experience with costs, practical considerations, and logistics—the customer will not look favorably toward a company whose packaging fails to adequately protect the product, either.

    The best contract packaging companies are those with the expertise and experience to help their clients balance their marketing and the practical protection considerations for the product. For many customers, their primary concern is how to do that while reducing costs.

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    Reducing Costs With Contract Packaging Services

    Advancing technology offers new ways for companies to store, transport, distribute, and market a variety of products. Given the many stages of the contract packaging and distribution processes, there are several opportunities to save money along the way. Using cheaper materials isn’t your only option.

    When you work with a packaging company who has experience negotiating prices with suppliers, you can save money on materials, shipping, and subcontracted services. A dedicated project manager can look for cost-efficient processes and economical solutions to any unexpected packaging and shipping surprises.

    It helps to work with a company with a variety of capabilities and services. Keeping a range of processes under one roof eliminates errors, saves time, and further reduces your overall costs.

    If you’re unable to reduce your packaging costs, you either have to take a hit or pass the expense on to your customers. Unfortunately, the public doesn’t typically factor in the cost of packaging when they’re buying a product. They’re not considering whether the cost of the item is appropriate for the product and its package—only if it’s appropriate for the item. If your packaging is too expensive, it can force you to price your product out of the market.

    Advantages of Partnering With JONCO Industries

    You need a contract packaging services partner with the industry experience to keep your costs down while they stay up-to-date on trends and profitable packaging strategies. At JONCO Industries, we’re committed to keeping your costs in line with your budget with customized turn-key packaging solutions. We don’t believe in sacrificing quality or marketing effectiveness to save money, and we work diligently to find other ways to keep packaging affordable for our customers.

    For orders that meet our capabilities and minimum requirements, we can promise a 24-hour turnaround. We know your needs may change throughout our partnership, and we offer the flexibility you require to make the adjustments that are best for your company.

    Our team of experts is here to guide you through the entire contract packaging process. We offer a variety of packaging types and materials for food, liquids, powders, and secondary packaging, so you can find the one that matches your needs:

    The line at the factory for the production of plastic bottles

    Primary and Secondary Filling

    • Food and Non-Food Packaging
    • Supplement Packaging
    • Liquid Filling
    • Pouching
    • Gummy Bear Packaging
    • Blister Packaging
    • Flexible Packaging
    • Clamshell Packaging
    • Shrink Wrapping
    • Gift Sets
    • Fulfillment Services
    • And More

    For more than 40 years, JONCO Industries has been bridging the gap between your vision and an exceptional, ready-for-market product. Contact us to learn more about our contract packaging services.

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  4. The Benefits of Blister Packaging

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    Blister packaging is a type of thermoformed packaging that typically appears in custom shapes or in a symmetrical design such as squares or rectangles. This type of packaging is a popular choice for many types of retail goods, including pharmaceutical items and various food products. Blister packaging is often made of PVC or some other form of rigid material and contains the product within a cavity. This style of packaging is immensely versatile and has a wide variety of benefits.

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    Versatility in Function

    Blister packaging is an excellent option when manufacturers want to showcase their product, as it allows the customer to view the product through the packaging rather than simply looking at a photo on the outside of the package. This visibility has two significant benefits: discouraging customers from tampering with packaging, and making it evident if the product or packaging is damaged.

    Closeup pink-white and blue-white antibiotics capsule pills in blister pack. Antimicrobial drug resistance. Pharmaceutical industry. Global healthcare. Pharmacy background. Amoxicillin capsule pills.

    By utilizing blister packaging, manufacturers can boost sales by setting their products apart from the competition. This type of packaging features a punched hang hole, which enables retailers to hang rather than shelve the product. Since blister packaging is easy to display, it does particularly well in POP displays and can boost sales due to impulse buys if retailers hang the product near the register.

    Although this versatile packaging is known for its clear material, it offers a significant amount of design flexibility. The manufacturer can choose any type of graphic or design to place on the paper board affixed to the packaging.

    Protecting Your Product

    Thermoformed blister packaging is often made from materials such as PVC, PET, and PETG.

    In the US, it is most common to find blister packaging made from PVC, while imported blister packaging is more likely to be made from PET or PETG. Regardless of which material manufacturers choose to make their blister packaging out of, the blister cards themselves are typically printed on solid bleached sulfate (SBS). SBS is a virgin material, making it ideal for the printing of attractive, high-quality graphics.

    To remain protected, the blister cards require a varnish. This varnish may either be a water-based (aqueous) or UV protective coat. Varnishes provide several benefits for blister packaging, including:

    • 3D White Product Package Box Warp Blister With Hang SlotGlossy appearance
    • Protection from light
    • Protection from humidity

    Once the manufacturer has varnished the blister card, they will administer a final adhesive layer to the front or back of the card. This blister coat can be fairly challenging to achieve, making it difficult for many printers to produce this particular type of packaging. However, experienced printers who are aware of the advances in blister card packaging are a vital resource and can work closely with their customers to provide expert material and production method recommendations for various projects.

    Blister Packaging from Jonco Industries, Inc.

    Since 1980, Jonco Industries, Inc. has been providing innovative solutions for our clients’ packaging needs. Our team of engineers and designers is well-versed in the production of blister packaging. To learn more about our services and capabilities, or to work with us on your next packaging project, contact us today.

  5. A Guide to Packaging Organic Products

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    Food being packaged down an assembly line

    With heightened awareness of pesticides, food additives, and production techniques, consumers are increasingly seeking out organic foods. Such foods are regulated under the Organic Food Products Act of 1990, which sets forth strict, specific rules about how and under what conditions a product may be legally labeled “organic.” The care, effort, and cost undertaken to comply with these regulations should be applied not only to the food products themselves, but to the packaging as well to ensure top quality and consumer confidence.

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    What Is the Organic Product Certification?

    For food production purposes, the term “organic” is defined by the US Department of Agriculture as “using cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that support the cycling of on-farm resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.” This legal framework sets standards for food production, including for organic foods. Satisfying these requirements allows food packaging to include the USDA Organic Seal. Included in these regulations are requirements that:

    • Foods must be produced without the use of prohibited treatments or practices including the use of sewage sludge, ionizing radiation, most synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and genetic engineering.
    • Farmers must meet standards for animal care, soil quality, weed and pest control, and other practices.
    • Foods may not contain artificial flavors, preservatives, or dyes.
    • Producers, processors, and handlers must be certified by a USDA-accredited agent to label their products as organic.

    Organic Food Product Packaging Requirements

    Attractive, functional packaging that appeals to consumers and shares your brand identity is a critical element in a product’s success. When packaging organic foods, materials and processes must also meet specific USDA requirements to be eligible for organic labeling and to ensure an unbroken chain of proper organic food handling. These regulations include:

    • The packaging facility must be USDA inspected and certified to handle and package organic foods, meeting all relevant requirements and regulations.
    • Packaging materials and techniques must also conform to all organic food content and handling requirements at all steps in the process.
    • Only preservatives and additives on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances may be used for coloring, preserving, or flavoring of organic foods, and many of those only in specific ways.
    • Packaging materials may not contain or have contact with any preservatives or fungicides, fumigants and other pest control compounds, which are not on the allowable substances list.

    Close up of production process at modern food factory, focus on macaroni bag ready for packaging sliding down assembly line, copy spaceOrganic Product Labeling Requirements

    Consumers expect clarity and honesty in product labeling, particularly when purchasing products labeled as being organic, meaning they are certified to avoid prohibited pesticides, fertilizers, chemicals, additives, preservatives, or to use any disallowed technique such as irradiation or genetic engineering. To help ensure consumer confidence, the USDA has very specific requirements for when and how products may be described as “organic,” defining several levels of labeling:

    100% Organic

    • To be labeled 100% organic, all ingredients must meet all standards for organic production and processing.
    • Exceptions to the 100% organic requirement are water and salt when used as processing aids, though even salt must meet content requirements to ensure it does not contain prohibited additives such as anti-caking agents.
    • Eligible to use the USDA Organic Seal.

    Organic

    • Products that contain at least 95% organic ingredients may be labeled as organic products, with the remaining 5% composed of ingredients permitted by the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.
    • Eligible to use the USDA Organic Seal.

    Made with Organic/Organic Ingredients Listing

    • A product with up to 70% organic ingredients may include labeling indicating it is “Made with organic” ingredients, specifying up to three organic ingredients.
    • Not eligible to use the USDA Organic Seal, and must identify the specific organic ingredients.

    Partnering with a USDA Organic-certified facility ensures your products will be packaged in compliance with all relevant rules and regulations for appropriate organic labeling. At Jonco Industries, we have decades of experience packaging to meet your requirements and exceed your expectations. Contact us today to see how our solutions, from design to manufacturing and fulfillment, can bring your product to life.

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