Archive for the ‘Packaging’ Category

Packaging Supplies Michigan Tennessee Wisconsin – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Reclosable Plastic Bags

When it comes to accessible storage, you can depend on Amerisource Seal Top Bags for the convenience, strength and durability you need. Amerisource’s Seal Top bags open and close easily and provide a secure seal that offers superior protection. Because our Seal Top Bags are made from top quality virgin polyethylene, you can trust them for safe storage of just about anything, including food products. And the best news is that our Seal Tops are competitively priced, so you don’t have to pay extra to get the quality! 

OUTSTANDING QUALITY

• Convenient, individually labeled inner packs* of 100 bags each help keep bags clean and reduce waste
• Offset lip and easy-grip ridges make Seal Tops easy to open and close
• Seal Tops meet USDA and FDA requirements for use with food products
• Clearly labeled and bar-coded cartons make storage and inventory easier
• Broad selection of sizes and configurations to select from

EXCEPTIONAL CONVENIENCESeal Top bags provide convenient access to the contents, time and time again. Seal Tops are dependable, with a rugged closure that can stand up to repetitive openings and closings while maintaining a secure seal. Access to the stored contents is important as well, and Seal Tops once again prove their superiority with an offset lip and incorporated ridges that make them easy to open, even with gloved hands.BROAD SELECTIONAmerisource has a broad selection of Seal Top bags to choose from. These bags are available in various mil gauges and in a wide range of sizes, so there’s bound to be one that’s just right for your application. They’re available clear, with a white block that aids in contents identification and labeling, or with a hang hole for easy item display and organization.

 UNMATCHED CUSTOM CAPABILITIES

Whether you need a custom printed bag or a special configuration that’s tailored to your unique needs, Amerisource has the capability to meet virtually any requirement. Regardless of whether you need a few thousand or millions of bags, contact Amerisource to find out how we can put our expertise and unmatched capabilities to work for you.

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Packaging Supplies Michigan – Amerisource Industrial Supply

There are many types of stretch wrap film. Each has qualities that are particularly suitable in addressing the specific needs of your stretch wrapping operation, such as load size and type, performance requirements as well as budget. The following lists some of the most important types of stretch film, their attributes and applications. Click on a stretch wrap film below for details.

Cast Stretch Film 
Cast stretch film also called cast film or cast wrap, is manufactured using the cast extrusion process. Typical characteristics of cast stretch films are: excellent optics, clear, glossy, superior tear resistance, quiet unwind, consistent cling and consistent film thickness. Cast stretch film products: Hand & Machine rolls can be cast or blown film.

Blown Stretch Film 
Manufactured using the blown film extrusion process and also referred to as blown film. Typical blown strecth film characteristics are: poor optics, hazy, dull, excellent puncture resistance, very noisy unwind and high force on load.

Hand Stretch film 
Stretch film designed specifically to be applied manually is referred to as hand stretch film. It is also referred to as hand film, hand stretch wrap, hand wrap or manual pallet wrap. It is typically utilized in lower capacity packaging operations. However the efficiency of manual stretch wrap packaging should be regularly re-evaluated against potential benefits of upgrading to a machine wrapper. Choosing the right stretch applicator will result in more efficient and cost effective packaging operations.

Machine Stretch film 
Stretch film designed to be applied with a stretch wrap machine is referred as machine stretch film. It provides many advantages over hand film including: faster and more efficient packaging, reduced packaging material costs, safer application, more secure loads and more. Common machine stretch film types: cast machine stretch film, blown machine film and prestretched films.

Prestretch films 
Prestretched film is film that is stretched before wrapping a load. Prestretch film benefits include:

Specialty Stretch film 
Specialty stretch films are designed to answer very specific packaging needs that more general purpose stretch packaging solutions cannot accommodate. A small sample of some specialty stretch packaging films are below, each are linked to a product details page.

• UVI Stretch Wrap – UV Ray reisistance
• Tinted Wrap – Protect valuable items
• Vented Pallet Wrap
• Wide Web Wrap
• Pallet Covers
• Anti-Static
• Hi Performance Film

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Packaging Supplies Michigan – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Regular Slotted Carton (RSC)

Also called shipping boxes, RSCs are the most commonly used boxes. They are usually kraft brown in color, have four flaps on the top and bottom and the side walls are sealed at one corner known as the “Manufacturer’s Joint.” This design is highly functional for most packing applications.

Multiple-Depth Carton (MDC)

The same box design as an RSC, but with horizontal scores (creases) at selected depths along all four side walls. This feature gives you depth flexibility when packing a box. A Multiple-Depth Carton can be several boxes in one.

Half Slotted Carton (HSC)

A variation of the RSC, the Half Slotted Carton has only one set of flaps. The opposite side of the box is completely open, allowing it to slide over an item. Envision the use of the box turned over so that the flaps are on the top. The covered item is usually attached to a pallet or other type of surface that serves as a separate bottom.

Full Overlap Slotted Carton (FOL)

With a Full Overlap Slotted Carton, all “length” flaps are also equal to the width of the box. The flaps actually fold over one another to provide added strength and protection to the top and bottom.

Five-Panel Folder (FPF)

A Five-Panel Folder actually resembles a shallow-depth box when assembled. It is a one-piece box with an over-lapping top and over-lapping end panels. The functional design is also economical.

Snap-Bottom Carton (SBC)

Available with tuck-in top or with RSC-style top flaps (shown). Also referred to as an “auto bottom” box. The bottom of the box snaps into place without tape for quick assembly. Best suited for light-weight products.

Full Telescope Design Carton (FTD)

A two-piece box with a separate lid that fits over a bottom tray.

Half Telescope Design Carton (HTD)

Two half-slotted cartons with one box slightly smaller to enable it to be inserted into the other box. Offers the ability to adjust the height or length of the box to fit your needs. Especially suitable for large, heavy items. For depth flexibility with smaller items, visit the multi-depth box section of this web site.

Two-Piece Carton With Separate Lid (CSL)

Die-cut box with open top and tray-style lid. Similar to a File Storage Box, but without the hand holes on either end. See file storage box section of this Web Site if you are looking for a box to store paper files.

Double Cover Carton (DC)

One-Piece Folder (OPF)

Mailer-Style Boxes (MSB)

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Packaging Supplies Michigan – Amerisource Industrial Supply

Edge Crush Test (ECT) measures the stacking strength of corrugated cardboard boxes or fiberboard. Determining a finished box’s compression strength is defined by the amount of force that is needed to crush cardboard by standing it on its edge. This test is also measured in lbs per square inch. For example, a box with an ect 32 lbs per square inch indicates that the board, standing on edge, can withstand a force of 32 lbs per square inch before crushing.

Think about the movement of your boxes during transportation. At some point during a move it is likely your boxes will be stacked on a pallet, in a container or in the back of a truck. Yes, stacking is the key concept behind ect. Know the strength of your corrugated cardboard boxes before stacking.

 -ECT = distribution & transportation of boxes and their stacking strength.

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Box Structure

Corrugated fiberboard, or combined board, has two main components: the linerboard and the medium. Both are made of a special kind of heavy paper called containerboard. Linerboard is the flat facing that adheres to the medium. The medium is the wavy, fluted paper in between the liners.. 

The following illustrations demonstrate four types of combined board.

Single Face: One medium is glued to one flat sheet of linerboard.
Single Wall: The medium is between two sheets of linerboard. Also known as Double Face.
Double Wall: Threesheets of linerboard with two mediums in between.
Triple Wall: Four sheets of linerboard with three mediums in between.

Flutes

Architects have known for thousands of years that an arch with the proper curve is the strongest way to span a given space. The inventors of corrugated fiberboard applied this same principle to paperwhen they put arches in the corrugated medium. These arches are known as flutes and when anchored to the linerboard with a starch-based adhesive, they resist bending and pressure from all directions. 

 When a piece of combined board is placed on its end, the arches form rigid columns, capable of supporting a great deal of weight. When pressure is applied to the side of the board, the space in between the flutes acts as a cushion to protect the container’s contents. The flutes also serve as an insulator, providing some product protection from sudden temperature changes. At the same time, the vertical linerboard provides more strength and protects the flutes from damage. 

 Flutes come in several standard shapes or flute profiles (A, B, C, E, F, etc.). A-flute was the first to be developed and is the largest common flute profile. B-flute was next and is much smaller. C-flute followed and is between A and B in size. E-flute is smaller than B and F-flute is smaller yet. 

In addition to these five most common profiles, new flute profiles, both larger and smaller than those listed here, are being created for more specialized boards. Generally, larger flute profiles deliver greater vertical compression strength and cushioning. Smaller flute profiles provide enhanced structural and graphics capabilities for primary (retail) packaging. 

Different flute profiles can be combined in one piece of combined board. For instance, in a triple wall board, one layer of medium might be A-flute while the other two layers may be C-flute. Mixing flute profiles in this way allows designers to manipulate the compression strength, cushioning strength and total thickness of the combined board. 

Standard US Corrugated Flutes

Box Dimensions

Dimensions are given in the sequence of length, width and depth. Internationally, the words length, breadth and height may be used to express these dimensions. The dimensions of a box are described based on the opening of an assembled box, which can be located on the top or the side, depending on how it is to be filled. The opening of a box is a rectangle; that is, it has two sets of parallel sides. The longer of the two sides is considered its length, the shorter of the two sides is considered its width. The side perpendicular to length and width is considered the depth of the box. 

Dimensions can be specified for either the inside or the outside of the box. Accurate inside dimensions must be determined to ensure the proper fit for the product being shipped or stored. At the same time, palletizing and distributing the boxes depends on the outside dimensions. The box manufacturer should be informed as to which dimension is most important to the customer. 

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AMERISOURCE INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY

PACKAGING PRODUCTS MICHIGAN- CARTON SEALING TAPE

HOT MELT (HP SERIES) VS. ACRYLIC CARTON SEALING TAPE

  HP Series adhesives are much more aggressive than acrylic.

•   HP adhesives have significantly higher adhesion to almost any substrate.

•   HP adhesives have much, much greater shear performance.

•   HP adhesives have higher quick tack values.

•   HP adhesives have greater adhesion to fiberboard.

•   Bottom line: acrylics will perform in less demanding applications, but under stressful conditions they will fail long before HP.

 HP Series products will perform in more than 95% of applications. 

•   In less than 2% of these applications acrylic will work better.  HP 232 has decreased the applications that HP products in which HP could not compete.

 Common Mistakes made while evaluating HP products:

•   Assuming all hot melt products are the same.  There are dramatic differences.

•   Assuming release level is an indication of adhesive strength.  The opposite is true.  Acrylics don’t need release coats because the adhesive is weaker and less aggressive.

•   Assuming finger tack is an indication of adhesive strength.  Not true.  Adhesives can have no “finger tack” at all, and still have very powerful adhesion and shear properties. 

•   Performing a cursory fiber pull test and assuming it’s an absolute indication of adhesive performance.  HP Series products require wipe-down and a few minutes of dwell time on the substrate to allow the adhesive to flow.  This does not mean that the product will fail immediately after application.  There is plenty of quick tack to anchor the adhesive while it flows.

•   Assuming the opacity of the adhesive is a reflection of the clarity of the product.  Actually this is a very positive attribute when properly explained.  The high viscosity of the adhesive is related to its high shear strength, and the viscosity causes air entrapment during the coating process.  Low viscosity adhesives allow the air to escape rapidly.

 HP adhesives are economical

 · Hot melt adhesives are coated effectively at much higher speeds than acrylics.

•   Hot melt adhesives can be coated easily on wide webs, allowing very high yields.  Acrylic adhesive profiles are difficult to maintain over a wide web.

•   Most hot melt manufacturers make their own adhesive from raw materials purchased in bulk.  Almost all domestic acrylic tape manufacturers purchase their adhesives.  Many overseas manufacturers manufacture their own small batches of acrylic.  Small batches are hard to control and cause a high degree of variability in the performance of the tape.

 HP adhesives perform much better than acrylics in automated carton sealing applications.

•   The easier unwind feature of our hot melt machine length rolls offer a demonstrable advantage in automated carton sealing because it prevents the backing from being over-stretched during application.  Film backings, when stretched, attempt to return to their original length.  Unless the adhesive has sufficient shear strength (and acrylics do not) to hold the film in place, the bond will fail and the tabs will “flag” or pop up on the ends of the box, allowing the flaps to open.  Eventually the seal on the major flaps will fail as well.  With acrylics the film begins stretching at the point of unwind and it continues through the rollers of the tape head.  This requires the user to effectively bypass the tension controls of the tape head – which can cause problems with cut-off and application pressure.

 · HP adhesives bond to a wider variety of substrates

 good to know information about acrylic construction

 Acrylic adhesive performance: smoke and mirrors.

•   Users mistake “finger tack” for adhesive power:

The most attractive feature of an acrylic adhesive is its wettability.  Acrylic adhesives are very soft.  As a result, they flow very quickly over the surface of the substrate and form a quick bond.  This makes the adhesive appear to be very tacky and aggressive; however, this initial bond is very weak.  In order to form a strong bond, an adhesive must flow deeply into the surface features of the substrate and the adhesive must have a strong polymer “backbone” to support the bonding action.  Acrylics have two problems here: 1) because of their chemical properties they flow quickly at the surface, but they require much more time to flow deeply, and 2) the same design features that make them soft also result in a weak polymer backbone.  As a result, they flow into and bond quickly only with the uppermost surfaces of the substrate, and they flow out of the substrate just as easily as they flow in.   Hot melt adhesives can be designed to mimic acrylics in wettability, but you rarely see this because the modifications diminish the adhesion and shear advantages of the hot melt adhesive.  In other words: the modification makes them similar to acrylics in adhesive performance

•   Users mistake tighter unwind for adhesive power:

Acrylic adhesives have higher adhesion to backing – only because they don’t require a release coat.  Hot melt adhesives are designed to have an easy release because the adhesive bonds to the film much more strongly.  Without this release level the user wouldn’t be able to unwind the tape from its backing.  This easy unwind feature allows hot melt BOPP tapes to perform better in automated carton sealing applications because the backing is not over-stretched (see below).

•   Acrylic adhesive performance is much more sensitive to coating weight than hot melt:

When acrylic adhesive coat weight drops below 0.8 mils, the adhesive performance drops significantly.  This is because the adhesive must be present in sufficient quantities to allow it to flow effectively over the substrate.  With thin coat weights this flowing action is greatly minimized.  An important corollary to this phenomenon is the fact that when comparing hot melts and acrylics of equal thickness, the acrylic will nearly always have a thinner film backing.

Hot melt adhesives are much less sensitive to coat weight. 

Bottom line: at equal coat weights, hot melt adhesive significantly outperforms acrylics.

•   Acrylic modifications require a trade-off in performance features:

Acrylics can be modified to offer greater shear strength, adhesion, and tack, but these modifications also result in greatly diminished cold temperature performance.  Acrylic adhesives must retain a certain amount of moisture or “wetness” in order to perform well at cold temperatures.  The increased polymerization required for greater shear properties “exposes” the polymer backbone to drying.

•   Caveat emptor: beware of “home-made” acrylic adhesives! 

Nearly all of the Asian acrylic adhesives are made in small-batch reactors.  These small operations are usually owned or co-owned by the manufacturer, and the technological support in the manufacturing process is minimal.  The result is a highly variable process that results in extreme inconsistency.  In most cases the adhesives produced by these operations are made to achieve high tack and adhesion, but nearly all have poor or very inconsistent shear and cold temperature performance.  Many domestic distributors are seduced by the low price of these Asian products (due only to favorable exchange rates resulting from currency devaluation in Asia), and only later do they find out that the performance is not what they are accustomed to with acrylics.  In contrast, Rohm and Haas adhesives, which represent better than 85% of all acrylics sold worldwide, are made in huge batch sizes and are supported by extensive research, proprietary designs, and custom modifications which ensure consistent performance from batch to batch.  The standard adhesive performs consistently at cold temperatures.

 AP SERIES ACRYLICS VS. OTHER ACRYLICS

 When selling AP series acrylic packaging tapes against other acrylics there are many features and benefits to discuss.

•   Usage of cast film for even film profile.  Cast film (with a 2.5% profile variability) is much ”flatter” than blown film (with a 15-20+% profile variability).  By requiring cast film Shurtape ensures that adhesive coats will be consistent, roll after roll.

•   Use of Rohm and Haas Adhesive.  Mixed in huge batches, extensively researched and produced under very tight controls, R&H produces some of the best acrylic adhesive on the market.  By requiring the use of R&H adhesive Shurtape knows that each roll will consistently deliver a high level of performance.

Rohm and Haas has done an admirable job of promoting acrylic adhesives and supporting acrylic manufacturers.  Some of the measurable differences between Rohm and Haas acrylics compared to other acrylic adhesives include…

•   “Not as sensitive to temperature variations”

•   “Superior adhesion over temperature extremes”

•   “Excellent clarity”

•   “Non-yellowing”

•   “Proven long term performance”

Other performance features compared:

•   Appearance – UV resistance, aging, and discoloration due to oxidation

•   Impact of appearance on retail consumer

•   Printability

 Advantages of acrylics:

•   These boil down to two distinct features: 1) resistance to oxidation – which means resistance to aging, yellowing, and overall improved clarity, and 2) excellent wettability – which allows the adhesive to wet-out and bond rapidly (but weakly).

When to use acrylics:

•   When applied at below freezing temperatures (if HP 232 is not an option)

•   When used on highly finished graphics and stored or displayed in the box before usage.

•   When stored for long periods in the presence of oxidizing light sources (UV, Mercury vapor lamps, sunlight).

•   When applied to very smooth surfaces and stored below 20 degrees under stress.

•   When rapid initial bonding is an advantage – as with some recycled cartons that will not be subjected to stress.  Note limitations.

Conclusion: Although this juxtaposition of adhesive systems is a change it does not, in any way, affect the end user’s need for an aggressive adhesive system that will seal their cartons securely and consistently.  Acrylics certainly cannot offer the degree of certainty that HP Series Hot Melt Products offer and our AP Series Products offer the highest degree of certainty when compared to other acrylic packaging tapes. 

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