Types Of Packaging Film | Features, Applications And ...

Author: Grace

Dec. 23, 2024

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Types Of Packaging Film | Features, Applications And ...

With its flexible structure, packaging film has transformed the industry in recent years and has found its way into almost all industries. There are different types of flexible packaging films that cover the needs of all businesses. Pharmaceutical and medical products, food and beverages, heavy items and machinery, consumer equipment and thousands of other goods are packaged with all kinds of films.

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Choosing the suitable film will make your items be sent with better quality, remain healthy, maintain their strength, and most importantly, save significantly on the final cost. Buying a suitable packaging film requires a complete understanding of its types; for this reason, in this article, we will examine the types of packaging film, raw materials, similarities, differences, and applications of each of them so that you can choose the best product with full knowledge. Select and purchase.

1- Polyethylene film

The most popular nylon and packaging plastics are made from this recyclable material. Polyethylene is a plastic film made from ethylene, a hydrocarbon mainly obtained from natural gas or oil. The terms &#;plastic sheet&#;, &#;polyethylene sheet&#;, or &#;poly-film&#; are often used as synonyms for polyethylene film. The term polyethylene is abbreviated as &#;PE&#;. There are different types of polyethylene film, the most popular of which are:

Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE)

PE film can be purchased in different colours or transparent. In addition, there are different thicknesses. This film is the most common plastic used today and is used for a wide range of applications, including:

packing
Label making
Production of plastic products (such as plastic bags)
Covering machinery and equipment
Protection of surfaces in painting

Of course, the primary material of stretch film and nylon shrink is usually polyethylene, and different manufacturing methods cause distinct characteristics. Polyethylene is the first choice for making packaging films in industries.

Advantages of polyethylene film

As explained in the previous section, PE film is the most widely used product in the packaging industry. In addition to the low price, polyethylene has many advantages that make it at the top of this list.

Excellent protection, no leakage and excellent heat sealing
Lightweight and easy to transport
Soft and resistant structure
Excellent flexibility
Impact resistant
Ability to produce in different colours, transparencies and thicknesses
Easy processing and affordable price
Excellent resistance to moisture

For example, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is soft, puncture-resistant, highly transparent, and heat-sealable, making it an ideal choice for product packaging, tubing, and auto parts packaging. Slightly denser LDPE models are used to produce packaging bags for sharper objects.

2- Polyolefin film (POF)

Polyolefin is a durable, widely used, FDA-approved, food-safe plastic. The main feature of this material is its strength. Polyolefin film (POF) is thin yet strong, with high puncture resistance and sealing strength. The structure of this film is such that irregularly shaped goods can be packaged without any problems using it.

POF is 100% recyclable and offers impressive transparency, making products stand out more. Manufacturing companies may add tiny holes to the film during manufacture to give it exceptional flexibility. Applications of polyolefin film are generally in the following industries, although any product with small dimensions can be well packaged with it.

Making toys
Chocolate and candy covers
Packing books, food and other small things

Advantages of polyolefin film

When producing this film, no harmful fumes are emitted during processing, and it is environmentally friendly. On the other hand, it is entirely recyclable, so the production of new products from oil sources is reduced. But this product has other advantages:

High durability and excellent chemical resistance
lightweight
Excellent clarity and clarity
Good resistance to weather changes
Good tensile properties and tear resistance
Abrasion resistant
It has insulation and sealing properties
Wide operating temperature range
variety colouring
Low-cost

3- Polypropylene film (PP)

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic &#;additive polymer&#; made from a combination of propylene monomers. This material has a high melting point, which makes it suitable for hot liquids. It is also perfect for specific applications that require good chemical resistance. PP is mainly used directly in the packaging industry and is one of the most widely used packaging films. Of course, this material is also used in electrical equipment production, household appliances and automotive industries.

Polypropylene has a variety of uses, such as packaging consumer products, making plastic parts for the automotive industry, and producing special devices. Of course, polypropylene film is often used as the outer layer in multi-layer packagings, such as bags with polyethylene. Yogurt containers, take-out foods, medicine bottles, etc., are other items made of PP.

The advantages of polypropylene film

PP film can be produced in different ways, and for this reason, it shows different properties, but the following advantages are valid for all its derivatives.

Excellent heat resistance
High melting point
Suitable for food packaging
Good and stable adhesion
Excellent hardness and scratch resistance
Proper transparency

4- Polyvinyl chloride or PVC film

As PVC is reliable and lightweight, it helps the packaging maintain the integrity of the products. Of course, compared to other films, this film has a fragile structure. Also, its manufacturing process is associated with releasing toxic fumes, which is harmful to the workforce, and its factories must have proper ventilation.

Typical applications of PVC include various applications in the construction and building industries as well as healthcare, electronics, automotive and other similar sectors. PVC is used in plumbing and siding products, blood bags, and wire and cable insulation.

Advantages of PVC film

PVC is a thin thermoplastic film available in various shapes and coatings. Depending on the requirements and constraints of the industry, it can show different strengths or flexibility. This flexible nature has led to its use in various industries.

PVC is highly resistant to fire due to its high chlorine content. When burning, it does not ignite easily or produce much heat. However, since it can release harmful chemicals when melted or burned, appropriate precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of adverse health effects if used in industries where the material is used in operations involving flame or high temperatures.

Lasting and durable
Resistant to damage caused by environmental conditions
Suitable for use in harsh weather conditions
Non-conductive (non-conductive)
Fire resistant

5- Low-density polyethylene film (LDPE)

It is a type of polyethylene film, but due to its importance and wide application, we examine it separately. This material changes its shape when exposed to heat and can take a new shape many times without losing its structure and strength. LDPE is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic with a nearly compact molecular structure. This film has many advantages, but what makes it popular is its soft, flexible nature and high adaptability for use in making different materials.

Advantages of low-density polyethylene film

The primary material of the film, LDPE, has been used in producing other materials, such as stretch film and nylon shrink. This film is easily recyclable, thus significantly reducing our environmental concerns.

Affordable price
A poor conductor of electricity
Excellent resistance to high temperature
Excellent chemical resistance
Good flexibility
Impact resistant

6- Thin plastic CPP film

The word CPP is abbreviated (Cast Unoriented Polypropylene) and is a plastic derived from polypropylene. CPP film is suitable for traditional and modern packaging applications, from side-seal pouches to stand-up pouches for textile and food packaging and document protection. CPP plastic has the advantages of low moisture permeability, good heat resistance, thermal sealing, etc. It can make moisture-proof, heat-resistant, non-toxic and odourless packaging.

7- OPP packaging film

OPP stands for oriented polypropylene and is a type of propylene film. OPP is a flexible, colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic packaging material with high tensile strength, impact strength and transparency. The production method of OPP film is that the molten polypropylene polymer is first made into a thick sheet or film through a long and narrow series. Then it is placed in a unique stretching device simultaneously or step by step at a specific temperature and speed. This film is made by stretching in two vertical directions (longitudinal and transverse) after cooling or appropriate heat treatment or special processing.

8- MOPP packaging film

MOPP stands for Monoaxially Oriented Polypropylene and is a uniaxial polypropylene film. The direction of tension is the mechanical direction. Mechanical direction has high tensile strength, lightweight, transparency, non-toxic, moisture resistance and good unidirectional tear performance.

The MOPP film production method is casting. A plastic extruder first melts the prepared plastic in the casting method. It is then extruded through a T-shaped structure that forms the mould and is cast as a sheet onto the rolling surface of a smoothly rotating cooling roller. Casting products have superior performance and high production efficiency and are suitable for mass production.

9- BOPP plastic film

BOPP stands for Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene, a biaxial polypropylene film. The anti-water vapour property of BOPP film has made it one of the best packaging films. BOPP film is produced so that the dense molecular polypropylene melt first passes through the extruder. After it passes through the T-die series, it is condensed into a sheet and then in a special stretching device simultaneously in both longitudinal and transverse directions. Extends And finally, films are produced after cooling.

10- Biaxial polyethylene (BOPE)

BOPE, short for Bi-axially-oriented Polyethylene, is the ideal solution for packaging products that require a high degree of protection. Some of the best features of this film are good puncture resistance, excellent heat tolerance, durability, moisture-proof construction and high transparency. The cost of making these films is relatively low.

Today, BOPE films are innovative solutions often used for items such as shopping bags, pharmaceutical packaging, and liquids and spices. Because these films are recyclable, they help companies stay true to the environmental sustainability commitments made to consumers. In addition, despite the long list of advantages, these films are inexpensive.

11- Biaxial polyethylene terephthalate (BOPT)

Abbreviated as BOPET (Biaxially-oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate), films are usually white or transparent and were first developed in the mid-s. The raw material of the film is stretched polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is known for its transparency, reflectivity, high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, gas and odour resistance properties, and electrical insulation.

This material is widely used as a surface film in laminates. When you laminate the packaging of any product using BOPET foil, you protect the food from oxidation. Food products do not lose their authentic flavour and can last longer. One of the most common ones is coffee foil packaging and bags for ready meals.

12- Biaxially Oriented Polyamide (BOPA)

Like BOPET, BOPA film is known for its excellent tensile strength, durability, odour barrier and puncture resistance properties. But its most important feature is high transparency. Also, this film is a good barrier against oxygen and some chemicals. BOPA is ideal for packaging frozen and cooked food, vegetables, aquatic animals and medical machines, electronic products, etc. They are also suitable for agricultural products and some medical products.

13- Laminates

Laminate film is almost too common for food packaging. Flavoured beverages, such as sauces, canned foods and powders, are often in multi-layer packaging. These films usually consist of a multi-layer structure where one of the polymer or paper layers is covered with aluminium or metal films. Laminates are an excellent barrier to prevent food from losing its flavour.

IT DEPENDS: What is Film Packaging?

Entertainment attorney Christopher Schiller explains the intricacies of film packaging... as well as the dilemmas.

Christopher Schiller is a NY transactional entertainment attorney who counts many independent filmmakers and writers among his diverse client base. Follow Chris on Twitter @chrisschiller.

Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers!

Everybody likes presents, right? That would seem to be the premise behind Hollywood&#;s ideas of &#;packaging&#; films. If you liked all these things individually how great would it be to get them all together! At least that&#;s what the plan is. But as you&#;re probably used to hearing by now in these columns, the answer to whether packaging your film is a benefit or a headache is, as usual, it depends.

Definition of packaging

Although we will see that a simple definition of the concept has various interpretations depending on who&#;s using the term, we can broadly define packaging a film as tying multiple creative elements to a film project. Those elements can be actors, directors, producers or others in any combination of two or more. How they get tied and what purpose the package is supposed to serve varies.

You will get efficient and thoughtful service from YH Package.

A typical packaging of a film might include a short list of the main actors who are willing to commit to being in the film, a name director and/or cinematographer who agrees to work on the film and/or a handful of producers who are committed and tied to the production. The package is put together long before the project is a sure thing bound for production. In fact, it&#;s often one of the factors that affect whether the project gets a green light or not.

In all of its various forms, a film&#;s packaging is a means of making it easier for the next decision maker down the line to say yes and give the money or go ahead with the production. Films can still get made without packaging, but, when you get a whole bunch of decisions already made for you all tied with a bow it&#;s much easier to say yes. But as anyone who has perused the pre-packaged fruits or vegetables in the supermarket could tell you, you have to inspect that package to make sure you&#;re getting quality throughout and not unwanted or damaged goods that might sour the deal.

Packaging depends on who owns the wrapping paper

The meaning of packaging is different depending on who&#;s wrapping it up. Often when a script is being shopped a package may be brought together by one of the players trying to get to a green light. Lets use a talent agency as example. The agency is first approached to see if a single actor might be interested in being attached to the film. If the actor is game and the price is right, the agency can count on getting its 15% commission &#; if the film goes forward. But the agency isn&#;t just representing that one actor. They&#;ve got a stable of clients who might also fit well (or well enough) into the film&#;s needs. If the agency can bring along a few more parties, another actor or two or a director, as well as the first gung ho talent, then the likelihood of the film getting made (and the agency actually collecting their 15% from each of its clients) goes up.

Of course an agency package will be loaded with the agency&#;s clients and getting someone else on board who might be better suited for the picture overall would be difficult (not in the interests- financially or otherwise for the agency.) If the agency is a big one with a diversity of clients, then you might not have too difficult a time making up a group that could better sell the film. If, on the other hand, the agency&#;s clients who need more work or they need to keep happy are shoehorned into unsuitable fittings, the package might not be as attractive as a whole to the eventual buyer. And if you really want the star, you might be tied to using the less perfect fitting ensemble attached to get them.

A distributor&#;s packaging might look a whole lot different. Consider trying to get pre-sales in foreign territories for a film heading toward production. A good script alone usually isn&#;t attractive enough for pre-selling to a market. Since a pre-sale is money committed long before the film arrives on their shores, the foreign sales agent or buyer will be looking for sure things to package the deal and assure their buyers of eventual return on investment. A recognizable (-to them,) named star that can go on the poster is easier to loosen foreign purse-strings so far in advance of the picture&#;s completion. And the names that will work for foreign sales aren&#;t always the ones you&#;d first think of. This is where you often hear the references to the terms &#;A-list&#; and &#;B-list&#; actors and other talent. There aren&#;t actual, physical lists and there aren&#;t names that everyone can agree on. There are names that would make a particular foreign sale go smoother in certain countries. Those names are different by country, by genre, by sales agent and are constantly in flux. But a film with the right package for foreign sales might be promising enough to get the money to get the camera&#;s rolling, even if the names attached won&#;t sell much in the domestic market on first glance.

Script EXTRA: Pre-Production - Film Budgeting in Reverse

Screenwriters and packaging

For a writer, film is the only medium you will likely have to deal with &#;packaging&#;. The concept doesn&#;t exist in any other form of writing. Novelists do not need to sell anything other than their own work. The only conceivable other contributors of a &#;package&#; for novels already work for (e.g. editors) or are hired by (e.g. cover artists) the publisher as needed once the deal is done. Once the publisher is on board no other entity needs to be convinced (other than the final reader, that is.) For stage work the producers usually hire the playwright and book the theater long in advance of bringing on the director and cast of the production. And once a production is up and running successfully the participants can ebb and flow constantly without affecting the production. Even graphic novelists and comic writers don&#;t have to deal with packaging in this sense. The writer, artist, pencilers and inkers are brought together either by the publishers or each other in order to create the work. It is not usually necessary to gather a list in order to sell the idea to someone else before production gets going.

Screenwriter&#;s uniquely have to deal with packages. All the hard work of turning 90 or so blank pages into a creation that a producer is compelled to pay you for is just the first step. In order for that producer (or her successor) to get the final film made there might need to be attachments of names that might be uncomfortable fits to the original story. Adjustments may need to be made to the script to accommodate the packaged actor&#;s needs or the star director&#;s vision. Screenwriters can be packaged too- if their names carry a cachet, but, it is unusual and even with famous writers, rarely done. Since the writer is the first player on board, They are often called on to do a lot of work to get the project into a shape where it can &#;sell itself.&#;

Packaging doesn&#;t have to be all burden for a writer though. If you develop a skill set where you can accommodate the rapid changes that might be needed as a package develops you can become a go to writer for bigger budget projects in the future. If you have the cachet to make packaging more attractive, that&#;s a negotiation perk in your favor. Use it.

One person&#;s packaging might be another&#;s baggage

Just like getting the wrong gift as a present- like getting socks when you were expecting a cardigan, well meant packaging might not be as attractive to someone else down the line. There are times when a pre-packaged project ends up not being attractive to a later player and the binding ties shackle the attached elements to the project even beyond their original intended worth.

A package made to attract production investment might be a burden to someone trying to garner international sales. A common example, a nationally known TV star might be a strong enough name to get the money to make a film. But often such a &#;star&#; is a completely unknown quantity in the international market. The film project would be treated as if you cast unknowns with no allowances to the amount of money already spent to secure the &#;local&#; talent to the project. The package may not be able to be sold for enough money to make up the investment needed to pay back the original packaging.

How much and to whom are difficult calculations when deciding pay scales to get a project to a place where it has a chance to return on investment. Making a mistake where you tie too much and too securely a name that doesn&#;t help you get across the finish line is a producing blunder that will kill many otherwise worthy projects. Depending on how the ties are bound in the package, getting out from such a miscalculation can be a huge hurdle to overcome.

Ways of packaging

There are many different ways of tying parties to a production to make a package. Some are loosely tied, allowing adjustments and changes. Some are tightly bound with golden parachutes and shackles locking elements in place, immobile and set. And there are variations throughout and in every extreme. It&#;s all a matter of negotiation and purpose. As I&#;m always saying, there are no standard clauses, just negotiation points depending on power at the table. Let&#;s look at the most common among the ways packaging is approached.

The main aspect of packaging is tying parties- actors, directors and such- to a project, guaranteeing that they are going to participate in the production without conflict. However arrived at, it is said that those parties are attached to the film. From thenceforth, wherever the film goes, so do they. How people are attached can vary.

Script EXTRA: The Challenge of Attaching an Actor to Your Screenplay

The least concrete of means of attachment, though often sufficient in early days of a production is called a letter of intent. This is a document that assures that the party is keenly interested in participating in the project and, if the project moves forward, agrees to negotiate in good faith with aims to finalize their participation and not pursue conflicting interests in the mean time. There is no hard and fast commitment, but, rests as an assurance that if everything else falls in place and there are no unusual unforeseen circumstances they intend to come along for the ride with everyone else. When seeking financing commitments early on the question may arise as to who will star. Getting a letter of intent is a way of being able to answer that question without having to first pay the actor to lock them in (with the caveat that the deal is still in negotiations, but, currently looks good.)

Some actors are too in demand or famous to hold off other jobs with a letter of intent hanging out there. If the producer wants to have that actor (or any other name talent, for that matter) and has some financing already in place they could offer what is referred to as a pay or play deal. (Though no one calls it this, to be accurate it should be called a &#;play or pay&#; deal, to get the order right.) A pay or play deal is a full guarantee in two directions. To the producer, the party will make themselves available for the agreed project and production schedule. For the player, they are guaranteed to be paid whether or not the project goes forward as planned, even if they get cast out of the project and replaced. Often these deals require the money to be bonded and escrowed so that the actor can rest assured that turning down other work will not affect their income stream. It is a risky maneuver for the production since schedules and financing all have to fall in place in time, but, for some situations a producer can calculate that it is an acceptable risk for the amount of future financing or green lighting the big name would bring to the project.

One other variation on the idea of packaging is placing named parties contractually tied to the production. When writing contracts it is possible to tie named individuals to certain roles in a production regardless of who ends up taking the reins in the future. This is a technique done by some to retain some control over the project in order to protect the hard work they did in the early days of development to get the project off the ground. Even if their production company has to sell the rights to the project in exchange for fully funding and moving into production, contracts taken over by the new entity could require that the named parties be retained in the roles assured them to the previous company. Using this technique, an original story writer might be able to retain some say in the story development even if they are removed as screenwriter for the project, if they retain a producer title and &#;meaningful consultation&#; in the story development. From the other side, this can also be seen as a contentious shackle in trying to advance the production with others taking the reins.

Packaging dilemmas

Packages past their sell-by date often end up in the &#;turnaround&#; bin. It takes a long time to get a movie produced. If the attachments are no longer as lucrative as they once were, the interests in the project with that baggage can wane. And because they are solidly attached the film it is often impossible to clean out to start over. It can also be a burden for those packaged as well. If a project a party is tied to doesn&#;t get going quickly enough, other opportunities can arise that they&#;ll have to pass on because they are committed to the lapsing one still. Also, if an actor&#;s career skyrockets after they&#;ve signed onto a deal but before the picture is made, they are locked into the agreed pay scale in the contracts and not their newfound cachet.

Packaging is not necessary, though some act as if it is. There are some who assume that every project that crosses their desk has to be packaged to sell. Packaging is just a tool. Just like a hammer, every situation is not a nail. Often, if the project is strong enough it can be made without attaching any parties along the way. The quality will attract everyone who takes the picture to the next stage and the next, snowballing to the finished line. It may take longer or you may need to ask different people to be involved than those who look to packaging as a surer thing. But it can be done.

Packaging is a sales tool to attract what&#;s missing, completion, etc. It is also a way of covering up some elements that aren&#;t strong enough to stand on their own. Sometimes the sum of its parts are greater than the whole. Sometimes its just a jumble of parts. It depends.