Blister & clamshell packaging
Blister and clamshell packaging, formed in-house.
JCH Design & Manufacturing makes custom blister packaging and clamshell packaging for US brands: clamshells, blisters sealed to a printed paper card, and blister trays, in PVC or PET, with RPET when you want a recycled option.
The forming machines are in house at Jack's own forming factory, so the blister is not outsourced to another shop. The printed card, the hang hole and the barcode are specified with the blister. Packs can be made tamper-evident, and a security tag, a security code or a barcode can go inside.
Formats
Clamshell, blister card, blister tray.
Which one fits depends on the product, the shelf and how the pack is closed.
Clamshell
A hinged, clear pack that folds shut around the product. The product and a printed insert card show through the front.
Blister card
A formed blister sealed to a printed paper backer card, with a hang hole for a peg hook.
Blister tray
A formed tray that holds parts in place inside a box or a carton.
Material and the card
PVC or PET, about 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
Most customers choose PVC or PET. RPET is the recycled option and costs more. The sheet thickness is chosen for the size and weight of the product, about 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
The backer card is printed paper board: color print, the hang hole, and the barcode and copy the retailer asks for. Packs can be made tamper-evident, and a security tag, a security code or a barcode can go inside the blister.
- SheetPVC or PET; RPET costs more
- ThicknessAbout 0.25 to 0.5 mm
- CardPrinted paper backer cards, hang holes
- Inside the packTamper-evident; security tag or barcode
- Blister moldFrom a few hundred dollars to about $1,000, by size
- SamplesAbout 3 days on a rush
Cost, samples and minimums
A small mold, a quick sample.
A blister mold usually costs from a couple of hundred dollars to about $1,000, depending on its size. On a rush, samples can be made in about three days. The minimum order is normally around 1,000 pieces. These are estimates to plan with; the quote against your product sets the numbers.
- Send the product.A sample or its dimensions, and how it should hang or stand on the shelf.
- Blister mold and card layout.The mold is cut to the product and the card is laid out with the artwork, hang hole and barcode.
- Sample.A formed, sealed sample, in about three days on a rush, to check fit and look before the run.
- Run and pack-out.Formed, printed, sealed and cartoned, then checked before the container is sealed.
Questions
What buyers ask first.
What is the difference between blister packaging and a clamshell?
A blister is a formed plastic cavity sealed to a printed paper backer card. A clamshell is a hinged plastic pack that folds shut around the product, often with a printed insert card inside.
What materials are used for blister packs?
Mostly PVC or PET. RPET is available as a recycled option and costs more.
How thick is the plastic?
It is chosen for the size and weight of the product, about 0.25 to 0.5 mm.
How much does a blister mold cost?
Usually from a couple of hundred dollars to about $1,000, depending on the size. It is an estimate; the quote sets it.
What is the minimum order for blister packaging?
Normally around 1,000 pieces.
How fast can I get a sample?
On a rush, samples can be made in about three days.
Can the pack be tamper-evident, with a security tag or barcode inside?
Yes. Blister packs can be made tamper-evident, and a security tag, a security code or a barcode can be placed inside the blister card.
Related
Have a product that needs a blister or a clamshell?
Send a sample or a photo and the size of the product. Jack reads it himself and tells you plainly which format fits, and what the mold, the card and the sample involve.
Ask for time with Jack