This category includes suppliers of machinery that forms packaging and containers from raw materials such as paper, film and foil materials (extruders, coaters, slitters and flexo printers) as well as rigid package forming machines ranging from injection blow molders to can making equipment.
Converting
Machinery that transforms webs, or rolls of paper or plastic substrates, for later package formation processes, such as slitter/rewinders, coaters, plastic extruders, die cutting machinery and related equipment.
- Coating, Surface Treatment & Metallizing Machines
These converting machines apply thin layers of chemicals or additives to a variety of paper and plastic substrates to add either a protective layer or to enhance the material’s shelf life, adhesion of inks, appearance or other factors.
- Converting Supplies
Any supplies related to converting, particularly replaceable supplies that go into converting equipment such as industrial knives and blades, flexographic and other plates for printing, dies for die cutting and core cutters for rolls and related supplies.
- Curing & Drying Machines
Equipment that accelerates the adhesion of inks and coatings on plastic and paper substrates after package printing through techniques such as UV or electron beam.
- Die Cutting & Scoring Machines
Die cutters modify a material such as paperboard into flats for later folding and erecting into cartons and other packaging. Scoring machines use lasers and other instruments to form creases, folds or related features into paper or plastic substrates.
- Extruding Machines
Extruders are package forming machines that melt plastic pellets and force them through a die to make film through blown extrusion, or through casting or sheet extrusion for thicker plastic materials.
- Hole Punching & Perforating Machines
Converting machines that run webs of substrates through die punch, cold pin rotary, and laser perforating processes to produce holes, perforations and related alterations.
- Laminating Machines
Converting machinery that bonds two or more separate packaging substrates into a single web during the formation of multilayer flexible packaging.
- Slitting, Unwinding & Rewinding Equipment
Also known as slitter/rewinders and unwinders, this web converting machinery that takes large paper and film rolls and cuts them into narrower webs, which are then rewound and prepared for another converting process prior to package formation.
- Web/Film Splicing Machines
Converting machines that take large rolls of film or paper and join them together to create a continuous web to enable continuous operation of the production line during other converting or packaging processes.
- Zipper Application Machines
These machines apply and adhere a plastic zipper system, usually to plastic substrates, to add a resealable option for the consumer during the manufacture of pre-formed bags.
Package Forming Equipment
Any machine that takes flat substrates or raw thermoplastic material to form basic, single-unit empty containers across many flexible and rigid formats, separate from any form of later package filling.
- Bag/Pouch Making Machines
Equipment used to take webs of printed plastic or paper and form tubes that are later used to form pre-made, empty bags and pouches for filling on separate machines.
- Box Making Machines
Machinery that assembles sheets of various materials into boxes, cartons, display units, etc. through cutting, folding, and adhesive application, so that they are ready to be filled with a product.
- Can/Can End Making Machines
- Cup/Lid Making Machines
Machinery used to form pre-made cups, lids, and bowls of paper, plastic and other materials, separate from any filling function.
- Injection Molding Machines
Equipment that forms containers through the injection of molten plastic and other materials.
- Molds, Tooling & Dies
Accessories, ancillary equipment and tools and that go on or into package formation machines including but not limited to molds, dies and related supplies.
- Prototyping & 3D Printers
Machines that make any form of a package solely for small-scale, short runs for the purpose of product development and testing, including prototypes and 3D printers.
- Thermoforming Machines
Machines that shape pre-made rigid containers and lids such as trays and blisters from thermoplastics using heat and pressure, as preforms; separate from any package filling or sealing process such as thermoform/fill/seal.
Printing Presses & Decorating Equipment
Any printing, decorating or embossing machine that uses inks and other materials to create graphics directly onto substrates that will become packaging containers.
- Digital Printing Presses
Printing presses for flexible or rigid packages that decorate or print by applying ink directly into the substrate without the use of plates or cylinders.
- Embossing Machines
- Flexo Presses
Flexographic or flexo presses use flexible photopolymer printing plates wrapped around cylinders that are inked for high-speed web press printing, one of the most common package printing techniques.