Materials, Containers & Consumables

Wooden, paper, plastic, and steel bulk storage and transportation containers, often returnable in a closed loop application, that are used in a variety of industrial applications.

Cylindrical metal, plastic or composite paperboard containers for storage of bulk liquids, powders and related industrial materials or ingredients, typically 55 gallons.

Also known as jumbo sacks, bulk bags, big bags and other names, these durable but flexible fabric containers are used for transporting bulk, dry material.

One-way and reusable rigid industrial tanks that are mounted on pallets that are used to handle, transport and store materials and ingredients in processing and packaging operations from liquids to solids.

Sacks and bags for a variety of applications and in a variety of formats, generally 50 lb and above. Examples might be a large bag of pet food or fertilizer. Valve bags are generally large, heavy duty paper bags used to contain building materials such as cement.

Plastic bags used to line corrugated cases or totes.

Plastic or metal containers that often have a flip-up metal carrying handle that are used for applications such as paint or foodservice applications.

A wide range of specialized closure materials such as twist ties and plastic clips for bread bags and staples for large bags of potatoes.

Multifunctional closures have movable parts for opening and reclosure, such as a closure on a bottle of lotion that allows the consumer to open, dispense product, and reclose.

Any flat closure that goes on top of a canister, can or container, ranging from plastic lids for cans of peanuts to metal lids for paint cans to aluminum can lids.

Flat metal or plastic closures that have indentations on the interior rim of the closure that engage with coarse, often non-continuous threads or on bottles and jars that are removed by consumers with a single twist, such as metal lug closures on jars of pickles.

A type of closure that is placed on top of another closure, especially on dispensing closures, pumps, and spray nozzles, to cover the inner closure so it does not activate product dispersion, such as an overcap for a perfume bottle.

Specialized closures that allow liquid products to be dispensed and dispersed from the package by manual force from the user or some sort of internal propellant. Includes mist and trigger sprayers, aerosol pumps, foam dispensers and related closures.

Closures with an internal continuous thread that screws onto the neck of a container or fitment with a matching continuous thread.

Any number of hot or cold-seal materials that are used to adhere different packaging materials together, such as in operations including but not limited to bottle labeling, carton sealing and case sealing.

The consumable liquids used mainly in coding, printing, and labeling operations to print graphics and codes onto any primary or secondary package.

Rolls of clear or printed films that are used in numerous packaging applications that shrink and tightly wrap to conform to a product’s shape in heat tunnels. Shrink films can also be printed and converted into tubestock to be used as full-body shrink labels on rigid containers.

Highly durable plastic cables that are applied during end-of-line operations to contain one or more cases or products to unitize them into a single load for transport.

Rolls of stretchable, clear film used to cover and protect a pallet load of cases or large bags.

Adhesive tapes used for any packaging application, such as heavy-duty tapes used in case sealing operations.

Any consumables related to thermal-transfer style printing, including thermal-transfer ribbons.

Small glass or plastic containers, used mainly in medical and pharmaceutical packaging applications that often include measured doses.

A plastic or multilayer bag that is housed in an outer corrugated box or metal wire container, often for bulk items, that allows for easier handling, shipment, and storage, such as a bag-in-box containing bulk tomato sauce shipped to food service operations.

Any rigid plastic or glass container that is used for packaging a variety of liquids or solids. Bottles can also be made from aluminum or even paperboard, and include preform manufactures.

Cans are cylindrical metal containers, typically made from aluminum or steel (but also plastic) that are used for a wide variety of liquid and solids. A canister typically refers to a spiral-wound, paper-based container with a paper or plastic lid or overcap, for a wide range of dry products. A typical example is a paperboard canister for dry oatmeal.

Tubes are elongated rigid containers that dispense a wide range of products, such as tubes for caulk. Cartridges are packaging components that contain products but fit into some sort of larger delivery system, for example cartridges for injectable medicine applications.

Rigid, concave packaging containers in a variety of formats, sizes and materials, characterized by a wide opening that’s typically the same as the diameter or width of the package itself. Examples include tubs for margarine, microwavable plastic bowls for frozen meals, and Styrofoam cups for ramen.

Companies that specialize in making empty rigid packages (often thermoformed) used by retail and fresh food service sectors, i.e., tubs used for fresh soup or deli items at a grocery store.

Companies that manufacture and supply empty clamshells, blisters or other thermoformed packages for later filling or loading on a packaging line (as opposed to those who make thermoform fill/seal equipment that forms the tray, fills and seals on a single machine.) Thermoformed packaging can be stock or custom.

Trays are shallow, rigid or semi-rigid containers made from a variety of materials that support and contain food as well as non-food products. Examples include microwavable polypropylene trays for frozen dinners, clear trays for rows of cookies or crackers. Baskets (sometimes known as punnets) refer to open or mesh containers, typically plastic, that are designed for holding fresh fruit or vegetables. Note: this category is distinct from corrugated shipping trays (see Paperboard & Corrugated).

Basic plastic or blown film that has not yet been converted, for later converting processes such as printing, laminating, slitting, or for multi-layer laminating with other webs.

Rolls of flexible packaging or labels that have already been converted from large webs and arrive from the converter preprinted with finished package graphics. These rolls are designed to be mounted onto either vertical or horizontal form/fill/seal equipment, flow wrappers, labelers and related equipment.

Any flexible, cylindrical tube, made of plastic or metal, that can be squeezed by the consumer or end user to force product out, such as tubes for toothpaste or hair gel, or pharmaceutical ointments. These tubes come from the manufacturer with a threaded opening on one end and are open at the other. After product is filled into the tube, the open end is sealed.

Any peelable foil, plastic, or other material used specifically in induction or conduction sealing machines, such as a membrane placed on the mouth of a bottle of nutraceuticals, or a foil seal over a can of potato crisps.

A wide range of plastic and paper materials that serve to protect or envelop products. These materials can consist of clear films or unprinted papers, but they can also be printed. Overwrap films are considered to be distinct from shrink films.

Pouches or bags that have already been converted and often pre-cut or formed into individual units for loading by machine or hand. A variety of bag and pouch sealing equipment is available for sealing pre-made bags, usually different from form/fill/and seal equipment, which also forms the bag inline before filling and sealing.

Any film that is used on a flexible or semi-rigid thermoforming machine, either as part of a thermoform/fill/seal process or during package manufacturing, where a blister or clamshell is created through thermoforming.

Features, most often on flexible bags or pouches, that include a liner and zipper feature so that the consumer can open the package by pulling on a thin string liner and/or reseal packages once opened, to maintain freshness.

Plastic or paper material that holds or groups multiple containers together as a single, transportable stock-keeping unit, such as plastic carriers for cans of craft beer or paperboard carrying cases for six-packs of glass soda bottles.

Any plastic or paper material that is applied to a primary or secondary package to assist the consumer in transporting it.

Unprinted labels sold on a roll for companies to print their own labeling information as part of a print-and-apply labeling operation.

Folded labels that are expanded after removing a peel to include information such as consumer health and safety information, usage instructions, legal disclaimers, or nutritional information.

Labels that are placed onto the container during blow molding or injection molding so that they are an integral part of the container, such as an in-mold label on a plastic laundry bottle.

Informational material such as bandoliers, coupons, instruction manuals and other printed material that is placed into a container.

Any type of label such as linerless or static cling that does not involve an adhesive.

Also known as wet or water-activated labels, these labels feature a dried adhesive that activates adhesive properties after water is applied. Examples include labels for wine bottles.

Labels that have adhesive backing that adhere to packaging materials or containers when pressure is applied.

Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags and “smart labels” may include lot, barcode, identification and tracking systems into a single label, with or without an embedded battery. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags are used in shoplifting deterrence applications.

Plastic-based shrink film that is enveloped tightly around a product for its label, such as a full body label around a single-serve bottle of orange juice. Neck bands are shrink sleeves applied to the neck of a glass or plastic bottle to form a semi-rigid tamper-evident feature, such as bands around the neck of a bottle of salad dressing. Shrink bands can also be applied over the top of a closure to provide tamper deterrence and tamper evidence, such as a shrink sleeve over a bottle of aspirin or a bottle of water with a pop-up sport closure.

Plastic labels with sufficient elasticity to maintain positioning, such as a wraparound sleeve label that is stretched and applied to a plastic container of cat litter.

Ready-to-use boxes and shipping cases sold to packaging and processing operations that can be erected and filled with product. Considering switching to a new container, material? If you need a new package or consumable, explore these articles to help guide your next purchase.

Paperboard-based containers formed from flat sheets by a folding carton converter or manufacturer that are erected by the end user into a variety of shapes, styles and formats, such as a folding carton containing tea bags.

Gabletop style paperboard cartons that feature a pyramid-shaped closed top. Gabletop cartons are most commonly associated with milk and juice applications.

Rigid kraft materials such as pads and corner posts that are affixed along the edges of a pallet to protect cases contained on the pallet from damage during movement and shipment.

Materials that brace, secure and immobilize products during transit, such as expanded polystyrene or polypropylene, foam-in-place, or molded pulp.

A variety of shipping packages such as foam cooler boxes and specialty containers for cold chain packaging applications, such as distribution of medicines or produce.

Heavy-duty blocking and bracing materials used to secure pallets and heavy items during shipment and freight such as pallet stops, bulkheads, wooden crates, bases, corrugated packing boxes, lock corners, plywood crates and related items.

Materials such as crinkle paper, cellulose wadding rolls, bubble cushioning material and packing peanuts that fill empty spaces or otherwise protect lightweight products within a shipping container from moving during shipment.

Chemicals that are added to plastics to enhance certain properties such as shelf life.

Chemicals that are applied to packaging substrates to enhance printability, gloss, ink adherence and other characteristics.

Primary form of plastic material, usually in pellet form, that is melted and converted into films or rigid containers using a variety of plastic converting machinery.

Highly customized specialty packages that often incorporate one or more different types of packaging material to yield a high-impact promotional package, often for variety packs or high-value specialty products.

Plastic and other materials that are affixed to packages so they can hang from rods and racks in retail environments.

Specialty packaging materials involving technology including taggants, printed electronics, holographic, augmented reality, thermochromic materials, microbial display indicators and other smart packaging materials.

Corrugated stands, tilt shelf displays, shelf-ready shipping cases, countertop displays and other types of promotional packaging displays for retail applications.