1. Widespread network of 100 thousand + packaging members across the globe – Isn’t this is a good number to make your product visible to brand managers, packaging key decision makers and end users.

 

2. Our technical expertise in packaging – Through our website www.PackagingConnections.com, we not just provide your brand a visibility through dynamic banners. We have a team of qualified packaging professionals, so we also talk about technical aspects and applications for your product. We do this through our 360 degree visibility plans by creating specialized landing pages, technical product blogs, news, press releases, whitepapers, product innovations, seller offers, and event participations.

 

3. We are socially very active – So instead of just providing our website for your product promotion, we also have active groups on Linked-In, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Xing; with a total network strength of 75K unique members. Also we have lot of interesting technical discussions that happen on our Linked-In group which make us one of the preferred groups in packaging industry.

 

4. Customized monthly reports – We provide complete transparency and customer satisfaction through customized reports. This could include monthly trackers, banner hits, content analytics, unique visitors, comments on posts, social media engagement, hits on posts, coverage in our weekly newsletter and many more.

 

5. We don’t do mass mails – This could be the requirement of some companies. But basis our experience, we believe in creating content and talking about the technicalities rather than doing mass mails. We send our weekly newsletter rich in packaging content, but we never send paid product centric mass mails. Our clients gets visibility through our multiple content creation which get reflected in our newsletters.

Stories are always interesting to hear, no matter what your age is. An adult equally enjoys reading a story book (may be called as a ‘novel’) just like a child does.

Packaging Connections have lot of activities happening in the same interesting way. Based on our members engagement on our services and their popularities, here are the top 5 stories of Packaging Connections –

 

• Plastics & Environment Survey – The survey was started on 5th June i.e. World Environment Day and had few simple questions. We received a great response by around 120 people and got lot of ideas on “how to beat plastic pollution”. The report is available to downloaded through email and
• here is the link

 

 

• The Big Book of Packaging – This book is getting acceptance and praises by many learned packaging professionals. You may be interested in reading their testimonials

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Adoption of Packaging Companies – Yes you read it correctly. Packaging Connections took this innovative step and invited companies to provide their information. The team shall shortlist 5 companies soon for which business promotion and content marketing shall be done – all free of cost. You may read more details here

 

 

 

• Collaboration with Linhardt – Linhardt is a leading German manufacturer of innovative packaging systems for pharma and cosmetic industries providing collapsible aluminum tubes, cans, plastic tubes, aerosol cans and other products. This collaboration is another milestone in the ling-lasting relationship between foreign companies and Packaging Connections. You may know more about the products on Linhardt page

 

 

 

 

• Digitally Printed Labels – Packaging Connections started offering digitally printed labels in small quantity for small / home start-ups for various food products, cosmetics, beverages and other applications.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are some of the stories about PC activities and we will come up with many more stories in near future. Till then keep reading our blogs and enjoy packaging wonders with Packaging Connections.

 

 

 

 

 

 

During World Environment Day 2018, the theme was "Beat Plastic Pollution" and slogan was "moving towards  a plastic-free future". But don't you think blaming plastics alone is not right. It is true disposable plastics, bottles and non-recyclable waste is the worry of every one but banning all the plastics is definitely not the solution. 

There are ways which by which we can reduce plastic pollution but we have to make efforts to follow them. Simply banning a laminate or a PET bottle can never give a satisfactory solution to this global problem.

Plastics are not inherently bad. It's what we do, or don't do, with them that counts - Sylvia Earle (National Geographic Explorer-in Residence). 

 

This quote is actually true, the issue is not with the plastic but with our disposal systems, waste management and our habits.

 

To understand your thoughts, Packaging Connections Team created a small survey and we got a great response by 119 people. We got positive replies in response to "should we contact you to discuss about the possible solutions". Well, we are soon going to contact the interested people and plan the way forward. Our team analysed the results and prepared a crisp report. This includes statiscal data received from the survey supported by graphs and numbers. 

 

To download the report pls Email us and we will send the report to the respective email ids. Thanks

 

Team - Packaging Connections

"Packaging is like a soul to the body". It provides life to the product by protecting it from environmental spoilage, gives shelf appeal, provides information to the end customer and many others. Often, packs are designed such that they directly conveys the "key role" of the product to the customer.

One such recent example is of natural supplement range from Alchem - Flexiqule . The pack is to be designed such that it matches with the highly technical product proposition providing flexibility i.e. freedom to move.  

Key drivers included lifestyle positioning, high quality, and a notable emphasis on the user experience. 

Packaging requirements - The pack needed to accommodate 30 soft gels and easily communicate a daily routine to promote regular use for maximum benefit and to alleviate long-term discomfort.

The challenging task is well accomplished by Burgopack which incorporated their award winning sliding mechanism to relate the ease of movement gained through continued use of Flexiqule with a tactile physical touchpoint. 

Packaging features - 250gsm Arktika cover, and a CMYK Print with Silver foiling, UV spot and metallic pantone. This PvC/PvDC blister pack has been given a high-quality finish that was both pleasing to the eye and the touch, further engrossing the consumer in the brand experience.
 In this fast-moving industry, design is paramount to the communication of a clear brand message – a feat the Flexiqule pack reflected perfectly, creating a driving force behind this successful product launch.

Customer feedback received for this pack is excellent and customers find the pack to be very convenient for product dispensing.  Overall it is rated as an excellently designed smart and attractive pack

Video related to this product can be viewed here - 

Source - PR from Burgopack received through email communication.
(Note - Packaging details and facts written in this blog are picked from the PR and author is not responsible for any incorrect stats. The blog is written solely for the purpose of knowledge sharing among Packaging Connection members and it's channels on social networks.)

Needlestick Injury is defined as the accidental puncture of the skin by a needle during a medical intervention

Accidental exposure to blood caused by needle injuries may carry the risk of infection by blood-borne viruses.

Accidental contact may occur-

• During re-capping
• When an uncapped needle has ended up in bed linen, surgery clothing etc
• When taking an unsheathed used needle to the waste container
• During the cleaning up and transporting of waste material

I was reading on internet ways to avoid this injury and found that “the single most important measure to prevent needlestick injury is to not put the used needle back in its original cover; re-capping and re-sheathing must be avoided. Instead at most of the places, rigid puncture-proof containers are being used. Make sure the container is always at hand”

Well OK, these containers are effectively doing their work since many years.

• But what if the containers are not available at hand?
• What if there are multiple rooms in a testing lab and only few containers are available?
• What if person is too busy to throw the needle in the container placed at a distance?
• And what about the investment in installing these containers in every testing rooms?
• There are so many ifs and buts and we know that ‘no-error places’ where HACCP is being followed are not everywhere.

Got to know about this product which is actually a label and thus is in integral part of the syringe itself – Needle Trap

This is an innovative product which is cost effective alternative for pre-filled syringes, which helps protect healthcare professionals from needlestick injuries

This is unique since the safety mechanism is an integral component of the label. No external containers, no table top equipments required for destroying the needles.

 

 

As a packaging technologist, we may think that the production of such syringes with label is a difficult task and may involve huge investment in new machineries. But actually this is not required.  The product may be easily integrated in the existing process and is adaptable to all standard syringe dimensions. This gives a significant cost reduction due to simple design compared with conventional needle protection systems.
 

Recently Pfizer (one of the world’s largest pharma company) has opted for this Needle Trap protection label to equip the syringes for its epoetin biosimilar. This makes it the first medication for the treatment of anemia to be launched on the market with Needle-Trap–initially in Germany and Austria, to be followed by a successive rollout on the European market.

Product details at - http://www.packagingconnections.com/schreiner/

These days we hear a lot about Content Marketing in various verticals, be it entertainment, education, consumer goods or politics.

Print media has always been a favoured area for product suppliers wherein they constantly give ads and promote their products. No doubt this was the most effective way of virtual marketing; however is this really effective for 2020 gen as well?

Well I’m not sure but yes the change can be seen. Here are some interesting info-graphics and statistics (collected from internet ofcourse) that may witness this change.

(2013B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks-North America:CMI/MarketingProfs)

• Just consider the reach of a traditional media which may be in some thousands and is country / state centric vs a website which is global and have hundred-thousands in reach.
• Secondly web marketing is simply a click away using your smart phone or a laptop / desktop
• Content is always dynamic in web marketing
• You may market your products and brand using various options compared to a static print ads.
• It could happen through innovations, press release, news, free uploads, blogs, newsletter, interesting landing page and likewise
• Many online website give features to promote product using their social media reach.
• As per a study conducted on “global online advertising spending”, it is found that most of the companies are relying on social media for their product promotion and are planning a handsome budget amount for the content marketing promotions

(source - www.go-gulf.com) Similarly there are many other supporting statics as well. Now being from a packaging industry, a valid question arises - Does Content Marketing have knocked the doors of packaging professionals? Is content really an important parameter for packaging industry?  

Well YES! And believe me, internet is flooded with many case studies wherein packaging products have got lot of success through content marketing (I just tried finding few examples and got soooo many by a simple search – try doing it).

 

(source - www.komarketingassociates.com)

Brands like Coke, Kellogg’s, Frito, Nescafe, Maggi and many others can be regularly seen on the internet. Guess what they are doing – CONTENT MARKETING for their own products.

Infact packaging suppliers are not lagging behind– I’ve seen videos being shared on Facebook; articles being mentioned in Linked-in; pictures on Pinterest and links in Twitter by companies like TetraPak, Schreiner Medipharm, Bosch, Vinstar, HPT Pharma, EMA Pharma etc

Packaging companies like to interact with their customers – B2B or B2C through these content marketing strategies. Some of the suggested content marketing plans may include

 

We just have to wait for the right time when packaging industry will witness a BOOM in content marketing. Companies will move out of traditional ways of marketing to meet the expectations of 2020 generation – WELL IN ADVANCE

In whichever industry we are – fmcg, pharma, automotive, household, home care and personal care and so on; we constantly strive towards next opportunity and a career jump (be it only for financial reasons or profile or both). As packaging professionals, we often crib that we don’t get to know about openings and they are filled by word-of-mouth many a times. But did we ever try to understand the basic challenges or restrictions in keeping us updated about the new opportunities? I’m sure most of us would say “yes i’m well networked with industry friends / colleagues / seniors”. But is it enough to achieve the job you ever thought of?? Noooo. We often end up joining a company for a profile which we never liked. Ofcourse, there is nothing wrong in this – we all have personal likings and strengths. Some packaging students can do very well with supplier companies while others prefer testing and quality. Of-course we have to have such spread since only a particular profile can never accommodate all. So it is crucial to understand the profile or company’s requirement first rather than just applying blindly for a generic packaging job (this is true especially for freshers). On the same terms, judging a candidate that suits a particular job is very important. However both are challenging and have their own restrictions.

  Candidates say –

• it is difficult to know about new vacancies
• company’s don’t prefer hiring a fresher
• we don’t get correct job alerts from existing job portals
• job security??

  Similarly company level challenges are –

• resume collection, multiple level sorting and interview process
• profile mapping?? it is a really important to get the right candidate for the right job requirements –
• job hoppers??

    Just to move a bit ahead in this discussion –lets talk about the role of “correct guidance”. We appreciate that getting to know about packaging jobs is essential. But just knowledge about jobs is not enough, you also need Mentors. But where are they? Seniors/Alumni often conduct seminars or short lectures that are really helpful in guiding fresher to get a good job and excel in his career. But the numbers of such trainers are at miniscule (when packaging is concerned). To comprehend the issues of jobs and mentoring, a small survey was conducted by PackagingConnections team, to understand the needs of packaging jobs as well as mentors. The survey received an excellent participation we got very interesting results. The analysis has been comprehended in a report which can be downloaded from this link - http://www.packagingconnections.com/content/packaging-jobs-and-mentoring As a solution to these challenges, we have launched “Packaging Yoga” and we hope the concept of a “packaging dedicated job portal” will be great help to packaging professionals. Join us at www.packagingyoga.com

What is VCI? VCI - Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor VCI provides anti-corrosive metal protection to address the corrosive nature of ferrous and non-ferrous metal products. A unique multi-metallic VCI concentrate for plastic and paper application. VCI is the environmentally preferred corrosion protection for metal components. VCI master batch can be blended with many polyethylene resins (LLDPE/LDPE/HDPE/PP) to form a broad range of anti-corrosion packaging systems.  Kraft paper can also be used as the carrier for VCI. Why to Use VCI? Worldwide corrosion costs industry and manufacturing approximately US $1.8 Trillion annually. VCI protects against corrosion and other environmental variables that are directly responsible for loss due to corrosion attack.

• It provides effective corrosion protection to a wide range of metal types
• Its versatility allows it to be used in a wide range of polymer systems and many fields
• VCI films provide protection against moisture
• VCI is clean, very easy to use and handle
• VCI films allow for visual inspection of product without unwrapping
• VCI reduces the need for additional oils, greases and desiccants
• Vapors penetrate recessed inaccessible areas
• Once unpacked the metals do not require additional cleaning or degreasing treatments
• Numerous benefits result in reduced labor costs

Corrosion

• Corrosion is the deterioration of a material undergoes as a result of its interaction with its surroundings. Although this definition is applicable to any type of material, it is usually reserved for metallic (ferrous and non ferrous) alloys. Corrosion processes not only influence the chemical properties of a metal but also generate changes in its physical properties and its mechanical behavior.
• Corrosion is the electrochemical reaction between a material, usually a metal, and its environment that produces a deterioration of the material and its properties.
• Corrosion is the oxidation of metals in the presence of water or water vapor etc. Corrosion results in tarnish, pitting, and flaking

Cost of Corrosion

• A recent estimate of the worldwide direct cost of corrosion – for prevention as well as repair and replacement – exceeded $1.8 trillion.
• India loses $40 billion* a year due to corrosion in infrastructure and industries segments - about 4 % of the size of the total economy *Ref. Press Trust of India New Delhi, Oct 2014

Fighting Corrosion With VCI

• Vapor Corrosion Inhibitors work by diffusing corrosion inhibiting molecules from a source (packaging film or paper for example) to metal surfaces.
• These molecules settle on metal surfaces and form a protective corrosion inhibiting layer that inhibits the electro-chemical reactions that cause corrosion to form.
• An estimated 25 to 30 % of the annual cost of corrosion can now be avoided if optimum corrosion management practices are employed i.e. VCI packaging.
• VCI is one of the most cost effective versatile tools fighting corrosion.

How Does VCI Work? When VCI is incorporated into a polymer system or Kraft paper, the finished product offers corrosion protection by releasing vapors which form a monomolecular protective layer on the surface of the metal component to be protected. This protective layer remains until the package is opened and then evaporates leaving a clean metal surface that is free of corrosion. VCI Protection is a Function of:

• Which metals are in need of protection?
• Corrosion inhibiting chemicals used and their effectiveness on the metals.
• Ratio of chemicals in the formulation.
• Amount of VCI in the paper or in the film.
• Water solubility and the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibitor in presents of moisture and/or high humidity.
• The overall packaging design and the conditions expected during packaging, shipping and storing.

VCI Applications Automotive                        Engineering                Defense                Metal Mills       Electricals and Electronics Note: Pictures are randomly taken from Google, thank you Google! Author - Mercy P. Bulsari Polymer Technologist Member- International Committee, Plast India Foundation Member – Indian Plastics Institute (IPI) Email: mbulsari5@gmail.com Phone: +91-740 559 1482 (Cell)

It is rightly said that packaging is the cloth for products & it makes your product stand out from the competition. Well but, how can we find out that how much our packaging costs? What is the importance of packaging? What is the right packaging for a product? Since the cost of the packaging material which we know is like the tip of the iceberg, as only 5% of our total packaging costs consists of primary packaging material. The rest are hidden beneath the surface. Here are some points to consider while finding out the actual cost of packaging:

• Brand Establishment: Steve jobs said that “Packaging can be a theatre it can create a story”. The product is known by its packaging, but if the packaging is not good then it will dissolve the brand image. This is the era of e-Commerce since E Commerce sale in India has increased from 2.4 to 7.6 billion dollar from 2012 to 2015. In the increasing e-Commerce market packaging is the vital element. Yet, as many as 38% of customers are dissatisfied with the packaging they receive, according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG). The brand name of the e-Commerce firm is established only by the number of satisfied customers it produce and it is only possible by right packaging and by sustaining the surprise feeling for the customer on getting the product as “it is gift from me to myself”. To have the right brand value, right packaging is required and thus it adds up to the cost.

         

• Product damage: Packaging provides protection to the product and if the packaging is not good then it may lead to damage the product during transit, or during supply chain in e-Commerce. In this case it should be replaced and thus it adds to the final cost of the product.

• Time Motion study: Time motion study is very important in packaging. In e-Commerce packaging it’s an vital element as in e-Commerce time is very important factor and the time taken to pack the product adds to the cost since timely delivery is very crucial.

• Packaging Inventory Storage: Inventory of packaging also adds to the cost. Stocking of the packaging material for further use also increases the cost, so it is better to go for service providers which give stock & drip feed service for packaging material such as Store.Packagingconnections.com

• Right fit: Clothes are all about the right fit similarly packaging serves as clothes for the product and it serves the purpose only when it is of suitable size. Your storage and shipping cost will be minimised only when the packaging is optimized. The right packaging will serve the purpose better. We are happy to help you at PackagingConnections

• Ancillary Packaging Cost: When we are calculating the cost of packaging we mainly consider the cost of carton and primary packaging, but oversee the cost of tape and cushioning material, but these also add up to the cost and on large basis they effect the profit margin.

Note: Photographs have been picked up from google.  

Author - Ankit Farkya Consultant (Packaging for e-Commerce)

The discussions started during early 2013 when Him Jagriti, an Uttarakhand-based non-governmental organization (NGO) that works in the health sector, approached the ministry of health seeking a ban on the use of PET for pharmaceutical packaging. The government entrusted the Drugs Technical Advisory Board (DTAB), which is the highest decision-making body under the ministry on technical matters, to take a call. In one of the meetings, DTAB discussed a test conducted by the All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health (AIIHPH), which is affiliated to the health ministry. The tests revealed that the levels of toxic chemicals were higher than safety limits. The DTAB minutes state that antimony, chromium, lead and diethylhexyl phthalate were present at room temperature in all five samples evaluated for pharma preparations packaged in PET bottles. In November 2013, DTAB recommended a phasing out of PET bottles for pharma packaging over a period of six months. In the first phase, it suggested there should be a ban on the use of PET to package liquid oral formulations for paediatric and geriatric use, as well as for drugs used by pregnant women However, following strong resistance from PET manufacturers, a draft notification by the ministry of health prohibiting the use of PET for packaging was put on hold in September 2014 As per Suresh Singhal, general secretary of the PET Container Manufacturers Association, there is sufficient data to counter the claim that toxic substances were seen in medicine packaging at room temperature. There are test results available from Shriram Institute that concluded PET is completely safe Pranay Kumar, Chief Environment Officer, Vasudhaecofriends Projects feels that the industry is not prepared at all to follow the rule. He opines, “Pharma professionals would be well advised to go for elaborate testing for leachables / extractables at various temperatures and chemicals with glass and PET. Plastics have made many revolutions possible, including milk and oil and play a very large role in saving food wastage in a country like ours. Alternative to PET could be glass but then it has its own challenges like logistics and cost. So what could be a safe way forward on this regulation?    

Packaging is a crucial part of the drug manufacturing and marketing process. While the latest move is likely to have a huge dent on revenues of bottle manufacturers who supply to pharmaceutical companies, it may also have an impact on drug makers as packaging cost and margins on it are determined by the pricing regulator.

The thought revolves around the impact of this ban - If it does take effect, is our pharma industry prepared to take the blow? Can Cough syrups, antacids or vitamins in plastic and PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles become a thing of past?   What are your opinions on this? Here is the link to a quick survey where you can share your opinions - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ban-on-PET

PackPlus South, The total packaging, converting and supply chain event, is coming back to Hyderabad for its 9th Edition in South India. The show will feature latest innovations and developments from packaging and allied industries, giving a global business & networking platform to the participating exhibitors and visitors. More than 10000 business

4th Annual Pharmasafe India brings together over 150 Delegates and Speakers representing cross-section of all stakeholders- business leaders from top Pharmaceutical companies, eminent experts in anti-counterfeiting technology, Government & regulatory authorities, Customs, investigators, legal experts, consultants and leading industry bodies at a

Global Brand Protection Innovation Programme is successfully on its way for the 8th time to highlight the latest innovations in Brand Protection Industry on 14th and 15th May 2020 in Brussels Belgium. GBPIP continues bringing together the buyers of cross industry from all across the globe with high Level of Speakers who will provide insights to the

Why Exhibit at 71st IPC 2019? An exquisite platform to deliver the right value by successfully targeting the right customers, face-to-face. No other form of marketing gives you the opportunity to present directly to such a large targeted audience in such a short period. The visitors are decision makers – network and build relations to understand

As the pharma industry looks increasingly towards India for high quality, low cost pharma solutions, CPhI & P-MEC India is the ideal event for companies wanting to pick up on the latest trends and innovations the market has to offer. At CPhI & P-MEC India, you will meet the movers and shakers from India's pharma machinery, technology and

Cosmoprof Asia 2019 (24th edition) will continue the successful formula of "1 Fair 2 Venues" and held strategically across two venues: Cosmopack Asia, will take place at the AsiaWorld-Expo (AWE) from 12 to 14 November, hosting exhibitors from the avant-garde supply chain: leaders in raw materials and ingredients, machinery and automation, primary

One of the most important functions of packaging in the decade to 2020 will be increased sustainability. This push towards sustainable practices for packaging and a circular economy will be a key influencer, focal point and primary benchmark for the packaging supply chain. To address these future sustainability requirements, Smithers has created

Enter the Era of Smart & Innovative Packaging Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Adsale Exhibition Services Ltd.will join hands once again to present the Shanghai World of Packaging (swop) in Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 25 to 28 November 2019. swop will cover end use industries such as food, beverage, confectionery, baked

Counterfeiting remains a pressing issue to the industry with its consequences being far beyond the reach. Counterfeits not only pose a great risk to brand owners and profits, however it effects the end consumer and economies at large posing a serious challenge to all industries on a global level. It is imperative to develop a multi-disciplined