Skin packaging is popular across many industries, from food and industrial hardware to consumer goods. It uses transparent film and vacuum to secure products on a backing, providing display and protection benefits. Learn more about it below, including when to use it.
What is Skin Packaging?
Skin packaging, or skin pack, is packaging where vacuum pressure helps drape plastic film over a product and rigid backing. The film conforms to the product’s contours and shape, sealing it on the backing.
The packs are transparent for product visibility. They are also thin and flexible, allowing them to collapse around the product and immobilize it on the backing.
On the other hand, the backing provides a rigid background for packing, shipping, and vertical retail display. It also serves product protection needs, including impact risks.
Skin Packaging Materials
Two parts make a skin pack: the plastic material that covers the product (skin film) and the printed backing board (skin board) or pre-formed tray. Each material has various material options.
Skin Film
The film is a transparent plastic sheet that becomes pliable when heated. The plastic type can be PET, LDPE, or PVC. It mainly depends on the desired qualities and protection level.
The film is usually transparent for product visibility and thin enough to shrink around the product. Other qualities include barrier protection to protect the packaged item, especially perishable goods.
Skin Board/Tray
The backing is usually paperboard and specially prepared for the vacuum process. That includes perforating it with tiny pores for air to pass through during sealing. It also involves coating the skin boards with a heat-sensitive adhesive.
Sometimes, the board lacks the adhesive, and the film serves that function. The backing can also be a paper, aluminum, or plastic tray. Again, the material depends on the required protection properties and recyclability needs.
Resource: https://www.packworld.com
How Does Skin Packaging Work?
Skin vacuum packaging involves various steps: loading the product, positioning the backing, heating the film, draping it over the product, and vacuum-sealing the package. Let’s see what occurs in each stage.
- Placing the backing on the vacuum plate, either manually or automatically.
- Loading the backing board or tray with the product. The product is a food or non-food item.
- Heating the film to a pliable state. It softens the film to make it fit the product’s shape.
- Lowering the film over the product and backing.
- Applying a vacuum from underneath to draw the film to the product.
- Air flows through microscopic holes in the backing, removing air and pulling the film.
- The film shrinks around the product, taking its shape. It also presses against the backing board
- The heat activates the adhesive on the board.
- The film bonds to the board, sealing the product to it.
- The package moves from the vacuum plate to a die cutter.
- The die cutter removes excess material and introduces required die cuts, such as hanging slots.
Resource: https://www.packagingstrategies.com
What are the Benefits of Skin Packaging?
Skin film offers various benefits in different industries and individual product applications. These explain its widespread use today. Notable advantages over other packaging methods include those listed below.
Extended Shelf Life
It reduces the air in contact with the product, extending its shelf life. This attribute makes the packaging method crucial in the food industry, where contamination and rotting are significant risks. The vacuum removes oxygen, reducing bacterial activity to keep the food from spoiling.
Tamper Resistance
The tight seal around the product makes packages tamper-proof and tamper-evident. In other words, you cannot open the package without destroying the seal. This feature improves customer confidence in the product and trust, improving the brand image.
Product Visibility
The see-through film reveals the packaged item to buyers. This feature is crucial when buyers must view the product. A good example is when buying farm produce or meats and other foods. It reveals the product’s quality and condition, making buyer decisions easier.
Application Versatility
The packaging solution suits many products, including foods and non-foods like electronics. You can also use it to present products in retail stores, given its transparent film that offers protection and visibility.
Reduced Packaging Materials
Packaging products using vacuum film uses less material. The film is thin and flexible, tightening over goods without leaving too much space. Additionally, you can cut packaged sheets into individual units to reduce the amount of secondary material you need to pack them.
Disadvantages of Skin Packaging
The vacuum method has a few downsides compared to other packaging processes. You must evaluate these disadvantages before picking the packaging method for your product. They include “wrap rage” and the equipment you need to use.
Wrap Rage
The film bonds powerfully to the rigid backing. As a result, users often have trouble opening the package without the help of tools, resulting in frustration. We call that wrap rage. While that may not affect quality, it can make packages less user-friendly.
Requires Specialized Equipment
You need a vacuum machine to remove air from the package for sealing. This requirement increases your packing costs. It also adds a step to the process, reducing the speed and output.
Skin vacuum packaging also requires die cutters to size them or introduce custom cuts. The cutter increases equipment requirements but makes the packages more tailored for display and other benefits.
Resource: https://www.refrigeratedfrozenfood.com
What are the Applications of Skin Packaging?
The skin packaging market keeps growing, as this report Technavio indicates. The report also predicts an 11.8% CAGR between 2024 and 2032. The following are industries that use it and examples of products.
Food Packaging
The food industry is a significant user of skin packs. The film keeps foods for longer, maintaining their freshness while protecting them against contamination. It also improves product presentation. The foods you can package include:
- Meat, fish, and chicken
- Seafood
- Fresh farm produce
- Bakery products
- Cheese
- Candies and snacks
Consumer Goods
You can also package various consumer goods. These are lightweight and delicate products requiring protection from the elements. They are also items buyers want to view before buying. The following are key examples of such products.
- Health and beauty products
- Lightweight kid toys
- Electronic products and accessories
- Stationery items
Hardware and Tools
Businesses can use vacuum skin packs for light industrial goods. It saves material and provides a clear view of the contents, enhancing a customer’s shopping experience. The following are products you can package.
- Small-sized tools
- Various automotive parts
- Construction parts
- Light gardening tools and supplies
- Other industrial products
Conclusion
Skin packaging utilizes thin film and vacuum to hold products onto a backing. It offers many benefits, including extending a product’s shelf life and allowing buyers to view products. Depending on your output needs, you could buy a manual, semi-automatic, or automatic sealer for your business.
