The Macpac Blog

I need to bar code my product – can you help?

2010-09-07T06:52:00.000-07:00

Customers often ask us this and usually after a company have grown to a certain size and starts to supply bigger customers such as the supermarkets or DIY sheds. The humble bar code facilitates masses of logistic information that can help sales and profitability for a variety of reasons. Bar coding is used principally to identify products and stock levels. They speed up purchasing; help to identify shopper patterns and trends as well as enabling product tracking and a whole host of other facilities. It is for these reasons that your customer is likely to insist on bar coding the packaging for your products. Macpac have been involved in integrating bar coding into our thermoformed packaging designs for many years. We always give due consideration to the positioning of the bar code whether it’s on the backing card of a heat sealed blister, slide blister or trapped blister pack; the insert graphics card of a clamshell design, sandwich blister or custom designed thermoformed pack. It needs to look neat and tidy as an integral part of the graphics design as well as being positioned so that it can be easily found and scanned. We can offer you plenty of our experience in bar coding to help your next project run smoothly. However if you would like to know chapter and verse on the subject then we recommend having a look at the website of a not for profit organisation GS1. Pretty much everything you need to know is there. Armed with that knowledge all that remains is for us to incorporate it into the design of your next packaging project.

Single source supply makes sound business sense

2010-08-06T11:55:00.001-07:00

There are plenty of good thermoformed packaging businesses out there but very few that can truly provide a ‘one stop’ service. Of those that can there are even fewer that stand out. UK thermoforming specialist Macpac has been leading the way for decades providing a totally comprehensive service from original design through all aspects of prototyping and manufacture to contract packing and fulfilment. Even the design and production of graphic insert cards and other printed material is covered in-house at Macpac. The beauty of a set–up like this is that there are virtually no hold ups in the supply process as everything is under central control. Macpac’s in-house tooling facility is something that few thermoforming companies have which is a major plus over its competitors. It really speeds up the supply process, guarantees quality as well as giving a price advantage. When you control all aspects of a manufacturing process it’s possible to prioritise without depending on somebody else’s good will. This helps to ensure that customers get their goods on time and to the correct specification. Macpac even provide a facility to assemble customers’ products and pack them prior to shipping. This can reduce handling and costs for the customer as well as speeding up the fulfilment process. Sometimes our customers ask for more than just packaging design. Over the years we’ve helped with all aspects of marketing from creating brand identity, advertising and website design using our experienced team. Having said all this we’re not saying that you have to use the entire range of our capability. You may be very happy with your own design and know exactly what you want and just need us to make it. On the other hand lots of clients like the idea that one company can fulfil all its thermoforming needs and more besides.

Add a recycling logo to improve your credibility

2010-07-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

As consumers we’re all encouraged to do our bit by recycling as much of our waste material as possible. Sometimes it’s too confusing to know what can and can’t be recycled so it becomes an all or nothing, either chuck everything into the bin or leave it at the recycling facility. This highlights a flaw in the recycling process that leads to un-necessary landfill or contamination of recyclable material. It’s especially true when compostible materials are mixed with other plastics for recycling. There is a solution to this, which while not foolproof, can go some way to helping the problem and it really isn’t difficult. Whatever product you’re supplying you should be including recycling information on your packaging – at the very least the arrowed triangle known as a mobius loop that indicates that an item can be recycled. Get a brief overview of the various recycling logos” target=”_blank” you can display on your packaging to show that you are alert to recycling which is something your customers will appreciate. You should also consider plastic packaging recycling symbols and what can and can’t be recycled to advise and inform your customers and consumers further. Sometimes it’s worth telling consumers that a particular material can’t currently be recycled and some responsible suppliers are increasingly doing this. Including these logos on your packaging helps consumers to positively recycle. Why not take it a stage further and inform your customers what you are doing as well so that they are aware of your own recycling credentials. Here at Macpac we’ve been encouraging all our customers to include these logos on their packaging for years. We believe it’s important as a responsible manufacturer of blister packaging and general vacuum formed packaging and trays that we set an example and lead the way. Our design department will incorporate recycling logos in ways that enhance pack design. These logos strengthen your credentials as a responsible supplier and can enhance your sales potential. We have a comprehensive stock of tooling elements that make it really simple and cost effective to incorporate these logos so there’s no excuse for not doing your bit in the quest to reduce waste and encourage recycling.

Eurocel Clamshells – Great value and flexibility in blister packaging

2010-03-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

For some products it’s difficult to justify the set-up cost of a bespoke pack and maybe an off the shelf option doesn’t quite get the job done either. That’s where the Eurocel concept really excels. Eurocels give you the best of both worlds – semi bespoke packaging at a fraction of the cost of a bespoke pack because most of the tooling costs are eliminated. Eurocels are based on a series of stock base plinth sizes that allow you to specify an add-on shape to fit your product. Specifying the ideal pack couldn’t be easier. Select a base plinth that best suits your product. From this Macpac can add on any shape to ideally suit your product. You only pay for the tooling cost of the shape not the base. There are 4 simple steps to get to the finish pack. The only thing left to choose is how many you need and whether to choose a stud fix closure or opt for the added security of HF welding. We’ll even print your insert cards and contract pack your product too to make life really simple.

High quality stock blister packs

2010-01-07T11:40:00.000-08:00

Macpac would be the first to recognise that for some customers they simply don’t need the sophistication and expense of a bespoke pack if there is an off the shelf option available. That’s why they have the most comprehensive stock range of high quality blister packaging in today’s market. The BlisterKing stock range has around 120 shapes and sizes to choose from so there should be a pack to fit your product. We’ve made it really easy to find the right pack size too with our packfinder tool. All you have to do is type in the approximate dimensions of your product and you’re a click away from being shown the range of options that will get the job done. Alternatively you could use the BlisterKing selector where every pack is shown. Click on any of these packs and you can print out a size for size image to see if your product fits the pack. Whichever way you choose you wont find a better range of high quality blister packs from stock. The big advantage to BlisterKing is that there are no set up charges as the tooling has already been done so you only pay for the finished packs. The quality is unrivalled and we think you’ll find the price is too.

Reducing Packaging Costs

2009-12-04T08:43:00.000-08:00

In tough times companies look even harder to make savings and packaging is often seen as a target for cost cutting. Sometimes it’s all too easy to see only the bottom line without realising the added value that packaging can bestow on your product. Instead of looking for what seems to be just a cheaper option consider working with a company that genuinely wants to help you make savings by providing you with packaging that works harder for your product. We’ve been doing this at Macpac for around 40 years. As thermoforming specialists the secret of our success starts with good design that not only looks good but also considers ways of using less material to keep costs down. Intelligent manufacturing techniques enable strong packs to be made often from thinner gauge materials, again to reduce cost. Our highly experienced team of professional design engineers have solved customers’ problems time and again with innovative design and technical knowledge – You can tap into this now. Good quality packaging makes your product stand out from the crowd so beware the false economy of choosing a cheap option that might make your product look cheap too.