Sometimes the end-of-line services of packaging a product is done internally due to line set-ups, difficulty of movement to the outside, stringent manufacturing requirements, environmental considerations, government regulations and more.  But for retail products that are manufactured either in the US or off-shore, most companies have come to rely on outside “Contract Packaging Companies” do this the final packaging work for them.  Even though the term “Contract Packaging” applies to any 3rd party who provides the final packaging and assembly services, there are several categories of contract packagers who may either serve specific industries or provide specific capabilities based on space, certifications and equipment.  Here are the main categories of outside contract packaging solutions that you should become familiar with before outsourcing your next packaging project:

• Contract Packager (a general term that defines most packaging that is done on a contract basis (on the outside and with a 3rd party supplier who already has the necessary machinery and automation).Examples include Blister packaging, skin packaging, shrink wrapping, cello wrapping, clamshell RF sealing, pouching and bagging)
• Primary packaging (direct contact is made with powder or liquid as it is being packaged)
• Secondary packaging (final assembly or packaging of a powder or liquid that has already been primary packaged.  Examples include Bag-in-box and Bundle wrapping)
• Hand Assembly (Manual assembly including kits, gift sets, POP displays, gluing, tipping, folding, repackaging, fulfillment)
• Contract filler (pouching, blending, bottle and tube filling, bagging, filling)
• Rigid bottle filler (filling a rigid container with a powder, solid or liquid, then capping, lot coding and pack out)
• 3rd Party Logistics (warehousing, drop ship, reverse logistics, bulk logistics, pick & pack)
• Turnkey Product Packager (A contract packaging supplier that will manage the complete material supply chain)
• Co-packer (implies some level of contract manufacturing along with primary and/or secondary packaging capabilities)

Blister Packaging Manufacturer’s understand the important combination of a transparent PVC shell which can clearly display the product, and the graphics created on the blister card that is used as the perfect billboard to communicate the products features and benefits of its product.  This retail package, which can be designed to stand on a shelf or hung on a peg within a planogram, if done right can be a very attractive package that screams “buy me”!  Blister Packaging Manufacturers, especially Assemblies Unlimited, has come to rely on this packaging technique to provide key customers with the powerful combination of a secure and rigid outer PVC clear casing sealed to a blister card that allows for high end graphics.

Retail packaging options are ever-changing and it is imperative that you choose the right blister packaging manufacturer, like Assemblies Unlimited, who has the vast experience necessary to guide you with the most current blister packaging options, including right-sizing, security features, adequate/proper billboard space, combination print runs for cost efficiencies, secondary packaging options (display trays/counter displays) and final pallet load optimization.

For good visual packaging for a retail product many companies wonder whether they should blister package their next retail product or skin package it.  There are many similarities between the 2 packaging techniques but there are also many differences.
Of the 2 options it is blister packaging that has the highest “perceived value” on the retail shelf.  That is, the clean lines, glossy protective PVC outer shell and the good card graphics will be accepted as a quality packaging solution by the consumer.  Skin packaging on the other hand is often used with lower cost  items and accessories which end up categorizing it as the lesser expensive, lower value proposition.
There are several considerations you should use when deciding which packaging type would be best for your product:

1.     What will your product sell for?  If it will be be selling for under $5.00 then skin packaging may be the best option
2.     What is the volume of your packaging production runs?  If they are greater than 1 million units then skin packaging may be the more cost effective solution.  For volumes between 25K and 500K both blister and skin may prove to be identical in cost.
3.    What is the item that you are packaging?  If it is related to hardware, accessories, metal components, drill bits, or anything that is small and light, skin packaging may be the best solution
4.     Will your package be holding several different items in it that your want the consumer to be able to view?  Skin packaging is a good format for this
5.    Do you need some images or icons on your package to help explain what it is or what it does?  Blister cards provide the best surface for printing clean graphics as virgin SBS (solid bleach sulfate) is most commonly used.   A mylar film covers the complete front surface of a skin card which can inhibit the clarity and overall printing quality of a skin card.

Here are some advantages of Blister Packaging:
-High perceived value at retail
-Several design options such as trap blister, multiple blister, mock clamshell, full face blister
-Package can offer both a hang hole AND a stand up “foot” option
-SBS card stock is excellent for high end graphics
-Cost affective options are available for printing 4/4 (4 colors on front of card and 4 colors on back of card)
-Accepted by all retail outlets
-Theft resistant
-Transparent, rigid protective PVC blister front to showcase and protect your product
-Can stand on a shelf or hang on a peg
-No die cutting required

Here are some advantages of Skin Packaging:
-Low cost in high volumes (over 1MM units per year)
-Clear film (skin) on front of card gives the consumer a clear view to your entire product
-Hang hole available for hanging on a peg
-Can display multiple components on one card
-Clear glossy film protects product and is theft resistant

If you are considering a Blister Packaging or Skin Packaging project, contact Assemblies Unlimited at 877-273-6259 or go to our web site at www.assemblies.com

The inherent problem with this is that not every company you hire to package or label your product will understand the labeling requirements of your product which may mean you need to have to invest in packaging rework if the label is not done properly. Having your packaging rework often costs a significantly greater financial investment and a delay in your product reaching your customers. To avoid this problem, choose a company that is willing to listen to your needs and make sure your product is labeled appropriately!

When considering a company to do the labeling on your product you also need to be sure the facilities they offer have the equipment to meet your packaging needs. Check out Assemblies Unlimited: here, we have several different ways to label a product. You may be labeling the outer packaging in the cast of food products such as chips or bulk candies, or you may be labeling each individual product in the case of club packs for large retailers that will then be reselling your product individually. You may also need to label individual bottles or tubes or ointment or cream that will need to be labeled with fine print to ensure all of the relevant information about that product is present on the packaging so customers know what they are buying. If your label looks bare and appears to be missing important information, the customer is much less likely to buy it in favor of a product that offers more.

At Assemblies Unlimited, we use only the finest equipment and machinery to make sure we label your products right the first time. Also, if you need a tamper evident band on your product, we have machines capable of performing that task as well. We use pressure sensitive labelers that are perfect for labeling tubes of ointments or creams with fear of damaging the products or its packaging. We also utilize top of the line sleeve labelers that are fast and efficient. Our staff is capable of making sure your order is processed quickly without sacrificing quality. Assemblies Unlimited facilities also offer some of the best hot glue and skip glue labelers which are perfect for labeling bottles. Get in touch with us for a no-cost quote!

Look no further. Avoid delays by giving your contract to Assemblies Unlimited!

At Assemblies Unlimited, we understand the importance of doing the job right the first time. Whether you are looking for packaging tipping for a pharmaceutical cream or ointment, a cosmetic product or even a food product, we can assure you that you will receive only the highest quality packaging available quickly and efficiently. We can also tip pouches or bags for further packaging in a club pack so you can offer your product to the consumer or to grocery stores and large retailers in bulk. This option significantly opens up the market you are able to sell your product in. Large stores, especially chain stores, almost exclusively deal with buying products in bulk, so if you don’t offer that service, you may miss out on a huge source of revenue!

The machinery we use for tipping our packaging is considered some of the best in the industry. The rotary packaging machines we use were designed specifically for tipping and feature both step-motor orientation and photoelectric switch orientation which each offer benefits for various types of jobs. While you may not be sure which option would best fit your job, we are. We are experience and knowledgeable so we are able to determine exactly which speed settings and operation orientation would best fit the needs of each individual order.

We test all of our machinery on a strict maintenance schedule. Our staff has implemented excellent quality control procedures to ensure every machine in our facility is working its best for each and every package we produce. All Assemblies Unlimited tipping machines are cleaned and maintained on a regular basis and all parts are tested and inspected for signs they may need replacement. Keeping our machines in excellent condition allows us to quickly and efficiently process your orders without sacrificing the quality of your packaging.

Give us a call, and a trained sales specialist will assist you with everything you need!

If you choose to outsource your company’s blend and fill you need to be sure you can rely on the contract packaging service you choose and can count on them to do their job quickly and efficiently. This is an important part of your company’s operation and you need to know your customers will receive their products on-time and packaged correctly the first time. Your product needs to be handled in a safe way and the contract blend and fill supplier needs to be properly certified, be in a clean environment and following SOPs and GMPs as required by the industry. Assemblies Unlimited will be able to provide you with not just a reliable packaging process but and clean and certified blend and fill manufacturing environment.

If you choose to use our blend and fill services you are assured the most complete packaging solution that will guarantee local supply of all the packaging materials. We have the best filling equipment for any blend and fill application from dry chemical to dry food products and everything in-between. We will also source and procure any raw packaging material or raw ingredient to allow you and your managers to focus on other areas of running your company.

Assemblies Unlimited Inc provides a full turnkey blend and fill partnership and complete supply chain management. This ensures that every aspect of final blend and fill project will be a success because of over 17 years experience. You can depend on us to manage your successful product launch, as we deliver exactly what on customer’s request. We offer among the best prices for blend and fill contracts in the industry without sacrificing quality. We commit to strive to make sure your blend and fill contract is completed on-time, every time, and that our work meets or exceeds your expectations.

Assemblies Unlimited offers some of the best services in the industry for pack outs. Simply draw up a detailed inventory and make sure nothing is missing from it and let us do the work. We carefully pack everything you need to move and make sure it gets to the new location safely. Moving companies may not be the best option as they do not offer anything in terms of packing. As anyone looking to move their business knows, the packing is a vital aspect of making the move a smooth process. We can handle the majority of the packing as long as you make sure everything is ready for us to pack up.

You will need to get any documents in order and make sure they are prepared for us to pack and we will take it from there. Assemblies Unlimited offers full packaging and boxing services as well as a fleet of trucks ready and able to handle the actual task of moving your business into its new home. Our trucks are large enough to handle even the biggest move and our professional packers are experienced and trained to make sure your business equipment is handled with the utmost care and caution.

With your detailed inventory close at hand, we will ensure everything is packed into boxes carefully and anything delicate or breakable is appropriately secured and labeled to prevent damage during transport. We will also label your boxes to make the unpacking process less time consuming for you.

If you need to move out of your old location but the new location is not yet ready for your belongings to be moved in, Assemblies Unlimited has warehouse space where everything can be safely stored until you are ready to have them moved. We have worked hard to build a high quality pack out system so we can deliver your business assets to the new location quickly while ensuring they are neatly organized, labeled and ready for unpacking. Call Assemblies Unlimited today for your free quote!

The machinery in our facility is top of the line so we are able to guarantee your order will be filled to the highest standard of quality. All of our machinery is carefully tested so we can be sure it is in perfect working order all of the time for each of our customers. We have various sized mixers capable of handling any size order of nearly any type of product. We can produce high quality pastes, creams, cosmetics and adhesives for any application including pharmaceutical ointments and creams. Because our mixers are automated, we can also assure all of our customers their product will be entirely sanitary and sterile as it will be untouched by human hands.

Tube and bottle filling business is all about consistency in your results. We use only the best tube and bottle filling machines that deliver tubes or bottles filled to your exact specifications. This means your customers will get exactly what they want every single time they buy your product. No tubes will have more or less product than the last one or the next one. Our sealers are also high quality. We hermetically seal your product to prevent seepage or leakage. We have standard crimping machines that are considered among the best in the industry for any tubes that require a crimped bottom seal such as ointments or pastes.

Our facility utilizes the best double head or triple head container filling machines for use on your order. We are able to determine which machine would best suit your needs and use the appropriate machine whereas other facilities only offer one or the other. This ensures a flawless product and allows for the fast fulfillment of your order without sacrificing quality in the least!

Choosing the right company to meet your packaging needs is a vital part of the success of your business. Many companies outsource the work for the bulk packaging of their products as purchasing the materials necessary to undertake the task can be extremely expensive. Your company may also not have the facilities needed to take on this portion of the project. For whatever reason, once your business reaches a certain level of success, finding a partner company to take care of your packaging needs will become necessary. We can offer the services you need.

Our facilities offer equipment to accommodate any size project and any size product. We have several table top gluing machines to accommodate smaller products or smaller orders. These table top machines have several speeds so we can be sure your product gets the attention it needs. For larger orders, we have several full size gluing machines capable of handling even the biggest orders.

Besides Assemblies Unlimited testing all machinery on a regular basis to ensure everything is in perfect working order, we also frequently train and re-train our staff on various technologies. As various aspects of gluing change over time, we keep up with the trends in the business by being aware of what our competition is doing. All employees are taught to make sure none of your products will be marred or damaged in the packaging process. When necessary, we have expert workers who are able to hand glue projects that need a human eye to examine the results of the work. Our hot melt machines can handle any project, no matter how large, without posing risk to any portion of your product. Our cold gluing machines are powerful enough to handle any order while ensuring the safety and firm seal of your product’s packaging.

We also offer gluing machines that allow semi-automatic paper feeding which is one of the absolute best methods for gluing paper for bulk packaging products. The machines we use employ hot melt adhesive power to ensure shrinking is completely eliminated. The adjustable gluing drums in our machines almost provide the paper with an even layer of glue for a flawless seal.