Introduction :Packaging is closely integrated with marketing, for it protects the product while it is moved from the factory to the wholesaler or retailer. It helps to sell the product at the point of sale, on its journeys to the consumers home and keeps it safe there until fully expended, it is thrown away. And all the time, it should be extending the advertising and product image. Probably the greatest increases in the use of packaging are in the markets for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, household products, and food. In this time we share about Soap Packaging / Paper Wrap in Chapter 3.0.0, either for Pillow Pack and Folding Box Type in another Chapter.
Quality Requirement for Soap Packaging :
The first step to develop Soap Packaging is know how to fulfill Quality Requirements for Soap Packaging, such as :
Appearence performance. Commonly said " Eye Catch ". It is meaning The Soap Packaging must stimulate impulse purchasing. It must be easy to handle and attractive to both see and hold, like transparent Soap Packaging that allow people to see the color of soap packed inside, using attractive color, transparent color or dual color soap.
Protection performance. Packaging has a major function to protect Soap from dust, chemical, fungus, heat, damage, moisture and any other contaminant.
Self Life performance. In cosmetics product like soap, self life performance commonly up to 2 years. So, The Packaging Soap must ensure the product life time still in good condition up to 2 years even more. This life time recommended for RF and Humidity in normal condition and become shorter for critical either extreme condition.
Marketing performance ( Cost ). In many FMCG ( Fast Moving Consumer Good ) company, cost of packaging usually spend around 1.5 - 3.5 % of the total price selling. Below this range, may be the packaging not good enough in protection and performance quality for the whole product. Above this range, The Cost of Packaging is too expensive and must be reduced using alternatife specification and process. In fact, specification and kind of process using to make a packaging contribute at least 55 % of the total of Packaging. So, if you want to reduce cost of Packaging, the main point you must reduce is specification of material and kind of process used in making Packaging.
Model of Soap Packaging :
There are so many model, material, and process have been developed to make a good Packaging for Soap today such as :
Paper Wrapping. This kind of Packaging, using Stiffener paper to support edge specially for Soap in tablets. For Soap gramature from 60 - 85 g using Stiffener paper 120 gsm. For gramature from 90 - 110 g using Stiffener paper 160 gsm, and for Soap gramature from 120 gsm and more using Stiffener paper 180 gsm. Specification of packaging material commonly used is :
PET12/ink/adh/HVS 60-80 gsm/HMA 15-25 gsm ( Good in Heat Resistance )
OPPmatte20/ink/adh/HVS 60-80 gsm/HMA 15-25 gsm ( giving matte appearence )
PET12/ink/adh/VM-PET12/adh/HVS 60-80 gsm/HMA 15-25 gsm ( giving metallize appearence )
Specification of Stiffener paper is : Double Bleached Paper 120 to 180 gsm, apply with Anti fungus agent around 1000 ppm active content, commonly using Metazole MT-100, Carbendazym/Intace fungicide B-350 and B-300.
Recently development for Packaging is reduce HVS paper from 80 gsm to 60 gsm, but still using Stiffener not less than 160 gsm to ensure Stiff enough to package a soap tablets. Another improvement already done by using pattern scheme in applying cylinder that reduce the total area covered by glue
Any development today has done to make a formulation of HMA ( Hot Melt Coating Adhesive ). HMA basicly made from LDPE C4 resin mixed with some additive like LDPE C8, Elite from Dowlex, Sylvares from Arizona Chemical, and some Styrofoam tablets. Today, HMA chips that ready in application for Industry has been supplied by National Adhesive Company. Specially for packaging material type 2 ( above ), The HMA glue must be ensure to give a good adhesion between glue and the surface of OPP matte film.
The type of machine commonly used such as :
Intermittent type, old varian of ACMA series 711, speed up to 200 pack/min
Continuous / rotary type, new varian of ACMA series 7350, speed up to 300 pack/min
Advantages using Paper Wrap :
Disadvantages using Paper Wrap :
Cost of Packaging higher rather than pillow pack type of Soap Packaging because based on paper for main material in packaging and added cost for anti fungus agent.
Not good in moisture resistance
Not good in damage protection ( handling & transportation )
Not good in liquid contaminant resistance
Self life shorter rather than pillow pack packaging, no more than 2 years
