At Drug Plastics, we want our customers to have all of the information needed to make the right choices when designing a cost-effective, efficient, and eye-catching package for their product. Selecting the correct bottle type is only the beginning of the story. The type of closure selected plays a large role in the design too – in order for a packaging system to perform as expected, the closure must work properly with the bottle. Selecting an improper closure liner can cause major issues like product damage and loss, waste, and of course, unnecessary costs. Read the first article in this series: “Understanding Closure Liners and the Materials Used to Produce Them” published in our March 2022 newsletter.
With that in mind, here are guidelines to help you select the correct closure liner for your product packaging.
Container Material Type – The material type of the bottle you choose will determine the liner options. PE, PP, PET, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), PS, and “treated” glass are the most commonly found types of materials used for bottles. Different liners seal differently on these various bottle material types: the bottle material type you choose plays a large part in the closure liner type you select.
Product Being Packaged – What industry does the product serve? Does the seal need to be made of FDA-approved materials? For example, the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and chemical industries require packaging components to meet certain requirements. It is important to determine which requirements apply to your product.
Product Characteristics – In what form is your product delivered? Is it dry (like a solid dose medication or powder)? Is it a viscous material? Is it in liquid form or highly acidic? Does it include an aggressive ingredient? Will the seal work with the form and reactivity of the contents? Protecting your product is paramount and providing all the information about your product’s characteristics will help determine which closure liner will perform as needed.
Product Filling Process – The method used for filling the packaging with the liquid contents also impacts the closure liner choice. In addition, the product treatment can affect the type of seal that can be used. Types of filling processes include: cold fill; hot fill; retort; pasteurization; aseptic; and flood fill.
Removal Characteristics – There are several scenarios for liner removal. Do you want a clean land area on the bottle once the seal is removed? Is it important that the liner be pierced easily? Do you want tamper evidence? Answering these questions will help you determine which characteristic you want.
- Clean Peel – Easy to peel and remove in one piece with no residual material left on the land area of the bottle.
- Tamper Indicating Peel – Easy to peel and removed in one piece, but residual material left on the land area of the bottle.
- Puncturable – Punctures easily, but residual material is left on the land area of the bottle.
- Puncture-Resistant – Requires a tool to puncture, but residual material left on the land area of the bottle.
Removal Features – What mechanism will be part of the liner to assist the user when opening? There are several to choose from.
- Side Tabs – Die cut/punched part of the liner itself. You can have one or multiple tabs. These tabs also serve to help retain the liner in the closure.
- Top Tabs – No contact with seal or product surface because it is applied to the top of the liner. Provides a larger half-moon shaped tab on top of the liner providing more surface area for the consumer to remove the liner.
Closure Size – Determining what the dimensions of the closure liner you will need is based on the bottle and closure sizes you select for your product packaging.
Origin of closure liner materials
Where liners are manufactured and the raw materials used to produce them is important. If liners are manufactured in non-regulated countries, or if the raw materials used to produce the liner are not sourced in a regulated country, you could potentially be non-compliant with regulations established by regulatory agencies like the FDA.
When you work with Drug Plastics, you are assured that every closure liner we use is manufactured in, and the raw materials used in their production are sourced in the USA or Canada. The liners are FDA-approved, just like all of our bottles and closures. You can have confidence that your products will be packaged appropriately and meet the strict regulatory requirements for your industry. At both of our closure manufacturing facilities in Phoenix, AZ and Edinburgh, IN, we cut liners from sheet stock to exact size specifications, and produce closures in a variety of sizes.
Save costs by choosing the best closure liner for your product
The liner can be an expensive part of the bottle and closure packaging system. Picking the wrong liner that does not work correctly or is not made for the specific type of contents could damage the product and create lost product, waste, or increased liability for your company.
These scenarios add potential costs. In addition, over-specifying the liner means paying more for something that really isn’t needed. For example, if your application requires a simple foam liner, and you opt for a liner with unnecessary facings, you will incur additional costs that reduce your profitability.
We can help
At Drug Plastics, we help our customers design the best packaging option for their products – a solution that is cost-effective, enhances their brand, reduces liability, and improves their bottom line. We can do the same for you. Our 50+ years of experience can help you create the best packaging for your product. Ready to discuss your packaging? Contact Us or speak with someone immediately at 610-367-5000.
Read the first article in this series: “Understanding Closure Liners and the Materials Used to Produce Them” published in our March 2022 newsletter.
For additional and more in-depth information about closure liners, we invite you to visit https://www.seligsealing.com/.