The COVID-19 Vaccine’s Logistical Distribution Challenges in Malaysia

cold transport vaccine

Every country around the world is still reeling from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries in Asia, including Malaysia, are also looking for modern solutions to overcome a variety of challenges in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Most countries have already signed a number of agreements with drug manufacturers to obtain vaccines as soon as possible. Yet, there are still many challenges to distributing the vaccines globally, especially in underdeveloped and developing countries. 

The primary distribution challenge is associated with the fact that the vaccines from companies such as Pfizer need extremely low storage temperatures to ensure the proper efficacy. This requirement has resulted in numerous large-scale logistical issues in Malaysia and many other countries.

 

Storage Issues

Once the government obtains a sufficient number of vaccines, the next challenge is to store them without compromising their quality and efficacy. It is important to have essential medical equipment such as glass vials, syringes, and containers that can be used to store and transport vaccines.

The authorities must spend a considerable amount of money on establishing large pharmaceutical warehouses equipped with the required tools to store COVID-19 vaccines. The use of stretch films or stretch wraps has also increased because this type of packaging material is typically sturdy enough to package the common medical equipment.

Temperature Control

Maintaining cold temperatures for COVID-19 vaccine storage and transportation is important. Low-income markets are facing challenges in this area because controlling the temperature of the end-to-end pipeline is extremely difficult.

The government is obtaining help from global logistics companies such as UPS and DHL to ensure proper solutions are implemented to deal with the logistical challenges of COVID-19 vaccine distribution.

Companies are also looking for modern and innovative packaging solutions other than the traditional stretch film or stretch wrap. One of the best cold-chain wrapping solutions is Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films.

 

Cold Chain Packaging with Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films

The following three factors impact cold-chain packaging solutions:

  1. If the product has to maintain particular physical qualities at a suitable temperature and other weather-related conditions, then cold-chain packaging solutions are useful in maintaining the ideal temperature. 
  2. The location at which the products are manufactured and where they are being transported heavily impacts the way a product is packaged. 
  3. The overall supply chain and distribution channels should be considered when choosing a suitable cold-chain packaging solution. 

The Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic cold-chain wrapping film is a highly useful packaging solution with maximum clarity and visibility, making it easier to examine the packaged products. Companies prefer it due to its reliable branding options.

Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films are beneficial in mitigating the challenges associated with COVID-19 vaccine distribution in Malaysia because it can keep the products’ temperature within a specific range.

Generally, cold-chain temperatures range from 2°C to 8°C for goods such as fruits and environmentally sensitive products. However, in the case of the vaccines, like the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, having a –70°C cold chain is important.

Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films are much better than conventional stretch films or stretch wraps because it has additional clinging properties that make it suitable in freezing temperatures for a variety of products, including the vaccine.

Benefits of Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Film

Using Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Film allows manufacturers and distributors to keep products fresh and protect their quality during the entire storage and transportation process. As a result, companies are also able to cut down on temperature-based damages. 

Moreover, Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films are significantly stronger than a simple stretch film as it provides exceptional support and protection to products like glass vials. Even when Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic film is used in temperature-controlled rooms, the film will firmly stick to each other. 

In a Nutshell

Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films are one of the most reliable and efficient cold chain wrapping solutions that are beneficial for extremely low-temperature refrigerants like the COVID-19 vaccines.

Companies can rely on the Nano Arctic freezer film to resolve a variety of distribution challenges. This makes Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic Freezer Films extremely useful to store and transport COVID-19 vaccines in Malaysia while maintaining vaccines stability.

Optimized packaging: Selecting The Best Film For Your Loads

Optimized packaging for your load wraps

Did you know that 4% of transported goods are damaged upon arrival? Factories, warehouses, and businesses are now more aware of the importance of optimized packaging when it comes to pallet wrapping machines to avoid unwanted losses. 

While buyers are concerned about the condition of the goods they paid for, sellers are much affected and responsible for this. 

Even if damage did not occur at the seller or senders center, the primary fault usually goes to them, resulting in costly return cost and damage to their reputation.  

This is why optimizing your tertiary packaging is the way to help improve what you are already doing but better.

What Is Optimized Packaging? 

In a nutshell, packaging optimization means using smart packaging that fits your packaging needs designed to secure, contain, and protect your products. 

It is important that your packages are secured during logistic processes from warehouses, factories, in-store fulfillment centers, or manufacturers to a final destination usually determined by the buyer or due process.

What Should I Be Looking at For Optimized Unitization? 

So, what does optimization mean? Optimized packaging means using the right film for the suitable machine for the right amount of film when it comes to stretch film. 

The Right Amount of Film

Too thin of a film, and it will not protect the product. Too thick, and it will cost more and potentially damage the product if it’s packed too tightly.  

Optimizing a pallet properly depends on the film’s pre-stretch capabilities and the heaviness of the load. 

For example, when wrapping a heavy pallet of drinks of 1.5L bottle packs x 480 bottles per pallet, Newton R&D Center’s benchmark would be to use 450 grams of stretch film for optimum wrapping. If it is a smaller packed 500ml bottle packs x 1,200 bottles per pallet, our best benchmark is that your stretch film usage should only weigh 408 grams. 

What about lighter pallet wraps?

Light package wraps like packaging a pallet of tissue should be wrapped using a ring wrapper should only require 280-300 grams of stretch film (according to Newton R&D Center’s benchmark). 

The Right Machine 

As covered in our previous article on pairing your film to the right stretch wrapping machine, it is essential to match them to achieve optimum wraps. 

In summary, these machines are generally used and suitable for your wrapping needs 

  • Turntable Wrapper – The simplest form to wrap where the pallet is placed on a turntable that rotates while a pallet stretch film is delivered around the load. It is capable of 10– 20 loads per hour and ideal for A and B load types. 

  • Rotary Arm Wrapper – Operates by positioning loads under a rotating arm. The load stays secured and stationary while stretch film is revolved to wrap around the pallet. Suitable for all A, B, and C types of heavy and oversized loads.

  • Ring Wrapper – Excellent for unstable loads that required high throughput yield. When wrapping, the load remains stationary. The wrapping is done via rotating around the pallet not by an arm but through a large ring. 

Benefits of optimizing wrapping 

What are the benefits of packaging in supply chain management when optimizing wraps? Here are some important ones that could benefit you: 

  • Save cost – Don’t spend unnecessarily for more film when you can do better with less.

  • Good for the environment – You are not over or under-consuming when you are optimizing. When you over-consume, access materials contribute to more wastage (more carbon footprint), while under-consuming isn’t a healthy option. When there is not enough film to optimize your wraps, your pallets become unstable and are prone to tip over and all, resulting in damaged and unsaleable goods. 

  • Enhance Production – Optimized wrapping can increase production in warehouses or distribution centers when there is no overwrapping of pallets. This saves time and boosts output. 

  • Minimizing product damage – With optimized wraps, you gain better load stability and containment. There will be lesser chances of damages in your warehouse and along the distribution journey. 

  • Increase employee productivity – Employees will also find it easier to handle packages that are optimized too. Packing is neat, tidy, and easy to handle too.

Using Machines to Optimize Your Wraps For Optimized Packaging

Different machines work with different types of loads. Generally, there are three types of pallet wrapping loads:

  • A Load – Stable, straight sides with up to 3″ protrusions.

  • B Load – Relatively stable with protrusions of up to 6″ inches or less

  • C Load – Oddly shaped with several protrusions (including sharp corners) of over 6″. Unstable.

How Do Thong Guan’s Products Fit into Your Load Type? 

Optimizing your loads can be quite a challenge, and we are here to help you with it. Here are some scenarios of how our machine film products can level up your wrapping process. If you already: 

  • Have your own machine, but your machine doesn’t pre-stretch much (less than 100%)?: Don’t worry, you don’t have to convert your machines to power pre-stretch yet. Our Maxstrech series would be best suited for such applications. Maxstretch comes with a 20% guaranteed load integrity/memory that is stiff for optimal load containment. With less film consumption, it helps you save cost and gains the best for your wraps. 

  • Have your own power pre-stretched machine that can pre-stretch 300% using 23um film?: Thong Guan’s NanoXecure is perfect for you. Xecure is a high holding force film at a thinner gauge where 14um film would handle and perform the same as a typical 20um film. Xecure’s 17um film can also efficiently perform as well as 23um films. Our nano series films are designed to have high holding force but with a thinner gauge so that you can save on film. 

  • Have an inline machine for fast wrapping environments?: When in high-speed wrapping environments, there must be no failure of film. Thong Guan’s Nano55 soft film pre-stretched up to 300% is designed for total cost savings and most suitable in such fast-paced wrap settings.

So How Do We Select the Best Film? 

Still unsure about selecting the right film for your stretch film machine for optimized packaging? Thong Guan has worked with Newton R&D Center to help factories, warehouses, distribution centers to select the right film with our Engage program. 

It is an effective seven steps program, which can help you make the right decision on selecting the right film

 

Alternatively, Newton R&D Center also has a program called protection plus, which is similar to our Engage program. 

Time to Engage: Optimize Packaging Solutions Today

The way you use your stretch film can significantly decrease potential damages, wastages, and unsalable goods. On the upside, it can also boost profit and increase customer satisfaction too. 

Remember: Optimize packaging starts with choosing the correct film, using the right amount of film, and utilizing the best wrapping method suitable for your packing needs. 

Having peace of mind when your loads leave your facility is easy. 

Let’s connect to show you how. Together we can optimize your wrapping process and increase your output to get the best value in return. 

Wait no more, engage us.

Contact us at info@thongguan.com for more info or to enquire more today.

Is Shrink Film Suitable to Wrap My Products?

Watermelon, papaya, melon, pineapple grape, fruit on the market shelf

Shrink films are often considered to be one of the best packaging materials because they allow you to keep your products safe and secure.

However, choosing the best solution can be challenging because there are several types of shrink films available on the market.

For businesses. it is important to conduct thorough research to make sure they are choosing the right type of stretch film to protect their products and improve the customer shopping experience. 

In this post, you will get to know about the major types of stretch films and their pros and cons. So, let’s get started:

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Pros

PVC is thin and light, which makes it significantly more affordable than the other shrink films.

It is capable of shrinking only in one direction and has high resistance to tears and punctures. PVC is quite attractive because it has a shiny texture

Cons

PVC is vulnerable to wrinkles and extreme softening at very high temperatures.Similarly, it can get too hard and brittle at very low temperatures.

Businesses also have to make sure that they are using PVC only with inedible products because it has chloride in it due to which can emit toxic fumes in heating and sealing.

This stretch film also has strict disposal standards to ensure proper disposal and sustainable development.

Polyolefin

Pros

Polyolefin has been approved by the regulatory organizations to package edible products because it does not have any toxic elements or components that can damage the food products.

Moreover, it does not produce any significant smell during the heating and sealing process.  Generally, the polyolefin is considered to be the best stretch wrap for irregularly shaped packages because it shrinks much more than other stretch films.

The glossy surface of the film gives an attractive look to the entire packaging. It is also a highly reliable stretch wrap when you want to store multiple products without getting worried about punctures and tears.

Cons

Polyolefin is an expensive shrink film as it costs much more than a traditional PVC film. Moreover, you might have to perforate the polyolefin films in some situations to reduce or eliminate air pockets and bumpy areas on the films.

Polyethylene

Pros

There are many different benefits of polyethylene films, due to which they have become an extremely popular option for most organizations, stores, and warehouses. It is typically used to wrap multiple packages of heavy items like water bottles and beverages.

Moreover, polyethylene films are durable and can easily stretch much more than the other types of stretch films. It has also been approved by the experts to use for the packaging of the food products.

Another interesting aspect of polyethylene is the fact that its thickness can be scaled up to 1200 gauge. It means it is suitable for wrapping massive objects like boats and other similar vehicles for storage purposes.

Cons

A major disadvantage of using polyethylene is that it has a significantly low shrink rate, and its surface is not as clear as the other kinds of shrink films.

Moreover, polyethylene is more expensive than other stretch films, due to which it can be difficult for companies, especially small-scale businesses, to keep affording them over the long term.

 

Benefits of Using Stretch films to Wrap Your Products

Some of the many benefits that you can enjoy by using stretch films to wrap your products are:

1. Protection

The durability of the shrink films plays an important role in protecting and preserving the contents of the packaging. It allows you to easily ship your products and have peace of mind that the products will be transferred in a safe and secure manner.

They are also useful in increasing the shelf life of the perishable items and concealing the smell of the products.

2. Appeal

If you use attractive stretch wraps like Polyolefin films, they can make the entire packaging look much more appealing to the customers.

Modern technology also allows companies to customize the packaging at an affordable rate. These factors are important in the branding and long-term success of your business.

3. Sustainability

Great advancements are being made in the packaging industry, due to which a wide range of eco-friendly stretch films is available in the market. Companies have the option of switching to these stretch wraps to promote eco-friendliness and sustainability.

Types of Products That Can Be Wrapped with Shrink Film

Shrink film is a versatile packaging solution used across various industries due to its protective, tamper-evident, and cost-effective properties. It is widely applied to food products, ensuring freshness and hygiene for items like baked goods, fresh produce, and frozen foods. Many food manufacturers opt for FDA-approved polyolefin shrink film for safe and high-quality packaging.

Beverage Industry

In the beverage industry, shrink film is commonly used for bottled drinks and multipacks, keeping them securely bundled during storage and transportation. Its ability to conform tightly around products makes it ideal for packaging multi-unit beverage packs, such as bottled water, soft drinks, and canned beverages.

Retail and Consumer Goods

For retail and consumer goods, shrink film provides a clear, professional presentation while protecting items from dust, moisture, and tampering. It is frequently used for packaging electronics, cosmetics, personal care products, toys, and household items. The ability to apply branding or tamper-proof seals makes it a preferred choice for e-commerce and retail businesses.

Industrial and Warehouse Industry

Additionally, shrink film is extensively used in industrial and warehouse packaging for securing palletized goods, hardware, and machinery parts. It helps maintain product integrity, prevents shifting during transportation, and improves warehouse organization. Heavy-duty shrink films, such as polyethylene, provide extra durability and puncture resistance, making them suitable for wrapping large or irregularly shaped items.

Overall, shrink film is an efficient and reliable packaging material for a diverse range of products, offering protection, visibility, and cost-effectiveness in various industries.

The Bottom Line

Finding the right stretch films depends on the kind of business you have and the kind of products you pack.

Now that you are familiar with the various types of stretch wraps available on the market, you should have no issue choosing the right kind of stretch film for your business and products.

For further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our specialists.

Packaging Testing Methods: Optimizing Packaging Needs

packaging testing methods

Packing and packaging testing methods have become increasingly important considerations for e-commerce. 

Since the global COVID19 pandemic, many shoppers have switched their shopping habits. It is now the norm for end-users to order goods from both local and international sellers. 

It has pushed e-commerce trading in reaching new transactional volumes.

According to a report by Digital Commerce 360, online sales has added $105 billion in U.S. online revenue in 2020, accelerating its growth two years ahead of its expected development time.

The producers of e-commerce, like Amazon, Taobao, Lazada, and Shopee, have a tremendous volume of transactions, which are popular and highly in demand. 

Online shopping has also become increasingly fashionable. If the product’s delivered packaging does not look intact as promised, it will affect the platform’s reputation and product sales. 

To ensure you have the right results delivered, you need to make sure that your packaging is optimized. 

Common Problems Ecommerce Business Face

What are some of the problems that e-commerce businesses may encounter? Some of these you may sound very familiar to you:

  • Customer complains. Customers can be your number one fan, but what happens when they have negative feedbacks on carton damages? Courier service providers and merchants will surely hear about it – worst still if they write on public reviews. 
  • Reduction in damages and product loss When a carton is damaged, your customers may raise a red flag and reject the shipment. That is an extra cost to revert shipment and to repackage your goods. You would also get your revenue on time when products go to market as planned. 
  • ISTA 6 –Series– Many companies are still unable to send goods to other countries because they cannot conduct ISTA testing standards as per customer’s requested for shipment documents. Logistically, you would need to show your datasheet to the related customs to prove that the goods are in good condition before allowing you to ship out. 
  • QC testing – Pay Attention to customer demands is essential, and some may want to change new packing types or even pick new vendors but want to maintain the package’s quality. To do that, they would need to know the packaging strength, like paper and cartons, to maintain proper quality control through testing. 
  • High Packing cost – The cost for packing is undoubtedly expensive but paying for the wrong one is worst. But how do you determine if you are paying for the most suitable packing for your needs? Testing your packaging will help identify the appropriate protection levels and optimize the amount of packaging materials – balancing your long-term cost. By sending a sample of your goods for various testing, results can help determine the best packing choice which works best for your packing cost.

Testing your Packaging Matters to Your Business

Testing your packaging is essential because some processes during the distribution cycle can risk the product’s stability. Carrying out rigorous tests to assess the packaging builds your goods’ marketability and confidence of your customers. 

Although a product can be technically perfect, packaging defects can lead to its failure. First impressions are essential and visual appeal is key in driving consumer behavior. 

Ensuring that your product packaging is perfect goes a long way. Without it, you risk product damage during shipping or even without the proper protection at all. 

Your product may be shipped in a condition that makes customers think twice about buying from you again.

Your packaging must be strong enough to withstand the demands of environmental and transportation conditions while remaining safe and secure, as promised. Testing your packages gives you confidence that your packaging will be able to safeguard your goods from damage or degradation during the distribution and shipping process. 

Ultimately, it builds the satisfaction of your customers, contributing to increased market share. 

What Are the Best Packaging Testing Methods to Optimize Your Delivery?

The best packaging testing methods are those that can simulate the actual process cycle that your distribution goes through. 

Here is how Newton Research & Development Centre can help optimize your packaging testing to get the best value in return. We are equipped with the latest equipment and can provide reports when we work with our various packaging testing methods. 

We can help simulate the journey of your package from the manufacturer to your customer’s doorstep. 

Which Packaging Testing Methods Should You Go For?

Newton offers a one-stop solution for product packaging testing services that reproduce the routine and climatical settings that goods may face during shipping and storage. 

Every package is unique in content, weight, and delivery distance, which will impact your delivery performance. We make it a point to ensure these variables are factored in and diagnose to ascertain your product’s susceptibility to damages. 

So how exactly are these packages for e-commerce tested? Packages will be subjected to a series of tests following a set of procedures. Packaging testing methods include:

  • Atmospheric conditioning at ambient temperature/humidity
  • Atmospheric conditioning at controlled temperature/humidity 
  • Shock testing via drop tests
  • Random vibration testing with top load
  • Shock testing via drop (including drop on hazard)
  • Integrity testing via leak detection (for liquids only)
  • Types of packaging tested under this method
  • Individually packaged products (non-palletized) weighing 70 lbs. (31.75 kg) or less when prepared for e-commerce shipment.

Your Next Step with Newton for Packaging Testing Service

  • Newton is your one-stop solution. Other packaging testing labs out there can also conduct transportation tests for packaging but only limited to limited testing (like drop testing and temperature conditioning). Newton can help you cover a broader testing range because we are equipped with almost a full range of advanced testing to optimize your packaging, as mentioned above. 
  • All in one place to test – When you test your packages with us, you save time and costs. We are your one-stop solution. We help determine the best-suited packaging for your business through packing testing methods to utilize your savings on other important aspects of your business. 
  • ISTA updated – Newton Research & Development Centre is a ISTA member, and we are an ISTA certified lab. We are certified to professionally advise you on the latest ISTA requirements and information vital for your packaging needs. 

Newton Can Help You

Pandemic or not, e-commerce is here to stay as it has become a way of life. There will be many more blooming businesses utilizing packaging to reach their customers locally and internationally. 

The question is, how would you remain competitive, and how your packaging plays an essential role in delivering your promise to your customers? 

Partnering with packaging testing labs like Newton Research & Development Centre can help you simulate and replicate packaging conditions so that you won’t be caught by unwanted surprises which may disrupt your business flow and productivity. 

A problem in your packing is the last thing that you want to worry about.  

Let us optimize your packing decisions using data technology combined with the right packing testing methods to fulfill your packaging needs. 

Let’s connect and get you on track so that you can run ahead in this rapidly, ever-growing e-commerce market. 

Contact us at info@newton-centre.my for more info or to enquire more today.


** This article is contributed by Newton Research & Development Centre, our trusted partner for Thong Guan’s ENGAGE program.

Nano Arctic: Your Cold Chain Wrapping Solution

nano arctic cold chain wrapping

Cold chain wrapping with machine film can be quite challenging for meat, ice cream, seafood, frozen food, pharmaceutical, or any cold room logistics business. 

The typical cold chain temperature may range from 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) to ensure maximum freshness. 

For instance, transportation of fruits, vegetables, medicines, food items, and many other environmentally sensitive products.

Some products have specific temperature tolerances depending on their specifications, sensitivity, and type of logistics used. 

For instance, vaccines, namely Ebola and Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, require  –70ºC (–94ºF) cold chain.

Here are three condition checklists when considering cold chain packaging: 

  • Product – Each product has specific physical qualities requiring particular temperature and humidity conditions related to its perishability and fragility. What type of cold chain packaging services would be suitable for your products? If not handled well, you may lose the commercial value of your goods in part or whole.
  • Source/Destination – Where are the products being produced and consumed? Is it under local conditions or global delivery? Do you need distance sourcing strategies to maintain the quality of goods? 
  • Distribution – Are you using the right temperature-controlled trucks, containers, and warehousing facilities to handle your packages? 

Protecting Temperature-Sensitive Goods 

When dealing with conditional sensitive goods, we know that slight shifts in temperature conditions during transits make a difference to your business. 

Changes cause damage and deterioration that will ultimately affect your bottom line.

It is crucial to preserve the integrity and extend the life of products throughout their journey to ensure happy customers.

The best-fit cold chain wrap helps maintain a stable and consistent temperature from manufacturing to the destination of delivery.

The Problem with Conventional Machine Stretch Film for Cold Environments 

Conventional machine stretch film loses its load-holding force and clinginess when in a cold room environment. 

It clings when it’s warm, but when put into temperature variation situations, it loses its cling. 

Stretch film meant for safeguarding and protection becomes loose and will eventually fall off, defeating the wrap’s purpose. 

Since conventional stretch films cling properties are not as good in cold room environments, it often leaves “a tail” when the end of wrapping falls off. 

This can be unsightly and hazardous for employees.  

You certainly do not want mishaps of trips or messy tangling between the wheel of pallet jacks and forklifts during the storage process, which causes unintended additional costs, which affects your bottom line too. 

Cold Chain Wrapping Solution

To withstand freezing and conditioned cold environments, you would need to use specially manufactured films to maintain excellent load holding and cling force. 

Freezer film like Thong Guan’s Nano Arctic is designed with extra cling properties, enabling the film to be used in freezing temperatures to secure your sensitive temperature goods on any piece of equipment. 

It assures that your products’ quality is protected and preserved just as promised to your end customers. 

At the same time, you reduce possible losses due to temperature-based damages too. 

Even when freezing, refrigerated, or in controlled room environments, Nano Arctic film will stick to each other, especially at the end of the film or wrapping cycle, leaving no tail. 

No more worries about film causing unnecessary mess or trouble during storing and in-transit. 

Construction companies, modeling, landscaping, and other packaging industries could benefit from using Nano Arctic due to its shielding and aggressive cling properties. 

It also protects your load containment so that you will never have any mishaps during transits.

The Nano Arctic cold chain wrapping film is made with high clarity with clear visibility that anyone can inspect the goods or scan the barcodes inside. Moreover, it is advantageous for your brand to be visible for branding purposes too. 

In the end, it is all about ensuring that consumers get fresh products delivered according to the standards. 

Benefits and Features Summary:

  • Exceptional forceful cling packaging
  • Tough with no film breaks. Remarkable puncture resistance
  • Firm holdings when wiping down at any given condition 
  • High visibility = Scan barcodes easily
  • Outstanding load containment
  • Will run on any piece of equipment

We Can Help With Your Cold Chain Wrapping Needs

It does not matter if your cold wrapping needs are for ultra-low temperature refrigerants, phase change materials, or insulated shipping containers. 

Perishable temperature-sensitive goods are highly delicate items that need special packaging care to keep happy customers. 

Thong Guan can help you enable machine film to be used in cold room environments or extremely cold weather conditions. 

We help optimize your wrapping by selecting the best-fit film using data technology at the most optimum wrapping based on your needs. 

Let’s connect and get you on track towards choosing the right stretch film for your machines today. 

Contact us at info@thongguan.com for more info or to enquire more today.

European Green Deal: the Future of Plastic Packaging Regulation in European Union

bottling factory recycling factory

According to the New European Green Deal, all plastic packaging consumed in the European Union must be recyclable by 2030. According to IndexBox’s estimation, the EU plastic packaging market totals $31billion.

This huge figure will force manufacturers to switch to making plastic packaging suitable for subsequent recycling and multiple reuses.

Meanwhile, in the future, we expect the production of non-recyclable types of packaging to decrease while stricter waste controls could push the plastic packaging market to transform supply chains. 

 

How We Got Here

In 2010, the EU plastic packaging market grew by 2.6% against 2009, expanding slightly to $25.4billion.

This figure reflects the total revenues of manufacturers and importers minus retail marketing costs, logistics costs, and retailers’ margins, which will be included in the final consumer price.

In comparison with the prominent rate of growth recorded in 2008 when the market increased by 6.6%, the growth record between 2009 and 2010 was a mild downturn. 

 

In value terms, $25.9billion plastic packaging production was recorded in 2010 estimated at export prices. Over that period under review, the rate of production remained at a lower figure. 

Fast forward to the next decade, the average annual production of plastic packaging, though increased over the decade, further decreased due to the covid-19 pandemic.

According to the latest statistics from Eurostat, the dynamics of plastic packaging production in 2020 was approximately equal to the volume of 2019.  

 

As we speak, the EU plastic packaging market totals $31billion. In 2010, the countries with the largest plastic packaging markets in the European Union were Germany (1.3million tonnes), Italy (1.3million tonnes), and France (1.1million tonnes).

Altogether, they accounted for 52% of the total market. These countries were followed by Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Austria, Lithuania, Portugal, Sweden, and Hungary, which together accounted for further 39%.

From 2007 to 2010, Poland recorded the most notable rate of growth in terms of plastic packaging production, amongst the main producing countries while others experienced modest paces of growth. 

 

In 2021, the highest plastic packaging production in the EU includes Germany ($4.8billion), France ($4.7billion), and the United Kingdom ($4.2billion). Altogether, they account for 44% of the total production.

Other EU countries like Spain, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Greece, and Romania followed suit, which together accounted for a further 46%.

 

Why European Green Deal Regulation?

In recent years, the demand for bulk plastic packaging has increased especially during the pandemic. Hand sanitizers were sold enormously and guess what the bottles are made of – plastics.

Since they are easy to wash and disinfect, the continued popularity was inevitably leveraged by retail packaging. The rise in demand for retail packaging came also a result of the limitations in the HoReCa segment which have led to changes in sales channels.

The pandemic raised an alarm for people to pay attention to hygiene and safety. As a result, people were more conscious of their health as usual. 

During the period of isolation, most restaurants, cafés, shops, and offices began to subscribe to home delivery services that involve the consumption of plastics.

The rise in contactless shopping further led to an increase in the consumption of plastic packaging like plastic bags, stretch films, and containers.

Since consumers are mostly cooking at home, plastic packaging manufacturers saw an opportunity to extend their range of containers to suit different eating and cooking scenarios.

We began to see diverse ranges of plastics in different shapes, dimensions, and sizes, to meet the demand of the market.

The problem this caused was the large amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere during the process of recycling plastic packaging. As a result, the European Green Deal was born. 

The European Green Deal aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

To achieve this, European plastic packaging manufacturers will be forced to use carbon capture technologies in their plants, or research other ways to reduce carbon footprint, and this could lead to higher costs of recyclable plastic packaging.

The Bottom Line

Since plastic containers are incredibly low-cost to produce, lightweight, and easy to wash and disinfect, the need for home food delivery will continue and retail packaging will continue to be relevant.

Therefore, taking into account the development of plastic recycling, we will not expect any radical abandonment of plastic packaging.

Plastic packaging manufacturers had better get prepared to face the New Green Regulation. 

Stretch Wrapping Machine: Pair Your Film To The Right One

machine stretch film

Stretch wrapping machine films is a significant investment for manufactures, distributors, and logistics firms. The right machine film fulfills packaging promises and retains loyal customers too. 

A new research study by Persistence Market Research reports that the consumption of stretch wrap machines will be at 231,810 units by the end of 2026. They also projected the revenue from the purchases of stretch wrap machines to touch US$ 1,356.0 mil by 2026, showing a strong growth rate of 7.5% during the eight years from 2018 to 2026.

Mechanical stretch film wrap applications work best when working with mass load packages that need to be optimally wrapped so that you can deliver what you promise your customers.

However, one of the most significant issues is deciding which type of stretch film for machines to use to keep your goods safe. These considerations include cost, ease of use, durability, and transparency. You must give each of these factors the same amount of importance. 

Stretch film wrappers work with loads according to:

  • How much is the weight of the load?
  • Pre-stretch % on wrapping machines.
  • Number of pallets wrapped per hour
  • The size and type of the load
  • Are there any special requirements needed?
  • How is the pallet being transported to?

But what are the considerations when choosing stretch films for machines? 

While the purchasing department continues to opt for cheaper films due to costs, productions jump on snap films and downtimes. 

So regardless of what wrapper is being used, choosing the right film for your machine matters.

Here’s our take on how the films and wrapping machines correlate to your wrapping goals, how to select the right machine films.

Wrapping Machine with Thong Guan High Performance Stretch Film

Stretch Wrapping Machine Film

Smart technology and high-speed production processes drive automation to the next levels in the global packaging industry. 

Through evolutionary patterns, mechanical stretch film wrap minimizes the quantity of material used to protect loaded pallets from unwanted losses. 

The result of utilizing mechanical wrap benefits you in

  • Reduced Labor and Material Cost
  • More significant film stretch ranging from 200%-300% 400%
  • Better containment and lower Cost Per Load
  • Quicker Wrap Times – Lower Load Failure
  • Better operational productivity
  • Improved Load Integrity
  • Consistent Load Quality
  • Minimal to no employee fatigue 

Using Machines To Optimize Your Wraps 

Different machines work with different loads. There are three types of loads when dealing with pallet wrapping which are:

stretch wrapping machine

  • A Load – Stable, straight sides with up to 3” protrusions.
  • B Load – Relatively stable with protrusions of up to 6” inches or less
  • C Load – Oddly shaped with several protrusions (including sharp corners) of over 6”. Unstable. 

Here’s how these machines work with your wrapping needs

Turntable Wrapper 

The most simple form to wrap is to place the pallet on a turntable that rotates while a pallet stretch film is delivered around the load.

Turntables have the smallest footprint and overall machine height. It is capable of 10– 20 loads per hour and ideal for A and B load types. This system starts wraps at the bottom of the load and wraps its way to the top and to the bottom again.

With the speed of 16 rpm p/minute it takes 5 mins (including change over time) to wrap a pallet. That’s approximately about 12 pallets per hour. 

Turntable wrappers are very effective in many types of works, and they are used for a broad variety of applications

Rotary Arm Wrapper 

Arm wrapper machines operate by placing loads under a rotating arm. The load remains secured and stationary while stretch film is revolved to wrap around the load.

These machines are great for unstable, wobbly, light pallets and heavy loads that tend to be unstable while rotating on a turntable.

Suitable for all A, B, and C types of heavy and oversized loads. They are used for high-speed applications from 40 loads per hour. 

Ring Wrapper 

Ring wrapper machines are great for unstable loads as well. 

Best used for PET drinks, 25kgs resin bags, brewery, and products required high throughput yield.

When wrapping, the load remains stationary while the wrapping is done via rotating around the pallet not by an arm, but through a large ring.

These machines can wrap at a very high-speed ranging application of 60 to 80 loads per hour. 

Here is a summary of good types and what type of stretch film fits best

  • Light loads – loads that are light in weight, such as tissue paper and empty bottles
    • Machine wrappers: arm machine or ring machine wrappers 
    • Type of film that works best: Thin-film from 12 to 15-micron 
  • Medium – loads that are of medium heaviness like handling of cartons 
    • Machine wrappers: Turntable machine, arm wrappers, and ring wrappers 
    • Type of film that works best: stretch film from 12 to 17-micron 
  • Heaviest – heavy load handling like PET drinks, resin bags (25kgs), or 200-liter drums 
    • Machine wrappers: Turntable machine, arm wrappers, and ring wrappers 
    • Type of film that works best: stretch film from 17 to 20-micron 

Typically, the usual market practice uses 23 microns for heavy loads, but Thong Guan has innovated the use of thinner < = 17-micron films that do the same job but better.   

Mechanical Film Application

When film is applied using a stretch wrapping machine, the rolls are larger, typically having a 500 mm and 750 mm width and a gauge of 20 microns and above. Thong Guan is currently looking to replace it with 15 microns and below. The film is pre-stretched via the machine’s carriage system immediately before application.

Combining the right film and advanced wrapping machine, the film can be pre-stretched by as much as 400%, which is 1 meter to  4 meters. Less efficient machines have a lower pre-stretch capacity, generally less than 150%

The type of wrapping machine is also important since there is no point in using a longer stretch ratio film if the wrapping machine has only limited to lower stretch ratios (e.g., 150% and below for core brake turntable machine)

So how do you choose the right machine film? 

Here are four questions that would be able to help you in determining the suitable stretch film for machine 

  • Q1- What is the perimeter of the pallet 【(length + width)*2】?
  • Q2- What are the number of revolutions of the current wrapping? (this needs to be calculated visually)
  • Q3- What is the weight of the wrapped stretch film? (This refers to the weight of the stretch film after it has been removed from the packaging)
  • Q4- What is the thickness of the existing stretch film?

With the above information available, we can use formulas to calculate the true pre-stretching of the winding film on the device.

We Can Help You

It doesn’t matter what stretch wrapping machine you need for your applications Thong Guan can help you optimize your wrapping. We can help you select the right film using data technology combined with the right machine scratch film to optimize your wrapping demands. 

Yes, choosing the right stretch film for a machine may not be as easy as just purchasing a “cheap and good” film as there are many other factors mentioned to consider too. 

As stretch film experts, let’s connect and get you on track towards choosing the right stretch film for your machines today. 

Contact us at info@thongguan.com for more info or to enquire more today.