Clamshell packaging is a form of blistering packaging designed with two clear plastic sections joined with a hinge on a centreline. Both sections can fold open and interlock like a clam to create an enclosed container around a product. Depending on the packaging design, these packages are ideal for protecting, containing, transporting, and displaying single items on pegs or shelves.

Our blister/clamshell packaging machines cover various applications and can be customised according to your production needs. All individual modules comprising our blister/clamshell packaging machines are available in automatic and semi-automatic versions according to your production requirements.

Application

Since clam packaging works best for products that won’t fit into conventional blister packaging, blister/clamshell packaging machines are commonly used for packaging goods that come in a set of variable sizes like tool sets, gift sets, cosmetics, etc.

However, other consumer goods like food, fresh produce, candy, smartphones, hardware, electronics, higher-value items like professional golf and squash balls, and medical supplies can be packaged this way.

Advantages

• The ingle-piece, buttoned packaging design allows for easy opening and closing for display purposes.
• Safe and efficient sealing of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol), GAG, PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and similar materials is ideal for high-volume OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and contract packagers.
• The results are usually clear, tamperproof, stackable clamshell blister packs that are visually appealing to the end-user and very hard to steal due to their often unusual shapes.
• Hermetically sealed clam packs offer optimal gas flushing to preserve produce shelf life.
• Reduced labour costs since blister/clamshell packaging machines can be fully automated with auxiliary equipment to de-nest, top-seal, close, and/or label packaging.
• A versatile range of sealable plastics can be shaped to hold virtually any type of product.
• The standard includes the twin push controller, Teflon scroller, specialised match plate, aluminium tooling, auto-indexing guide, and semi-automatic sealer.
• Efficient packaging capacity of 6 – 12 cycles per minute.
• Reduced transport costs due to lightweight packaging mass.
• Clamshell packaging is easily recyclable and particularly useful in shorter packaging runs.
• Intelligent PLC (programmable logic controller) touchscreen interface with heavy-duty cam indexer and AC (alternating current) variable frequency drive.
• Carousel and inline machines allow additional open loading stations, automatic vibrating feeders, and robotic placement arms.
• Heavy-duty industrial design is ideal for high-volume packaging lines.

How it works

Designed for medium to higher volume production lines, clamshell packages are formed using various forms of clear plastic like HIPS (high-impact polystyrene), PVC, PET and recycled PET, PETE, PETG, PP (polypropylene), and polyurethane through thermoforming.

Thermoforming is a process of heating rigid plastic sheets into a malleable form and cooling them back into a rigid state around a mould using a vacuum. Thermoformed webs are pliable enough to be formed into virtually any shape.

A reel of stock film web is initially fed through a predefined cavity former called the blister-forming unit. Once the blister has been formed, a guiding track moves the web to the filling station. Here, individual blisters are automatically filled with a product before the web enters the sealing unit.

Conventional sealing units feature a heated sealing station, a cooling station, a package unload station, a bottom blister feed station, an insert card feed station, a top blister feed station, and two extra stations used for product loading.

When the web is in place, a separate reel of aluminium foil is fed into the sealing unit, where it is hermetically sealed to the base web. On the other hand, rotary heat sealers usually come with optional automatic card-feeding and package discharge systems that are freestanding or a permanent fixture, depending on the machine’s design.

Once sealed, the web moves onto the pack punch unit, where packs are separated from the web with the help of an indexing mechanism. Excess web trim is cut away and collected. Finished clamshell packs are collected in large containers or transported on a conveyor belt for further handling. Clam packs can also have studded seals that press together and pull apart like buttons.

Blister/clamshell packaging machines can be linked to a cartoner, and a chilling station can be installed to eliminate the need for routing in-plant chilled water to the machine. Casters and lightweight package hold-down systems also offer greater versatility.