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What are the disadvantages of blister packs?

Bath packaging is one of the most popular forms of packaging in the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and consumer industries. From the protection of life-saving medicines to the display of hardware products, such as product visibility and protection, there are undeniable benefits.

However, as a manufacturer or brand owner, you know that no packaging is perfect. If you are considering investing in explosive packaging machines, it is critical to understand the potential drawbacks.

In this guide, we will explore the common disadvantages of blister packaging and, most importantly, provide professional solutions. By choosing the right equipment and materials, you can turn these challenges into competitive advantages.

Environmental issues and sustainable topics

At present, the most serious problem with blister packaging is environmental impact. Traditional blister packaging is generally made of composite PVC and aluminum foil materials.

The Disadvantage:

Because these materials are bonded together, they are difficult to separate and recycle, resulting in plastic waste. These are issues of concern to environmentally conscious consumers and regulatory agencies.

The Solution:

As a supplier of blister packaging machines, we recommend two methods

  1. Switch to recyclable materials. Nowadays, machines all use PET or PP materials, which are easier to recycle than PVC
  2. Blister packs based on paper materials. The industry is moving towards plastic-free solutions. Nowadays, high-end blister machines can be equipped with blister packs made of cold-formed paper or cardboard, which are suitable for products that are not liquid.
  3. Reduce the amount of materials. Use high-precision machines to minimize waste (the material remaining after stamping the blister) to the greatest extent

Automatic blister packing machine

High tooling and installation costs

For small businesses or companies with a wide range of products, start-up costs can be a significant barrier to growth

The Disadvantage:

Every time you change the size or shape of your product, from small round tablets to large oval capsules, you need a new mold. Customization of forming and heat sealing dies requires expensive cost and production time

The Solution:

Modular design of the machine: Find a blister packaging machine that can change the mold quickly. Our machine can change the mold without tools within 30 minutes, and reduce downtime

Universal charging system: Customizing a universal feeder to handle different tablet shapes eliminates the need to change the feeding system for each new product

Standardization: Try to make the plate size of your different products uniform, so that you don’t have to change the punching die

Automatic blister packing machine 2

Complexity

Although blister packaging can be tracked in a single dose, it is a nightmare for certain people

The Disadvantage:

Elderly patients or people with arthritis have difficulty pushing the drug out of the hard aluminum base, and there is no way to tear off the child protective layer. This condition is known as packing rage

The Solution:

1. Indentation and peeling push design: Use your bubble machine to make the peel push type bubble cap, which features that one corner needs to be peeled off before the pill is pushed out, which is easy for the elderly to use, and maintains the child protection function

2. Optimize aluminum foil thickness:  Use the optimum aluminum foil thickness for your machine, which is strong enough to protect the product and easy to break under controlled pressure.

3. Groove design: The bubble should be designed with enough space for the user to grasp firmly

Automatic blister packing machine 3

Thermistor sensitivity in the production process

Factors that pose a risk to certain product-specific heating processes (thermoforming of plastics)

The Disadvantage:

However, if you are packaging heat-sensitive drugs or probiotics, the blister packaging machine may reduce the effectiveness of the product during the heating process of softening the plastic film

The Solutions:

  1. Cold forming (aluminum aluminum): The blister packaging machine uses cold forming instead of heating plastic forming. This aluminum foil is formed by mechanical pressure, and the product can maintain 100% stability due to the absence of heat
  2. Precise temperature control: our machines are equipped with a PLC control heating module to ensure that the heating only acts on the film and does not affect the product, with an accuracy of plus or minus 1 degree

Automatic blister packing machine 4

Limited information storage space

The space available for brand identification and instructions for use is very limited compared to the blister plate in a large bottle or box

The Disadvantage:

Manufacturers often encounter the difficulty of printing a clear dose description, expiration date, and brand name on the blister plate. If the print is too small, there is no way to read it clearly

The Solution

  1. Online printing integration: UV ink jet or thermal transfer printer on the blister packaging machine equipment allows you to directly print high-resolution variable data, such as QR codes, directly onto heat-sealed aluminum foil
  2. Double-sided printing: Using a machine that perfectly synchronizes the sealing foil, the designed logo is printed on one side, and the technical data is printed on the other side.
  3. QR codes: Small QR codes printed on aluminum foil lead customers to a digital manual

Automatic blister packing machine 5

 Protection against moisture and oxidation (Barrier Issues)

In terms of shelf life, not all blister packs have the same effect

The Disadvantage:

The standard PVC is a breathable plastic, and over time, moisture and oxygen can penetrate, causing the tablets to discolor, break, or lose efficacy, especially in humid climates

The Solution:

  1. High barrier film: PVDC or aluminum, these materials can effectively resist the attack of various factors
  2. Leakage detection system: The modern blister packaging production line is equipped with a visual detection system, which can automatically remove blister plates that are not tightly sealed
  3. Gas flushing: Some advanced equipment will use nitrogen to flush the bubble chamber to remove oxygen before sealing

Automatic blister packing machine 6

 Why is it important to choose the right equipment supplier?

The downside of most blister packs is the challenges of the machine and materials. If you use outdated or low-quality machines, you will face high waste, frequent shutdowns, and low-quality seals.

As a professional manufacturer of blister packaging machines in China, we are focused on solving these problems for our customers all over the world. Our equipment has the following design points:

Versatility: able to handle PVC/aluminum, aluminum/aluminum, paper, and other materials.

Efficiency: High production speed, minimum waste

Compliance: Full GMP and CE compliance

Conclusion: Is Blister Packaging Suitable for You?

Despite some drawbacks, blister packaging remains the preferred solution for ensuring safety and consumer trust. The key is to mitigate these adverse effects with smart design and advanced equipment.

By purchasing a high-quality blister packaging machine, you can not only reduce the impact on the environment, but also reduce long-term costs and ensure that your products reach consumers in the best condition

H 3 Are you ready to upgrade your packaging process?

Are you facing blister packaging problems now? Or are you looking for a new packaging line?

Contact us today! As China’s professional supplier, we provide customized blister packages according to your budget and production needs. Let’s find better machines to expand your business.

 

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