IQS Newsroom Articles on Blister Packs
Blister Packs
Blister packs are packaging partly made of a vacuum thermoformed plastic bubble or shell and backing made out of cardboard or foil. They are mainly used in the packaging industry to incase, protect and display consumer goods and pharmaceutical products. General consumer products such as toys and electronics are almost always sold in blister packs because the transparent plastic blister is able to form tightly around the product, clearly displaying it to perspective buyers. It also deters theft and tampering because they are difficult to remove without using scissors or a box cutter. Tamper-prone items such as over-the-counter medication are packaged in blister packs to help clarify dosages and to protect against expiration. This type of blister pack is called unit dose packaging. The blisters are made of clear polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and vacuum formed around a mold of the specific product it will package.
Plastic blister packs are used in conjunction with a cardboard backing, and there are 2 different ways they are joined together. Trapped blisters have plastic bubbles that are encased in 2 layers of cardboard, and heat sealer blisters have plastic bubbles that are heat-applied to the backboard by a heat-activated adhesive. These are mostly used for lighter products, while heavier products that need packaging often use clamshells. Unit dose packaging, used for medication, encases 1 dose of pills in a blister, which is then adhered to a foil backing. Unlike general consumer blister packs, removing the product is not difficult and can be done by hand. Blister packs are very common because they are inexpensive to produce, light weight and quite durable.