Packaging is not just about plastic and corrugated boxes; it is the first thing that your customers interact with. It’s their first experience with your brand – inadequate as well as general product packaging can be harmful to your brand’s image. Even if your product fails to appeal to your target audience or customers, it will damage your business reputation. It is advised to focus on custom product packaging and lamination to make a positive and long-lasting impact while improving your brand’s reputation.

Lamination is quite common in the packaging industry; however, most of the product packaging manufactured is not recyclable since they bond two films together and aren’t made of polymer. To get flexible yet sustainable films, mono-material must be used based on one – polyethylene. They relinquish the use of BOPET or even BOPP film. For custom laminations, the process includes bonding two films together into one film that maintains all properties of their elements. This makes the film stronger with amazing barrier and sealing properties. This protects the printing and makes it easier to cut during production.

Listed below are important factors for choosing the right custom laminations roll and films:

1. Thermal Lamination vs. Self-Healing Bags: Custom laminating services providers have two sealing options for your packaging – one that can be sealed with pressure, in which the procedure is time-consuming, and size choice is limited. The other option is thermal lamination, where heat is used to activate the adhesive to create a strong seal. Thermal lamination is the #1 choice for large-sized projects – this saves time and enhances the sealant quality.
2. Matte Finishing: The finishing of the packaging plays a crucial role when choosing a film from a laminating service provider. There are two options for the finishing: Gloss and Matte. You need to lean on Matte finishing since the subtle style makes your product look luxurious, easy to read, and reduces glare. If you wish to add a little glam to your packaging, you can choose gloss finishing, but matte works better for all. 
3. Gloss Finishing: As aforementioned, matte makes your product looks rich, while gloss finishing helps enhance images. They offer more sheen than matte films, improving the quality of colors by making them pop, which helps drive potential customers’ attention. They have a smooth surface that is ideal for highlighting images of your product. They are more economical, especially for items that need to be protected against abrasive situations. 
4. Thickness Effects: Your manufacturer will have films of thickness of different sizes– in the United States, the thickness is measured in mils, which symbolizes a thousand of an inch. A mil is 25 microns, a standard measurement for thickness outside of the USA. The thickness you pick varies as per the application and the type of laminator you choose. A 3 min pouch is ideal for carrying minimal, and budget is a major concern, while a 5 mil pouch is ideal for keeping documents secure, and 10 mils make the best choice for badges and other heavy items. This thickness allows for choices between the rigidity needed and the budget. You can find pouches for sizes of all kinds, such as legal, letter, ledger, and menu. 
5. Application of Lamination: There are myriad applications available for lamination pouches – they are used to improve the look and feel of business cards, artwork visually, food items, signage, and more. Lamination is primarily used for protecting food against contamination. It is important to consider their suitability for your application before investing in laminating manufacturing company. Aesthetics, durability, and budget – are some of the factors that you must assess to find the best film for your item.

For those with an upcoming project that requires lamination, listed below are the 4 important things to think about to find the right lamination type:

1. Brand Recognition: The primary focus for lamination is brand recognition. Think about one of your products that can keep customers returning for more. Is this a common product that will be displayed on store shelves with other competitors’? You need to push your brand by creating a bespoke lamination that makes it easier for the customers to recognize your brand and select your product.
2. Work on Promotion: Focus on providing samples of your product to promote your brand and its products. If you are launching a new food product or tray containers entailing perishable goods, it is advised to use lamination as it allows the consumer to learn and assess what they’re buying. Samples-sized bags or “promo packaging” is an ideal example of tempting your potential customer and luring them into experiencing your product without the fear of commitment. The goal of samples is to win over their trust and sell more items.
3. Display: Another thing to keep in mind is to display the contents within the packaging and highlight the quality of the item. Do you wish to conserve the shelf space? Choose a stand-up laminated pouch as it is a simple choice that showcases your product, avoids distracting elements, and offers a tasteful way of arranging your food. When branding demands less attention from your customer, the product gets under the spotlight itself.
4. Protect & Preserve: Lastly, you need to focus on the composition of the pouch and its ability to protect and preserve. Are you looking for bags to store frozen foods? Choosing the right gauge, bag feature, and specific ingredients are important steps for protecting and preserving frozen and perishable goods. Do you sell or roast coffee beans? If you are, make sure to add a degassing valve to the packaging to keep the beans fresh and edible for a long time.

Takeaway

The application of flexible packaging is wide-ranging and ideal for industries of all sizes and types- food and beverage industry, household, and personal consumption. They are ruling over the food industry since they are used for packing pet food, dry goods, confectionary, frozen foods, and more. In the household as well as personal consumption – it is used for cosmetic products, wipes, cosmetic cream samples, and more.

Momar Industries have a team of experts that will gladly offer your all information required and technical suggestions. This will help you choose the right film for your unique application needs. Connect with our team to get a quote.