Why Is Packaging Thickness Important?

Here's a quick read where you can learn how film thickness is measured, how to convert gauge to mil and micron, and other packaging thickness concepts to apply to your own custom pouch project.

Just why is packaging thickness important? While certainly quality plays a part as well, if the thickness of your packaging film is not up to par, your product packaging will fail due to ripping, bursting, or leaking.

Packaging constructed of thinner plastic materials is less efficient at preventing oxygen and other external contaminants, causing your product to deteriorate faster.

While it may be tempting to opt for thinner materials in an effort to reduce costs or to be environmentally conscious, this could ultimately compromise the integrity of your product.

Thinner materials may be more susceptible to punctures or tears, and are likely less effective at maintaining the necessary conditions inside the package. For instance, they may allow the permeation of oxygen, which can cause oxidation in food products, leading to spoilage. Similarly, thinner materials may not effectively prevent the ingress of moisture, leading to problems such as mold growth or product clumping.


Why is Packaging Thickness Important And How is It Measured?


To ensure the strength of your packaging and barrier functionality, product manufacturers and packaging designers usually measure and stipulate film thickness. This specification employs a variety of test procedures such as burst and tear testing and other various film migration experiments.

This formulation employs a battery of test methods, including burst testing, tear testing, and various film migration experiments. Throughout the manufacturing process, these tests, such as thickness measurement, are repeated as part of Quality Assurance (QA) inspection.

Why is packaging thickness important? Measuring thickness variance is an important quality control step in the production of film for packaging. It's necessary to ensure that the film meets the specific requirements and criteria set by the buyer or producer. To determine the level of thickness variance, it's necessary to measure multiple points throughout the length of the film. We do this using specialized equipment that can accurately measure the thickness of the film at various points.

Buyers typically have specific criteria in mind that producers must adhere to in order to ensure that the film meets their specific needs. These criteria may include thickness tolerances, physical properties such as tensile strength and puncture resistance, and other factors such as heat-sealability or printability.

By measuring the thickness variance and ensuring that the film meets the buyer's criteria, producers can ensure that their products are of consistent quality and meet the needs of their customers. This helps to build trust and loyalty with customers, and can lead to long-term business relationships that benefit both parties.


Gauge to Mil to Micron Conversion


For those who have never dealt with laminated plastic materials or coex film materials before, gauge conversions can be a little strange. When working with flexible barrier materials, the Mil to Micron conversion is generally the most significant.

Having a reference chart with all of the plastic thickness measurement units used in packaging might be beneficial. When people ask why is packaging thickness important, they usually go to mils and microns. Convert mils to microns, microns to mils, microns to millimeters, and more with this handy chart.

GAUGEMILMICRONMMINCHCM
300.307.60.00760.00030.000762
400.40100.01010.00040.001016
500.5012.50.01270.00050.00127
600.60150.01520.00060.001524
750.75190.01900.00070.001905
800.80200.02030.00080.002032
900.90230.02280.00090.002286
1001.0250.02540.00100.00254
1201.2300.03040.00120.003048
1501.5380.03800.00150.00381
1601.6400.04060.00160.004064
1801.8450.04570.00180.004572
2002.0500.05080.00200.00508

Understanding the importance of packaging thickness is crucial when selecting the right packaging materials for your products. The thickness of plastic film, for example, is often measured in gauge units, with the greater the gauge indicating a thicker film. However, it's important to note that gauge measurements differ between plastic film and wire, with a 12-gauge plastic film being much thinner than a 12-gauge wire.

So, why is packaging thickness important? The thickness of packaging materials can have a significant impact on the protection and preservation of the product inside. Thicker packaging materials can provide greater resistance to physical damage, as well as better protection against external factors such as moisture, oxygen, and light.

It's important to keep in mind that the thickness of packaging materials is not the only factor that determines their performance.

Other factors such as the type of polymer used, the manufacturing process, and the intended application can also have an impact. Therefore, it's important to carefully consider all of these factors when selecting the right packaging materials for your products to ensure they are adequately protected during storage and transport.


Sample Packaging Materials and Their Standard Thicknesses

Understanding why is packaging thickness important is crucial. In this section, we'll provide sample packaging materials and their standard thicknesses.

Whether you're looking to package food items, pharmaceuticals, electronics, or other goods, knowing the standard thicknesses of packaging materials can help you make more informed decisions and ensure your products are well-protected.

  • Saran Wrap for Home Use - Typically 35-40 ga.
  • Ziplock Bags for Home Use - Typically 1.5-2 Mil
  • Trash Bags with a Thickness of Typically 2-3 Mil

Commonly Used Stretch Film Thicknesses

Companies commonly use stretch film as packaging material in many industries due to its ability to secure and protect palletized goods during transportation and storage. However, not all stretch films are created equal, and the thickness of the film can have a significant impact on its performance.

That's why understanding why is packaging thickness important is crucial when selecting the right stretch film for your application. In this section, we'll provide an overview of commonly used stretch film thicknesses.

By understanding the importance of packaging thickness, you'll be better equipped to select the right stretch film for your needs and ensure your products are well-protected during transport.

  • Hand Stretch Film, 47 Gauge
  • Hand Stretch Film, 63 Gauge
  • Hand Stretch Film 80 Gauge
  • Hand Stretch Film 120 Gauge
  • Machine Stretch Film 50 Gauge
  • Machine Stretch Film, 63 Gauge
  • Machine Stretch Film 80 Gauge
  • Machine Stretch Film 150 Gauge

Commonly Used Heat Shrink Film Thicknesses

Heat shrink film is a widely used packaging material due to its ability to tightly seal and protect products during storage and transportation. However, the thickness of the film can significantly affect its performance, making it important to understand why is packaging thickness important when selecting the right heat shrink film for your application.

In this section, we'll provide an overview of commonly used heat shrink film thicknesses. Being able to benchmark from these information can help you select the right heat shrink film for your needs and ensure your products are adequately protected during transport.

Whether you're packaging food items, electronics, or other goods, knowing the standard thicknesses of heat shrink film can help you make informed decisions and prevent any potential damage to your products.

  • Polyolefin Shrink Film 60 Gauge
  • Polyolefin Shrink Film 75 Gauge
  • PVC Shrink Film 75 Gauge
  • Polyolefin Shrink Film, 100 Gauge

Commonly Used Packaging Tape Film Thicknesses

Packaging tape is an essential component in the packaging process, used to seal packages and keep their contents safe during transportation and delivery. However, not all packaging tapes are created equal, and the thickness of the tape film can significantly impact its performance, making it important to understand why is packaging thickness is important when selecting the right tape for your application.

In this section, we'll provide an overview of commonly used packaging tape film thicknesses. Appreciating the different packaging thickness measurements can help you choose the right tape for your needs and ensure your packages are securely sealed and well-protected during transport.

Whether you're packaging fragile items or heavy-duty goods, knowing the standard thicknesses of packaging tape film can help you make informed decisions and prevent any potential damage to your packages.

  • Packing Tape 1.6 Mil
  • Packing Tape, 1.8 Mil
  • Packing Tape, 2.2 Mil
  • Packaging Tape, 3.1 Mil

Summary: Why is Packaging Thickness Important And Smart Info You Should Know About

As we established earlier, the thickness of your packaging materials will impact their ability to resist punctures, tears, and other forms of physical damage. On top of that, how thick your packaging material is will affect its barrier properties against external factors such as moisture, oxygen, and light.

In this section, we'll summarize why is packaging thickness important and provide you with smart information you should take away from our post. Knowing these key considerations and information related to packaging thickness can help you make informed decisions about the right packaging materials for your needs, ensuring that your products arrive safely and in excellent condition.

Whether you're packaging perishable goods, fragile items, or industrial products, knowing why packaging thickness is important can help you prevent any potential damage and keep your customers happy.

  • Gauge is often used for thicknesses less than 1 mil.
  • Micron (um or Micrometer) is a metric system thickness measurement. Mils is a US unit of measure.
  • To convert mils to microns, you multiply mils x 25.4.
  • Measurements in microns are generally rounded to the nearest whole number.
  • The size of the "bubble" that develops when producing the plastic determines the thickness of the blow film. Most commercial laminated plastics are at least 2 mil (50.8um) thick but can be anything from 2 mil to 5.5 mil thick.
  • Mil-Spec packaging materials can be as thin as 10 mil or as thick as 20 mil.

Why is Packaging Thickness Important? Talk to The Experts

These conversions can be tricky. Starting your custom pouch project may seem daunting, but these free resources are jump off points you should not forget to use to your advantage. At Pouch Me, we understand the importance of striking a balance between cost-effectiveness, environmental responsibility, and product protection. We answer why is packaging thickness important and delve deeper into your specific concerns with our free consultation.

This is why we focus on providing the right thickness and quality in our film materials for your custom pouch packaging. We take into consideration the specific needs of your product, including the required barrier properties, the conditions it will be exposed to during transport and storage, and the desired shelf life.

Our packaging films are engineered to provide superior protection, helping to maintain the quality and longevity of your product. We use robust testing methods to ensure our films meet the highest standards of performance.

Ensuring that our packaging materials provide the necessary barrier against oxygen and other external contaminants is crucial to preserve the quality and freshness of the products they contain. Additionally, it's important to ensure that the packaging is resilient to physical damage to avoid potential product spoilage due to punctures, tears, or other forms of damage during shipping or handling.

By using high-quality barrier materials that are designed to meet specific performance requirements, we can achieve the necessary protection for our products and minimize the risk of spoilage or damage. This not only helps to maintain the quality of the product, but it also helps to build trust and loyalty with customers who rely on consistent, high-quality products.

If you still can’t work it out, do not hesitate to give us a call or email service@pouch.me. Our consultations are free, and our Prepress, Press, and Production veterans will help you get the results you are after.


- Why is Packaging Thickness Important FAQs -


+ How do you measure the thickness of packaging materials?

The bigger the micron/gauge/millimeter, the thicker the polythene, is a common ground between the measures. Divide the gauge of polythene by four to get the micron equivalent. By multiplying the micron by 1000, you will get the thickness in millimeters.

+ How do you convert gauge to microns?

Gauge is calculated as (100) x (mils), therefore 0.3 mils equals 30 gauge. You multiply mils by 25.4 to convert to microns.

+ How many microns are in a gauge?

For quick reference, 100 gauge is equal to 25 microns. The thing to remember is that "gauge" is typically used for thicknesses below 1 mil. When dealing with flexible barrier materials, converting mil to micron is typically the most crucial conversion to perform.

GAUGEMILMICRON
1001.025
1201.230
1501.538
1601.640

+ How thick is 60 gauge?

For quick reference, 60 gauge is equal to .0152 millimeters or 15 microns. The thing to remember is that "gauge" is typically used for thicknesses below 1 mil. When dealing with flexible barrier materials, converting mil to micron is typically the most crucial conversion to perform. Consult the table below to see more comparative info.

GAUGEMILMICRON
500.5012.5
600.6015
750.7519
800.8020


+ How do you convert gauges to mm?

To convert gauges to millimeters, you can use the following formula:

millimeters = gauge x 0.0254

For example, if you have a measurement of 16 gauges, the conversion would be:

millimeters = 16 x 0.0254 = 0.4064 mm

So 16 gauges is equivalent to 0.4064 millimeters.

GAUGE NOINCHMETRIC
00.324"8.2mm
10.300"7.6mm
20.276"7.0mm
30.252"6.4mm


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