BUYING GUIDE / BLISTER PACKAGING
Start with the product and the finished blister card. Match forming materials, lidding, feeding and tooling, then compare accepted output and the complete installation scope.
Define three things before comparing machines.
This guide covers blister packaging equipment for tablets, capsules and other products reviewed for the selected feeder and format. Specify strip packaging separately when that is the intended package.
ALU/PVC and ALU/ALU describe different forming constructions. The exact material grades and sealing combination belong in the equipment review.
A plastic forming web is heated and formed into pockets, then closed with the selected lidding material. Clear constructions can provide product visibility.
Plain PVC, PVDC-coated structures and PCTFE laminates have different barrier and processing requirements. Specify the film grade, structure and thickness.
An aluminum-containing laminate is mechanically formed into pockets. A common construction is OPA/aluminum/PVC; other structures are available.
Review cavity depth, radii, spacing and forming behavior with the laminate supplier. Conventional cold-form blisters still require a compatible lidding-seal process.
Encap explanatory drawings · Not to scale · Coatings and adhesives simplified. Final layers, gauges and geometry are defined in the packaging specification.
Ask your packaging team to define moisture, oxygen and light protection requirements. Request material data with test conditions, then establish forming, seal-integrity and product-stability evidence for the actual pack.
A machine envelope is the starting point. Product handling, sealing lands and the cutting layout determine the usable format.
Ask for a format drawing stating how many complete cards are released per cutting cycle. Each card may contain several product pockets. Use those two quantities separately when calculating output.
03 / OUTPUT PLANNING
Work from accepted blister cards. Allow time for setup and stops, then use the selected format’s cards per cutting cycle to estimate the required rate.
This is a planning requirement. Confirm achievable output with the actual product, films, feeder, tooling and acceptance method.
Running hours = shift hours − non-running hours.
Gross cards/hour = accepted shift target ÷ running hours ÷ accepted fraction; rounded up to a whole card.
Cutting cycles/minute = gross cards/hour ÷ cards per cutting cycle ÷ 60; rounded up to 0.1 cycle/minute.
Accepted product count = accepted cards × filled pockets per card.
Use the current catalogue to begin a shortlist, then confirm the ordered configuration and demonstrated result.
| Model | ALU/PVC cutting cycles/min | ALU/ALU cutting cycles/min | Maximum forming area |
|---|---|---|---|
| DPP-140 | 10–50 | 10–25 | 140 × 130 mm |
| DPP-250 | 6–50 | 6–25 | 240 × 150 mm |
| DPP-260 | 6–70 | 6–50 | 240 × 150 mm |
These are existing catalogue references. Forming area is an equipment envelope; cavity geometry, seal lands and card layout require format review. Cards per cut, product feeding, material grade and operating conditions affect accepted output.
Review current DPP specifications ↗For ALU/PVC and ALU/ALU production, obtain a written list of forming equipment, tools, feeders, change parts, adjustments and utilities required for each format. Record which items and tooling sets are included.
05 / PROCESS & LINE SCOPE
Define every transfer and scope boundary, including the materials, product, rejected cards and accepted packs.
Process concept · Station order, inspection devices, coding and reject equipment are confirmed for the selected machine.
Include the product-contact parts and the complete web path in the review.
Request an itemized tooling list and the required manuals, drawings, material records and spare-part information. Confirm the actual controls, alarms, records and documentation supplied.
Use a configuration-specific layout and utility schedule before committing to the order.
The current DPP product page lists a U.S. three-phase configuration of 220 V, 3-phase, 60 Hz. Confirm each supplied circuit and auxiliary load.
Obtain compressed-air pressure and flow, cooling or water requirements where applicable, ventilation and room-condition information. Check reel-loading access, service clearances, floor loading and the installation route.
Include tooling sets, feeders, coding and inspection, downstream equipment, freight, unloading, site connections, commissioning and training.
Compare material use per accepted card, setup scrap, rejected packs, product loss, staffing, cleaning, changeovers and routine wear parts. Agree on warranty, parts and service responsibilities in writing.
Use the same product, card drawing, material grades, accepted-output target and supplied options. Record quantities, exclusions, delivery basis, price validity, payment terms and startup responsibilities.
Agree on the trial machine, format, sample quantity and test scope before sending product or reels.
Discuss a blister material trial ↗Record product and material identities, forming and lidding specifications, card drawing, tooling, feeder, sample quantities and conditioning or handling requirements.
Record cutting cycles, complete cards per cut, run duration, stops, gross cards, rejects and accepted cards. Note startup scrap, material changes and the agreed sampling intervals.
Use agreed methods for cavity shape, product condition, filling, seals, codes, print position and card dimensions. Demonstrate the supplied rejection functions and downstream transfer where included.
Prepare a written trial result with sample identity, settings, methods and criteria. Define FAT, site acceptance, operator training and any required qualification-document support.
Your packaging and quality teams define the remaining barrier, stability and release work for the product. Document the evidence required and who provides it.
Fill in the known requirements and leave the remaining items open for review.
Download RFQ checklist ↗Editable TXT · No inquiry submitted
BEFORE YOU ORDER
Multiply cutting cycles by the complete cards released per cutting cycle for the selected format. Apply the agreed accepted-card fraction and available running time when planning accepted output. Pockets per card determine the product count inside those cards.
Confirm both configurations in the quotation. Ask for the forming equipment, tools, feeder parts, operating changes and utilities needed for each package, together with evidence for your product and materials.
Cold forming describes the mechanical formation of the aluminum-containing base laminate. Conventional ALU/ALU blister packaging still uses a compatible lidding-seal process. Confirm the material combination and the sealing conditions for the supplied system.
Define the product’s protection requirements and compare the complete pack, forming behavior, card footprint and operating cost. Have your packaging team review product-specific barrier and stability evidence for the proposed package.
List the forming, sealing, cutting and product-feeding parts required for the new layout, plus any guides, registration, coding or inspection adjustments. Confirm supplied quantities and demonstrate changeover and restart with the selected format.
Strip packaging encloses the product between sealing webs, while a blister format uses formed cavities. Specify the intended pack, product arrangement and opening requirements so the correct forming, feeding and sealing system can be reviewed.
PLAN THE NEXT STEP
Share the card drawing, packaging materials and accepted-output target with our team to review the machine, tooling and trial scope.
General material and forming considerations draw on Bilcare’s packaging constructions, kp’s barrier-film portfolio and Constantia Flexibles’ cavity-forming considerations. Machine figures follow the current Encap DPP catalogue page. Supplier features and material data require confirmation for the ordered package.