Tamper Evident Sealing Provides Protection and Peace of Mind
While capping machinery alone provides a seal on a bottle, certain containers can be opened and closed repeatedly without it being obvious that the same has been done. For some industries, and their consumers in particular, ensuring that products have not been opened, or tampered with can be extremely important. Unsealed foods and beverages may go flat, or spoil, and consumers also want to know that they are purchasing a fresh product that has not been altered prior to leaving the shelf. In addition to adding a specific type of cap, there are several other methods for providing tamper evidence to a product.
Even when using additional temper evidence for a package, a standard capping machine will be the first step to seal a container. One of the most simple methods for adding tamper evidence is selecting a cap which adds extra protection. For example, soft drinks and milk typically utilize a cap with a tamper evident plastic ring. When the product is opened, the ring will break, allowing consumers to see for themselves that the product has not been opened before purchase. Normally these machines will require little to no modification to a regular capping machine, such as a spindle or chuck capper. As a part of the cap, the tamper evident band will be applied along with the rest of the cap by simply running through the bottle capper.
Not all closures are conducive to such a tamper evident ring, which leads to other manners of providing tamper evidence. Some caps will come equipped with a foil liner inside. After passing through the capping machine, the bottle and tightened cap will move through an induction sealer. The coil on this sealer creates an electromagnetic field, heating the foil insert. The heat in turn will melt a wax which allows the foil insert to adhere to the rim of the container, providing the tamper evidence. While popular on a number of different products, the induction seal is probably best known for being seen on bottles of aspirin and other medications.
Other options not only provide tamper evidence, but also an opportunity to add information or simple aesthetic value to a product. Neck banding machines will place a band or sleeve around a bottle neck and shrink the sleeve around the neck and cap of the product. Many beverages, such as iced tea, provide examples of such tamper evident packaging where a perforated section can be torn and the band can be removed before uncapping the bottle to enjoy the product. Capsule spinners work in much the same way, covering corks and T-corks on wine and distilled spirits to help provide protection from and evidence of tampering. These bands, sleeves and capsules on the outer part of the package can be decorated in a variety of ways to help a product stand out from competition in addition to providing product protection.
The type of tamper evident machinery that will be used on a packaging line will depend in large part on the product, the container and the personal desire of the packager. For more on tamper proofing a product, contact a Packaging Specialist at Liquid Packaging Solutions today!