Packaging Glossary
A plain-language reference for packaging industry terms. Covers thermoforming, blister packaging, MAP, materials, and machinery.
A–C
- Blister packaging
- A packaging format in which a product is enclosed between a pre-formed plastic cavity (the blister) and a flat backing — typically aluminium foil, paperboard, or a second film layer. Widely used in pharmaceutical, consumer electronics, and food applications.
- Clamshell
- A hinged blister pack where both the top and bottom halves are formed from the same plastic sheet. Commonly used in retail for tools, hardware, and consumer goods. The hinge allows the pack to be opened and re-closed.
- Cold forming
- A blister forming process using aluminium laminate (Alu-Alu) that is shaped by pressing rather than heat. Produces a highly moisture- and oxygen-impermeable cavity. Standard in high-barrier pharmaceutical packaging for moisture-sensitive drugs.
- Controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP)
- A packaging method where the gas composition inside the package is actively maintained throughout the product's shelf life. Distinguished from MAP, where the atmosphere is set only at the point of sealing.
D–F
- Die-cut blister
- A blister card format where the plastic cavity and backing are trimmed to a specific shape after sealing. Common in consumer electronics and hardware retail.
- Dwell time
- In thermoforming, the duration for which the heated plastic sheet is held in contact with the mould before cooling begins. Longer dwell times improve definition in deep-draw applications but reduce cycle speed.
- Forming film
- The bottom web in a blister or thermoforming line — the film that is heated and shaped into the cavity. Common forming films include PVC, PVC/PVDC, PETG, PP, and Alu-Alu laminates.
G–L
- Heat-seal coating
- A lacquer applied to aluminium foil or paperboard lidding that bonds to the forming film under heat and pressure. The coating formulation determines peel force and whether the seal is peelable, child-resistant, or push-through.
- Lidding
- The flat material — foil, film, or paperboard — sealed over a formed blister to close the cavity. Lidding selection determines barrier properties, peel force, and print quality.
M–P
- MAP (Modified atmosphere packaging)
- A preservation method where the air inside a sealed package is replaced with a controlled gas mixture — typically nitrogen, CO2, and/or oxygen — to slow microbial growth and oxidation. Widely used in fresh meat, produce, dairy, and bakery.
- PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol)
- A copolymer of PET with improved forming characteristics — lower forming temperature, better impact resistance at low temperatures, and excellent clarity. Common in medical device packaging and retail blister packs where PVC cannot be used.
- PP (Polypropylene)
- A semi-rigid, chemically resistant thermoplastic used in thermoforming. Higher forming temperature than PVC or PETG, good heat resistance, suitable for hot-fill applications.
- Push-through packaging
- A blister configuration where the lidding foil is thin enough to be punctured by pressing the product through it. Standard in solid oral dose pharmaceutical packaging (tablets, capsules).
R–T
- Seal pressure
- The force per unit area applied to the sealing tool during heat sealing. Together with temperature and dwell time, seal pressure determines bond strength and hermetic integrity.
- Skin packaging
- A vacuum-based packaging format where a thin plastic film is heated and drawn tightly over a product on a coated board or rigid tray. The film conforms to the product contours. Used in food (meat, fish) and industrial parts packaging.
- Thermoforming
- A manufacturing process in which a flat thermoplastic sheet is heated to its forming temperature, shaped over or into a mould by vacuum, pressure, or mechanical force, then trimmed. Produces the cavities used in blister packs, clamshells, trays, and a broad range of rigid and semi-rigid packaging.
U–Z
- Vacuum forming
- The most common thermoforming variant: heated film is drawn against a mould by applying vacuum below the sheet. Simple tooling requirements make it cost-effective for medium and high volume production of trays and blisters.
- Web width
- The width of the forming or lidding film roll used in a packaging line. Web width determines the maximum pack footprint and cavities produced per cycle.
This glossary is updated regularly. Want a term added or corrected? Contact us.
How to Use This Glossary
This glossary is designed as a companion reference to the InnovaPax knowledge base articles. Terms are defined in the context of industrial packaging practice — focusing on how they are used in engineering specifications, machinery documentation, supplier contracts, and regulatory submissions rather than on academic or general-purpose definitions.
Where a term has a formal definition in a relevant standard (ISO, ASTM, TAPPI, ECMA, or ISTA), the glossary entry reflects that definition and notes the source. Where industry usage diverges from a formal definition — which happens more often than practitioners expect — both usages are noted.
If you are looking for a term that is not listed here, it may be covered within a specific article rather than in the glossary. Use the search function or browse the knowledge base directly. If a term is genuinely missing, please use the contact page to suggest an addition.
Abbreviations Used in Industrial Packaging
The packaging industry uses a large number of abbreviations across material standards, test methods, and process descriptions. Common abbreviations you will encounter throughout this knowledge base include: OTR (oxygen transmission rate), MVTR (moisture vapour transmission rate), ECT (edge crush test), BCT (box compression test), FFS (form-fill-seal), MAP (modified atmosphere packaging), VSP (vacuum skin packaging), VFFS (vertical form-fill-seal), HFFS (horizontal form-fill-seal), and SBS (solid bleached sulfate board). Each is defined in the relevant glossary entry and explained in depth in the associated articles.