Key considerations when choosing a flexible film supplier for packaging
Innovation, sustainability, quality and cost are all key considerations for packaging manufacturers and brand owners looking to influence consumer buying decisions with packaging that offers added value. Today’s consumers are not only looking for eye-catching packaging solutions that maintain freshness, they want added features such as easy open, resealable and ovenable packaging that offers convenience. It is also important that the packaging aligns with the intrinsic values of the buyer and offers a true representation of the packaged product.
In addition to consumer convenience, flexible packaging is gaining in popularity due to brands looking to be more sustainable. Flexible packaging provides an opportunity to lightweight packaging and choose recyclable or compostable materials, it also uses less raw material which means less waste for manufacturers. With a rise in transportation costs and a high demand for e-commerce, lightweight solutions contribute to a reduction in your carbon footprint as well as lower costs.
You need a flexible packaging supplier that is right for your business and offers flexibility for your future. Choosing the wrong partner can be detrimental to your bottom line or, worse, your brand reputation. Issues with product quality, supply and non-compliance will have a negative impact on your business and the inability to scale to meet higher volumes may restrict innovation and growth.
In this blog we explore the key considerations to selecting a partner that understands and can fulfil your needs.
Key considerations
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- Technical expertise, capabilities and experience – Choosing a flexible packaging film specialist that has a great reputation for delivering the range of services you need is a great starting point. Do your research online to see if they cover the markets you’re selling into and can support you with artwork, material selection, pre-press, printing and print finishing.
Look at case studies or contact them directly to find out how they work with customers, what technical support they offer and what their experience is with similar applications. Speak to one of their team to find out if what they currently offer will suit your requirements in terms of handling complex designs and different matte, gloss or metallic print finishes, range of reel widths, lamination to different types of film or paper and sustainable substrate options.
- Quality and value – After all your efforts in developing your product, you don’t want your packaging to let you down. That’s why flexible packaging films are so important. Find a flexible packaging film manufacturer with added value at a competitive price. Suppliers with transparent pricing models should clearly communicate set-up fees, unit costs, and any additional charges. Verify quality control credentials, certifications, and provide examples.
Discuss resolution, colour matching, and print registration precision with your shortlist. Find out how they handle design challenges that could affect the quality of your printed and finished packaging. Last but not least, ask what post-finishing tests they perform.
- Technology and innovation – When selecting a new flexible film partner, you want to be confident that the choice you make will lead to a long and successful business relationship. Your chosen supplier’s current equipment, when they invested in it, and their future plans will tell you a lot about their mindset and whether they will stay on top of current trends and embrace future innovations. You will be able to determine whether they are the right partner based on the range and type of equipment, technology and tools.
- Material choice – Most film suppliers will have a range of different types of plain film materials such as PE, PP and PET for specific applications. Additional points to raise are the different thicknesses they stock and whether their range includes films suitable for lidding, ovenable, microwavable and resealable applications as well as films for running on high-speed HFFS and VFFS filling and packaging lines. If you are looking for more sustainable options, find out if they stock recyclable, compostable or post-consumer recycled (PCR) film and what the technical capabilities of the films are.
For example, whether they have barrier films to prevent transmission of moisture, oxygen, aromas and contaminants as well as properties giving resistance to UV light, damage from punctures or impact during transportation and storage.
- Capacity, scale and lead times – You want your flexible packaging film provider to be willing and capable of developing innovative solutions to any packaging challenges you may have. You also want to be assured that they have the capacity to fulfil both small and large volume print runs. Ask how they will manage your orders if you need to scale up. Do they have state of the art machinery and efficient systems to guarantee consistent output, precision and quality when or if you need larger volumes or shorter lead-times?
- Sustainability – A partner that values sustainability will go beyond the flexible films they provide. Yes, it is important to offer customers sustainable materials such as compostable, recyclable and PCR films but you also need to look at the business as a whole. For example, do they have energy efficient production methods and renewable energy sources, do they use eco-friendly inks and adhesives and is waste reduction one of their key business goals?
- Compliance – Key quality and sustainability compliance for processes, procedures and end products are covered by ISO 9001 for quality regulations, and ISO 14001 for adherence to environmental regulations and standards. Check that your supplier has certificates proving that they have achieved these rigorous standards as well as any industry specific accreditations such as the BRC (British Retail Consortium) global accreditation for food safety.
- Customer service – Finally, when sourcing a new provider, you want to be confident that when you become a customer you are going to continue getting great service. Find out about long-standing, loyal customers. If they continue to give business to the flexible packaging company you are looking to partner with, that’s a good sign that they’re getting value. Ask about responsiveness, communication, how flexible the provider will be to your needs and added value services such as support with design, inventory management and consultancy about material choice and logistics.
- Technical expertise, capabilities and experience – Choosing a flexible packaging film specialist that has a great reputation for delivering the range of services you need is a great starting point. Do your research online to see if they cover the markets you’re selling into and can support you with artwork, material selection, pre-press, printing and print finishing.
Terinex Flexibles: Innovative flexible packaging films and solutions supplier
Terinex Flexibles specialises in design and print of flexible films, paper and foil for the food, pet food and medical industries. For over 20 years, we have been working with leading brand owners, supermarkets and food manufacturers providing high-quality printed film on reels. We are proud that the products we have helped our customers package can be seen on shelves across the UK. We have a new state-of-the-art factory, a first of its kind in terms of the technology we have invested in over the last few years.
Contact us today to see how our fantastic team of technical experts in printed flexible packaging can help on your next project.
