What is Blister Machine?

A blister machine, also known as a blister packaging machine, is a type of equipment used in the packaging industry to produce blister packs. Blister packs are transparent, plastic-sealed packaging that typically consist of a formed cavity or blister containing a product, such as tablets, capsules, or small consumer goods, and a backing card or foil that provides protection and information.

Blister machines automate the process of forming the blister cavities, filling them with products, sealing them with a backing material, and cutting them into individual packs. Here are the key components and steps involved in the blister packaging process:

1. Blister forming: The machine starts by taking a roll or sheet of thermoformable plastic, such as PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Heat and pressure are applied to the plastic, causing it to conform to the shape of a mold or die that contains the cavities. The result is a sheet of formed blister cavities.
2. Product filling: The formed blister sheet moves to the filling station, where the products are placed into the individual cavities. This can be done manually or automatically using specialized feeding mechanisms.
3. Backing material placement: Once the cavities are filled, a backing material, often made of aluminum foil or a heat-sealable plastic film, is applied over the blister sheet. The backing material is sealed to the edges of the blister cavities, creating a protective barrier around the products.
4. Sealing: Heat or pressure is applied to the edges of the blister cavities, causing the backing material to bond with the blister material and create a sealed pack. Depending on the machine type, sealing can be done through heat sealing, cold sealing, or a combination of both.
5. Cutting and trimming: After sealing, the blister packs are cut into individual units using cutting mechanisms. Excess material is trimmed away, leaving each blister pack separate and ready for packaging.
6. Optional printing and labeling: Some blister machines may have additional stations for printing batch codes, expiration dates, or product information on the backing material or the blister packs themselves.

Blister packaging offers several advantages, including product visibility, tamper resistance, and extended shelf life. Blister machines are widely used in industries such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare, cosmetics, electronics, and hardware, where individual product protection, presentation, and information display are important.