|
Latest News |
JANUARY 2001 |
Light Bulb Gets Abbeylite Treatment
A light bulb pack that began life in cartonboard, then microflute, is now produced in Abbey Corrugated's Abbeylite 'N' flute corrugated and has proved to be an example of lightweight packaging. The pack is produced for GE Lighting by Abbey's sister company David S Smith Cartons in Neath and is designed to carry a sensitive metal Halide industrial bulb to markets throughout the world. GE Lighting's packaging project leader S Aravindan who also designed the pack graphics, designed the original pack in co-operation with Martin Scott. "The quartz envelope of the bulb is so sensitive that contact with human skin can scar the surface. So we had to consider the initial packing of the product and handling by the eventual customer." Because the pack had to be assembled and glued, then packed without skin contact, the packaging operation was slow and very labour intensive. "We asked David S Smith to help in finding a solution and reduce our packing time. They proved extremely co-operative, said Aravindan. "They opted for Abbey's Abbeylite 'N' flute corrugated which provided strength, meeting the standard drop test, yet lent itself to the complex die-cutting needed for the internal fittings. It was also one of the first corrugated board packs to be produced at Neath which has traditionally used cartonboard." Although the pack is die-cut from a single sheet it includes intricate segmented starbursts, which retain the bulb in the pack, notching, perforating and creasing. By supplying the pack to GE ready assembled and pre-glued, GE Lighting has been able to reduce packing time to a minimum. The pack which measures only 110mm x 25mm, has a notched half-back and a perforated waistline which enables the user to twist the pack which then breaks in half. This exposes the connecting union but leaves the bulb enclosed so that it can be fitted without touching the sensitive glass. "And it is much to Smiths Cartons credit that they were able to complete the work from start to finish in under eight weeks," said Aravindan. Pack graphics are printed in 4 colour process with a special blue with excellent reproduction which, said David S Smith Cartons, is a tribute to Abbeylite's very good printability.
<< Back to Menu
