Difference between Blister packaging and Strip packaging

Blister packaging and strip packaging are two popular forms of the primary packaging system. In Europe, 85% of solid drug products and in the United States, less than 20% of solid drug products are packed in blisters [1].  But, blister packaging is becoming more accepted in the United States by both consumers and manufacturers due to its benefits.

However, it is difficult to differentiate between blister packaging and strip packaging. In my opinion, after reading this article you may understand the between blister packaging and strip packaging. Besides, the difference between a strip pack and a blister pack you may find out from here. But, do you know the difference between Packing and Packaging?

Definition of Blister packaging and Strip packaging

Blister packaging is a form of unit-dose packaging in which a semi-rigid blister/ cavity previously formed is filled with product and lidded with a heat-sealable backing material. Here, blister/ cavity/pocket is formed either a thermoforming or cold forming process.

Strip packaging is an alternative form of unit dose packaging in which a pharmaceutical product is enclosed between two webs of heat-sealable flexible film through either a heated reciprocating platen or a heated crimp roller.

Blister packaging and Strip packaging Process

Blister packaging process: blister packs are made through a form-fill-seal method. At first, Semi-rigid blister/ cavity is formed by either thermoforming or cold forming process and then filled with product and lidded with a heat-sealable backing material.

Strip packaging process: Strip packs are formed around the tablet at a time when it is dropped to the sealing area between two webs of a heat-sealable flexible film through either a heated reciprocating platen or a heated crimp roller [2].

Which one gives more packaging speed?

Strip packs are usually produced at lower speeds than the blister.

Difficulties during Packaging

The formed strip pockets are too tight, thus, wrinkling of the seal area or perforation of the pocket periphery may occur.

Blister packaging and Strip packaging machine

Blister Packaging Machines

1. Automatic Strip Blister Packing Machine
2. PVC Blister Packaging of Tablets
3. LFA High-Quality Blister Strip Packing Machine
4. Self-checking Moulding Aluminum Blister Packing Machine

Strip Packing Machine

1. Automatic/Soft Double Al Strip Packing Machine
2. High-Speed Tablet Strip Packing Machine
3. Automatic Al/Al packing machine and foil strip packing machine
4. Rotary Type Tablet Strip Packing Machine
5. High-Quality Tablet Strip Packing Machine

What type of Advantages do they offer?

Blister packaging offers more advantages than strip packaging. Blister packs provide a wide range of benefits than strip pack.
Advantages of the Blister pack and Strip pack
Blister pack
• Provide more mechanical protection
• Easy to use

Strip pack

• More child resistance
• The pocket is too ‘tight’, less air entrapped, so provide more protection from air molecules and moisture.
• Especially for the capsule, strip packaging is more suitable. It keeps capsules separated, organized as well as safe.

Disadvantages of the Blister pack and Strip pack

Blister pack
• More air entrapped onto blister.
• Less child resistance than strip pack

Strip pack

• Occupy greater space
• Strip pack is not usable by the elderly and patients with arthritic fingers.
• Risk of product damage during handling /prone to mechanical damage.

Patient Compliance

Blister packaging offers good display advantage. So, blister packaging helps customers to see pharmaceutical products, further aiding in their buying decision. More than half of customers believe it is important to see a product through its packaging. On the other hand, Strip packaging does not offer good display advantage.

Using pattern

A product is displaced from a Blister pack by pushing or peeling. But a product is displaced from a strip pack by tearing.

Cavities

In Blister packaging, blister/cavities are formed either thermoformed or cold-formed process. Reversely said, Blister pack has either thermoformed or cold-formed cavities, while in strip packaging, thermoformed or cold-formed cavities are absent.

Type of the Blister packaging and Strip packaging

Two basic types of pharmaceutical blister packaging exist.
• Thermoform blister packaging
• Cold stretching blister packaging. [3]
While strip packaging has no such type.

Space

Blister pack occupies less space. While the strip pack occupies more space.

Popularity

Blister packaging is the most popular primary packaging system than strip packaging. Blister packs use as a primary pack for a range of pharmaceutical products such as tablet, pill, capsule, suppository, vial, and ampule. While strip packaging is an alternative primary packaging system that used to pack especially capsule, also tablet.

Summary of the difference between blister packaging and strip packaging

References

1. Dean, D.A., A review of blister and strip packaging of tablets and capsules, Interphex 1974
2. Lachman, L., & Liebermann, H. A. (2013). The Theory and practice of industrial pharmacy. Washington Square, Philadelphia USA: Lea & Febiger
3. Pilchik, R (November 2000), “Pharmaceutical Blister Packaging, Part 1, Rationale and Materials” (PDF), Pharmaceutical Technology: 68–77

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