OCME S.r.l.

Over recent years, the evolution of distribution platforms has triggered, on a global scale, a process of reciprocal interference between consumer habits and packaging technologies. This interaction is clearly seen in the dynamics of the composition of the retail pack. In fact many products, particularly in the drinks sector, are now available in multiple retail packs which are taken off the shelves and placed directly into the trolley. To enable the consumer to perform this simple action, however, the secondary container must have at least two fundamental features: it must be manageable and it must be lightweight. These features are among the main advantages offered by a technology that has revolutionized the world of distribution: packaging with heat shrink film. This technology was devised as an economical alternative to the cardboard box for the manufacturing of wholesale packs, and was instantly adopted as a result of the staggering growth in the consumption of mineral water in PET bottles. Over the course of recent years, this technology has evolved and improved immensely, developing to meet not only technical or practical requirements but also grappling with and successfully resolving marketing problems and aspects related to environmental protection. In the fi rst case, in particular, it is easy to observe how today heat shrink wrapping materials have become excellent vehicles for complex images, ideal for attracting attention and hence stimulating the consumer’s preference. In areas such as the drinks, petrochemical, food oil, food and animal feed sectors, at least two other important solutions exist for combining more than one retail pack in a single secondary container: case packing and crating. Neither of these solutions can however replace heat shrink fi lm for a variety of reasons, the most important being the costs of the container, its weight, dimensions and poor manageability, especially by the consumer at the moment of product choice and purchase. The bundle is, moreover, an extremely economical, disposable container, made in recyclable plastic; these features considerably simplify distributor logistics, at least in comparison to case packing as a secondary packaging. In this paper we shall illustrate shrink-wrapping technology for secondary packaging purposes, we shall analyse some of the most advanced technical solutions available and we shall endeavour to direct users towards the solutions that best meet their requirements.

Company Profile:

Now, OCME has 5 branch offices in Great Britain, the United States, Mexico, France and China and a network of approximately 40 agents across the world.