CLOSURE SYSTEM USED IN PACKAGING INDUSTRY

I. Introduction
Closure systems are considered to be one of the most vital parts in packaging
materials. These systems may include devices or techniques used to seal and close
a container such a jag, jar, tubes, can, etc. and also to contain the contents inside of
these containers. The most common examples of closure systems used in the
industry are cover, lid and caps. Nowadays, there we are a lot of innovations and
inventions which improve the technology of closure system for the convenience of
the humanity. The primary function of a closure system is to prevent the contents or
the product inside its container from escaping and also to avoid any foreign and
unwanted particles to enter inside the container that may cause degradation to the
quality of your product, spillage, and spoilage. It also serves as an effective microbial
seal to contaminants thus maintaining the shell life of the product well and intact.
Closure system can be one-tome seal or resalable. Some closures are used for
reclosing and re-opening with easy to use features which reduces wrap rage. Wrap
rage or also known as package rage is the feeling of ager or anxiety when customers
try to open “hard-to-open” containers. Closure systems also provide dispensing,
recycle, safety and security features not only to the product it contains but also to its
consumers. In order to develop an effective closure system for your packaging it
must be resistant and compatible with the product. The closure must be able to
withstand or resist the force you apply when opening or closing it. Its shape must
blend with the container and if re-closable type, it should be readily operable and
resealed effectively. Closure systems can be divided into two classifications; the
General Types and the Special Types.

II. General Closure Types

1. Screw on (threaded)
 This closure system is by far the most type of closure used in the
packaging industry. It can be seen anywhere and is used to many types of
products. These types of closures are usually used in bottles, jars, and tubes. It
has a continuous thread inside and is cap onto threads on the neck of a bottle or
container. It requires full turn when opening. This closure provides physical and
chemical protection to content being sealed. The pharmaceutical and wine
industry usually uses this type of closure

2. Lug Cap

Lug cap operates with the same principle as screw on. The main
difference between the two is that lug cap has a discontinuous and interrupted
thread unlike screw on and it usually takes you a quarter only when opening it.
This type of closure is prominent to the Food Industry because it is a vacuum-
type cap which is very suitable to maintain the quality of the food.

3. Crimp – on
 Crimp – on or commonly known as crowns are closure which has wrinkles
and folds around is circumference. This was used in replace to corks which are
used in the beverage industry before. This type of closure eliminates popping
which means it can resist the build of gases caused by the carbonated drinks. It a
one-time seal only and difficult to reseal. Original crown closures uses bottle
opener to open it but there are also twist off crowns which can be opened using
hands.

4. Snap – on

It is a clasp which can be opened by just one click. It uses the principle of
snapping for opening. This type of closure has a built-in dispenser for easy
dispensing and prying off. It is usually used in the cosmetics industry.

5. Roll – on closure
 From the name itself, it is used in roll – on products. It blends with the
shape of its container for securely opening and re-closing of the container.

6. Pifer Proof Closure

It is similar to roll – on closure but the main difference is that it has a

longer skirt. When opened the bridges break and the bank of it remains o the
neck of the bottle. It is done to provide security for the contents being sealed.
You usually apply more force or torque when opening it.

7. Friction – fit Closure

Friction fit closure can be loose lid covers and pry off closure. Loose lid
covers refer to closure which are very easy to open just like to the one used in
film canisters. It has rubber liners surrounding the inside. While pry off closure
can be single or multiple pry off closure. Pry off closure refers to the U – groove
contact between the cover and the container. Single pry off closure may not
 require hermetic seal unlike multiple pry off closure. Paint cans are example of
multiple pry off closure which requires the seal to be air tight.
III. Special types
a. Tamper Resistant – It has an indicator or barrier that provides visual evidence
when tampering has occurred. Tamper Resistant packaging may be immediate
or secondary container closure system that is intended to provide visual integrity
when handled in a reasonable manner during manufacturing, distribution, and
retail display.
1. Blister Packaging

Blister packaging is
used for small consumer goods, foods, and pharmateutical products.
“Blister” means package in which one or more dosage units are enclosed
between a pre-formed tray with individual pockets and a lidding material
which may be flat or shaped. It is formed by heat softening of
thermoplastic and vacuum drawing the softened sheet into a mold. The
sheet is released from the mold and proceeds to the filling station.
2. Strip Packaging

”Strip” means a package in which one or more dosage units are

enclosed individually in a continuous strip made by bonding two layers of
material together. It is formed by feeding of two webs of heat sealable film
through a roller.
3. Bubble Packaging

It is formed by placing the product in between a thermoplastic film

and a rigid backing material similar to the blister packaging.

4. Shrink Banding
 This packaging is also called Heat Shrink Sleeves/Neck Bands. It
is most commonly used on beverage products and is applied with heat.
It uses the heat shrinking characteristics of a stretch oriented
polymer such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
5. Bottle Seal

The seal is made up of paper, thermal plastic, polystyrene foam,

or plastic film. The seal is applied to the container by heat induction.
6. Tape Seal

The seal is made up of paper, foil, or plastic that is sealed over carton
flaps or container caps.

7. Breakable Caps/Tear-away Caps

 The plastic or metal cap has a portion that breaks away on
opening and remains on the neck of the container.
The plastic or metal cap has a portion that is torn away in order to
allow the remainder of the cap to be removed to gain access to the
product.

IV. Materials used in making Closures

 Rubber
The most industry used rubber as their material for closure is Pharmaceutical.
The rubber stopper is used primarily for multiple dose vials and disposable syringes.
Closures with rubber are mostly the air-tight closures. The synthetic rubber, such as
butyl rubber or chlorobutyl rubber, is the most common used rubber as a material for
closures. The advantage of synthetic rubbers is that the materials are strongly
resistant to permeation by oxygen or to water vapour.

 Plastics
The basic types of plastic generally used for closures are thermoset,
thermoplastic resins, phenols and urea. Easy-open caps through the reduction of
removal torque. It can prevent of unwanted tastes for longer shelf life and greater
consumer satisfaction.

 Glass
Closures that are glass in material do not deteriorate with age. Glasses are
economically and easily available also they can seal hermetically.

 Metal
It offers excellent physical protection, formability and decorative potential,
recyclability, and consumer acceptance. Tinplate, tin-free steel and aluminum are the
most used in making closures.

 Cork
It is the most environmentally responsible stopper, in a one-year life-
cycle analysis comparison with plastic stoppers and aluminum screw caps. It is
easily compressed upon insertion into a bottle and will expand to form a tight seal
because of the cellular structure of cork.

V. Process of Pilfer Proof Closure

1. Aluminium strip arrives at the closure manufacturing plant in large coils.

2. Aluminium strip is cut into large sheets.
 3. Lacquer is applied to the side of the sheet that will become the internal surfaces
of the finished closure and print is applied to the external surface.
4. The lacquered and printed sheets are dried in an oven
5. The sheet is fed through a cupping press, which blanks and draws the metal into
shallow cups.
6. In sequencial press operations the Blank and first draw produced in the cupping
press is converted into 1st and 2nd redraws to achieve the finished depth of the
closure.
7. The 2nd redraw has knurling and a tamper evident feature added as required.
The skirt may be long (as shown) or short, to suit the design requirements.
8. The 2nd redraw has knurling and a tamper evident feature added as required.

VI. Quality Control of Container-Closures

A number of quality control checks are required for the manufacture and release of
container-closures. These include:

a. After the material has been mixed

o Specific gravity - the ratio of the weight of the molded piece as compared to the
weight of an equal volume of water
o Color- compared against a color chart
o Dispersion- in relation to particle size.
o Examination of the ash after burning- in comparison to a reference sample
o Hardness
o Rheology- an examination of solids under conditions in which they respond with
plastic flow rather than deforming elastically in response to an applied force. This
is an assessment of the force necessary to rotate the material by 1o.
b. Post-compression and molding
o Here the material is checked for rubber thickness and evenness.
c. Washing process
o During the loading of stoppers into a washer, the quality of the water should be
checked for bioburden and endotoxin (using compendial methods).
d. Post-washing and post-siliconization

After the stoppers have been washed, a number of quality control checks should be
performed.

These include:

Mechanical and Material Tests

o Compression test- determines the behavior of materials subjected to

compressive loads. Loading is usually done at a uniform rate (in/min).
o Hardness
o Fragmentation
o Penetrability
o Assessment of dimensions and flexibility

Physical Tests
 o Resistance to sterilization
o Particle testing

Chemical Testing

o
Tests for extractables and leachables:
o
Silicone oil determination:
e. Packaging

After packaging, a selection of bags should be examined for tears as a part of quality
control assessment.

f. Sterilization

Container-closures are typically sterilized by one of two methods: steam sterilization

(using autoclaves) and gamma irradiation. It should be noted that not all types of
stoppers are suitable to be sterilized by gamma irradiation due to the rubber of the
stopper becoming brittle.

Closure System in Food Industry

a. Clips

b. Shaker / sifter
- Dispensing closure with an opening or openings in its surface, that
allows a dry granular product to be shaken out of the package

c. Snap- on
d. Bail-closure
- The mouth of the bottle is sealed by a stopper, usually made of
porcelain or plastic, fitted with a rubber gasket and held in place
by a set of wires.

e. Stay-on Tab
- The mechanism used a separate tab attached to the upper
surface as a lever to depress a scored part of the lid, which folds
underneath the top of the can and out of the way of the resulting
opening
Reference/s:

1. http://www.mybiotechcareer.com/pharmajournal/articles/container_closures_for_
pharmaceutical_preparations.html
2. http://www.biopharminternational.com/closures-pharmaceutical-preparations-
review-design-and-test-considerations?id=&pageID=1&sk=&date=
3. http://4my3232.blogspot.com/
4. http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/packaging-materials-
solutions/food-packaging-materials/uses-and-applications/plastic-closures-
beverages.html