Vacuum blister packaging, also known as containerless packaging, can greatly save packaging raw and auxiliary materials and reduce packaging waste, complying with the global initiative for appropriate and source-reduced packaging. As a new packaging technology and material developed in the 1980s, vacuum blister packaging was initially applied to pack small solid items such as tablets, pills, boluses and candies. With the gradual rise of flexible plastic packaging, vacuum blister packaging has found broader applications. In recent years, it has been adopted in China for packaging small electrical appliances. Many large home appliances adopt rigid packaging supports to fix the upper and lower parts, covered with high-strength transparent plastic film externally. Vacuum blister packaging has been used for numerous small electrical appliances including recorders, DVD and EVD players. It is designed for commodities that only require corner protection instead of full encapsulation. Paper profiles serve as protective materials for edges, corners, tops and bottoms, delivering integrated benefits in environmental protection, cost control and sales promotion. It opens up a new path for packaging reduction.

The main advantages of vacuum blister packaging include savings in raw and auxiliary materials, light weight, convenient transportation and favorable sealing performance, meeting the requirements of eco-friendly green packaging. It can package any special-shaped products without extra cushioning materials during boxing. Packaged products are visible through transparent packaging with attractive appearance to facilitate sales. It adapts to mechanized and automated packaging, streamlines modern management, cuts labor costs and improves efficiency.

Vacuum blister packaging is implemented on dedicated packaging machinery. As commodity packaging develops toward mechanization and automation in recent years, manufacturers producing thermoforming packaging equipment have grown rapidly. Multiple professional manufacturers at home and abroad supply vacuum blister packaging machines. Although blister thermoforming machines vary in structural types, they share largely similar working principles. The working principle of vacuum blister packaging is as follows: the thermoplastic composite plastic film is heated and softened by infrared heating plates and sags downwards. Pre-fabricated corrugated cardboard is placed on the vacuum suction worktable, with electrical products to be packaged set on top. When the film is softened to a certain degree by heating, the vacuum suction worktable rises driven by compressed air, bringing the packaged products into contact with the magnetic side of the flexible film, and the vacuum chamber valve opens simultaneously. Air between the products and the film is drawn into the vacuum chamber through vacuum holes. Consequently, the thermo-adhesive side of the film tightly adheres to the products and the base plate. The outer surface of the film is then cooled by fans. Excess edge trimmings are cut off. The corrugated cardboard after blister forming is folded into a rectangular box shape, and the joints of the packaging box are sealed with adhesive tape to complete packaging forming. Depending on product dimensions and manufacturer requirements, 3 to 5 items can be placed inside one packaging box.