What is a Co-Packer? Your Guide to Product Packaging & Turnkey Manufacturing Services
What is a co-packer and what do they do?
Today’s post will answer these questions by describing different kinds of packaging, the benefits of packaging, what a co-packer does, how co-packers compare to turnkey supplement manufacturers, and what packaging services Nutra Connection offers.
The Importance of Packaging
What if you designed a shake mix, blended the powders together, then shipped it to your customers as-is? Would your customers think the shake was worth the cost? After all, they purchased your product and you sent them what they wanted. Or did you? Once the shipping carrier leaves them a messy box full of powder, your customers won’t think so! On one hand, the mess inside the box isn’t going to identify itself as your product, so they can’t be sure this is the blend they ordered. On the other hand, even if your customer is confident that this is the blend they ordered, they will have no idea how best to store the powder or prepare the shake! So, despite all the time and money spent to design, manufacture, and ship the shake mix, your product immediately lost its value! This hypothetical scenario highlights something we intrinsically understand: that packaging is important. But what kind of value does it actually bring to your product?
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Some products, like powders, are indistinguishable from each other unless labeled. Your customers need to know that what they received is what they ordered!
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Product packaging displays your brand name/symbols. By designing good packaging, you can help your company grow its brand identity and make your product stand out to people searching for products online or on shelves.
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Customers expect packaging to confirm its name, specifications, use, etc. In some industries, like the Dietary Supplement and Food industry, labeling products is a legal requirement and organizations such as the FDA provide guidelines that must be adhered to. A “Supplement Facts” panel, for example, must indicate what ingredients make up the product and in what quantities, then explain how the supplement is to be taken (alongside any warnings or instructions for storage).
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Products are under physical duress…
when being stored in a warehouse or on a store shelf.
during the shipping process.
when customers keep them for future use.
Packaging provides a helpful barrier that can prevent your product from becoming damaged or contaminated. Tamper-evident packaging may indicate when a “seal” is compromised so a customer knows that the product may be unsafe to use and should be replaced.
What kind of packaging is best?
There are a variety of packaging options that may be suitable for your product. Depending on your product’s delivery system, however, some options will make more sense than others!
(Gusseted) Bags - Common container for powders, gummies, meal replacements, oats, or other granular materials in bulk.
Bottles - Popular container for tablets, capsules, softgels, gummies, powders, etc.
Jars - Similar use-case as bottles, but are larger and better suited for holding products in bulk. It is also common to fill jars with powder or granular materials.
Stick Packs - Often referred to as “single-serving packets,” stick packs are a little packages you can use to provide small, exact dosages of a powder. In many cases, companies assemble multiple stick packs into a carton or bag for customer convenience (this process is called assembly/kitting).
Sachets - These are basically the same as stick packs, but tend to be larger (wider). Sachets are usually filled with powders, but can be purposed for creams or other.
Cartons - This is “secondary packaging,” commonly used to hold multiple individually-packaged items (stick packs, for example).
Boxes - Like cartons, boxes are usually a form of “secondary packaging” used for holding multiple products. In many cases, boxes are built to be “displays” (i.e. designed to be put on store shelves and display your product - perhaps gusseted bags).
If multiple options can viably contain your product, you should also consider the cost of packaging, the “unboxing” experience you want your customers to have, whether your product needs to be re-sealable after being opened, and what kind of influence the packaging will have on storage capacity and shipping costs.
What is a co-packer and what does a co-packer do?
Very simply put, a co-packer is a company that packages products for clients. In addition to filling powders, capsules, tablets, etc. into packaging materials, your co-packer should be able to LOT-code the products and handle “tamper-evident” packaging.
How can I find a co-packer?
Since you are here, you already did! Many Contract Manufacturers (like us) are “turnkey” providers, which means we can handle your packaging services in addition to other supply chain services we may have rendered you. Generally speaking, however, the process of finding a good co-packer will involve online searches, sifting through reviews, exploring LinkedIn, and/or networking via word-of-mouth. Manufacturers in the same industry will often become familiar with each other’s capabilities, so if you have done business with a contractor in the past (and they can’t help you), feel free to ask them if they know who can help!
What is a Turnkey provider?
Turnkey providers offer end-to-end supply chain services - from product development to order fulfillment! Once contracted, turnkey providers can help you finalize your product’s formula, purchase raw materials, manufacture your product, package your product, store and manage your inventory, then ship your customer orders. Although a turnkey provider’s capabilities extend throughout the supply chain, they may be able to accommodate clients who only need select services (instead of the full supply chain process). In cases where only packaging services are contracted, turnkey providers may be considered “co-packers.”
Manufacturers in the same industry may have differing capabilities and equipment, so finding a turnkey provider that meets all of your needs can help to streamline your supply chain. Even so, always be on the lookout for businesses whose capabilities may exceed that of your current contractor in case making a switch can save you money and time or produce a higher-quality result!
What are Nutra Connection’s packaging capabilities?
Nutra Connection provides many packaging services that are quick, accurate, and scalable. They include:
Stick-Pack Filling
Our “stick pack” packaging equipment is some of the best in Utah! Our multi-lane fill-and-seal machines efficiently manufacture sticks that have accurate weight, consistent proportions, and beautiful seals! Our stick pack filling machines can fill powder into packets with three different widths (23mm, 35mm and 40mm) and at varying lengths. One of our machines can run 240,000 sticks in one shift! Combined with our additional single-serve packet filling equipment’s capabilities, Nutra Connection can fill over half a million sticks in a single shift!
Sachet Filling
Nutra Connection also has a sachet filling machine to help accommodate larger-serving-size packet widths (2.32”, 3” & 4” AKA 59 mm, 76mm & 100mm) at various packet lengths.
Bottle Filling
We have a high-capacity bottling line for bottling capsules, tablets, soft gels, or powders. Our line includes equipment that handles metal detection, weight checking, capping, sealing, labeling, lot & date coding, and tamper-evident neck banding. For clients who need to include a desiccant packet and/or cotton filling, our bottling line is equipped for this, too!
Jar Filling
Recently, Nutra Connection has integrated jars into our bottling line, so we can now help clients fill jars with powders, capsules, tablets, etc. Like bottles, they follow the line through metal detection, weight checking, and every other important steps that ensure the product meets client specifications.
Bag/Pouch/Gusseted Bag Filling
Nutra Connection has two high-speed rotary filling machines that are made to fill products into pouches or gusseted bags. One machine for powder filling, the other for non-powder filling (excluding liquids, but can include products like foods, candies, capsules, etc.).
Cartons (Assembly/Kitting)
In addition to providing excellent stick-pack filling services, Nutra Connection is no stranger to assembling kits! We have a team of dedicated individuals that fill cartons with the desired amount of stick packs, close them, check their weight, and seal them.
Want to learn more about our turnkey solutions? View our services page, here!
Nutra Connection’s multi-line fill-and-seal stick packing machine.
Nutra Connection’s bottling line inside their Manufacturing Facility in Utah.
Nutra Connection’s Junapack powder-filling machine (fills and seals powder into bags).
Ready to Stop Juggling Manufacturing Partners?
Nutra Connection is a total turnkey manufacturer you can trust to get the job done. Simplify your supply chain today by contacting Nutra Connection for help with your dietary supplement or food product.
