The delivery of quality flexible packaging to the marketplace efficiently and profitably requires the design and manufacture of products that are both "fit-to-use" and "fit-to-make". The engineering function in a flexible packaging enterprise must attend to these dual design challenges. Flexible Packaging discusses the basic processes used to manufacture flexible packaging products, including rotogravure printing, flexographic printing, extrusion lamination/coating; and finishing/slitting. These processes are then grounded in the machines used to practice, emphasising the basics of control systems for the machines, and covering options intended to minimize waste and unproductive time between production jobs. Raw materials are considered, including the three basic forms of Rollstock (paper, foil, plastic films); Resin; and Wets (inks, varnishes, primers). Guidance is given not only on material selection, but also on adding value through enhancement or modification of the materials' physical features. A 'measures' section covers both primary material features - such as tensile, elongation, modulus and elastic and plastic regions - and secondary quality characteristics such as seal and bond strengths, coefficient of friction, oxygen barrier and moisture vapour barrier. Helps engineers improve existing raw material selection and manufacturing processes for manufacturing functional flexible packaging materials.

Covers all aspects of delivering high value packaging to the customer - from the raw materials, to the methods of processing them, the machines used to do it, and the measures required to gauge the characteristics of the product. Helps engineers to minimize waste and unproductive time in production.