It really doesn’t matter what you’re making – at the end of the day, you’re going to need to have a solid packaging system that helps to preserve the quality of your product. And as part of the components of a proper packaging service, sealing definitely comes in very handy.
That said, sealing comes in different forms. And when it comes to drug making, two variants that are especially prominent are induction seals and heat seals. In this article, we’ll provide a proper comparison of the two, allowing you to really know how to choose between them.
Induction Sealing Process
The induction sealing process focuses primarily on containers like jars and bottles. So, if you’re working with pills that are placed in bottles or other associated containers, then this is probably the best sealing method to be used.
Here, you engage electromagnetic induction as a principle to generate a sufficient amount of heat in a metallic foil liner. The liner itself will melt a small layer of polymer coating on the container’s inner seal, thus making the needed seal between the opening of the container and its cap directly.
The benefits of induction sealing are pretty easy to see – with the process, you can ensure that your product remains fresh, while also preventing leaks and making it much more difficult for anyone to tamper with the integrity of your package.
The Heat Sealing Process
From the very beginning, you see a difference in how heat sealing marks a breath of fresh air here – instead of magnets, the method takes advantage of heat and pressure, using them to form the combinations needed for your packaging.
Its use in manufacturing and packaging has been pretty prominent, and it actually works in different industries where the creation of a tight, secure seal is critical.
For heat sealing to work, it’s important to have all of these components: a sealing surface, a mechanism for adding pressure, a sealing machine equipped with a heating element, and the plastic materials to be sealed, such as polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyester (PET).
Comparison of Induction Seal vs. Heat Seal
Now that we understand both processes and how they work, it’s time to get a handle on where they differ and the lines between them.
Induction Sealing vs Heat Sealing: What Is The Backbone Of Their Operation?
One of the most significant differences you could easily point out with these two methods is in the way they even operate in the first place. When you have induction, you see a method that takes electromagnets and uses them to create the burst of heat that eventually seals the container and the cap together.
Then, we have the flip side, which focuses more on pressure and the manual generation of the heat needed to create the seal. It is done by putting surfaces together in direct contact to be sealed shut. Everyone can argue about which is simpler, but this difference easily forms one of the most important distinctions between them.
Induction Sealing vs Heat Sealing: Which Materials Do They Work With?
Next, it is also critical to keep in mind that these methods would generally have their specializations. For instance, with induction sealing, you have a method that most likely won’t do well with metals. But, when you apply the method to things like plastic and glass, now you’ve got something!
This is different from heat sealing that performs well with thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).
Induction Sealing vs Heat Sealing: Which Seal Is Stronger?
If you’re looking for seal integrity and strength, then induction sealing is where you should be. It protects against things like contamination and leaks, while also ensuring that you don’t have to worry about the entrance of external elements
Induction Sealing vs Heat Sealing: Which Is Cheaper?
For manufacturers looking to optimize cash savings as much as possible, heat sealing is most likely the ideal choice. You can integrate it into existing packaging setups, and the cost of handling it isn’t quite as high as that of induction sealing.
Induction Sealing vs Heat Sealing: Which Method Works Better For Irregular Shapes?
The induction sealing method might not be as versatile as heat sealing, but it actually has the advantage of working better when you have bottles and containers with irregular shapes. Its operational flexibility is a huge benefit, and you’ll find that it comes in handy when you have containers that don’t necessarily conform to conventional shapes.
Conclusion
Induction and heat sealing are easily the two most prominent sealing mechanisms being used – especially when it comes to making pharmaceutical products. They’re renowned for their ability to maintain the freshness of these products, while also being relatively easy to scale.
If you’re looking to learn more about which of the sealing mechanisms would be perfect for you, feel free to reach out to us at Sainty Tec.
