Whether it be spices, protein or milk powder, drink mixes, or non-food powders like enzymes or chemical additives, powder packaging remains large packaging equipment market. With convenience products becoming increasingly popular, we expect the powder packaging market to grow even more in areas like pre-packaged spice blends to add to meals, instant coffee and drink mixes, and portable protein powders.
When it comes to powder packaging, there are three main things your packaging equipment manufacturer needs to know to provide the best packaging solution for your specific application.
Free-Flow or Non-Free-Flow
A powder product is considered free-flowing when its particles are not cohesive. Examples of this are granulated sugar or table salt, which 'flow freely' when dispensed. Adding extra pressure usually will not compact these types of powders, and they usually don't hold their shape when manipulated.
A powder product is considered non-free-flowing when the particles are cohesive. Examples of this are brown sugar or powdered milk, which tend to hold their shape when manipulated and can be compacted under pressure.
Dusty Products Require Special Powder Packaging Considerations
Consider a non-free-flow powder product like flour. When flour is dispensed, inevitably a dust cloud is formed. Anyone who has ever worked with this type of product knows how far these particles can travel, and how they cling to almost any surface. Now consider this in the context of powder packaging machinery; serious mechanical issues can occur as a result of loose airborne particulates. Thus, certain powder packaging machinery option is recommended when powder product is dusty
· A dust extraction device or dust hood will help remove airborne particulates at the source.
Why Bulk Density Matters in Powder Packaging
This is where bulk density becomes an important consideration when packaging powders: It has a direct influence on pouch sizes and attributes, the type of filler required, as well as the packaging speeds that can be attained.