Like any manufacturing process and material, glass components are subject to certain constraints when designing for manufacturability. Here’s a few important things to remember when you think about a custom glass project:
Order Quantity #
Changeovers in glass manufacturing are lengthy. The furnace is very rarely turned off in glass factories. It is rare to find a manufacturer that will take a custom bottle or jar project for under 250,000 units. There are plenty of other ways to make your glass component stand out, like with your decoration, color, or closure. COMPAX can help you to find solutions to meet the unique look you are looking for.
Finish #
The bottle finish is what marries your closure. Similar to plastics, there is a standardizing body called the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) that has defined specifications and standards for glass finishes.
Base #
The base must have “push-up” (it has to be concave). The base should also be as large as possible for stability of the component on decoration and fill lines.
Decoration #
Registration marks allow the glass to be automatically decorated. The label or deco area must be planned. Some decoration methods, like screen printing or hot stamp, may require a chemical treatment for the decoration to adhere.
Neck #
The design of the neck effects how your product dispenses and how it can be filled.