Prent Corporation, designer and manufacturer of custom plastic, rigid thermoform packaging for the medical world, bagged the 2020 Ameristar Packaging award by the Institute of Packaging Professionals for its clamshell tray collection.
Michelle Rademacher, the project’s lead designer, said the package, which was a result of the partnership between Prent’s development team and customers, exceeded the expectations with regard to product protection, creativity, and environmental impact.
The new clamshell tray was made from recycled APET (amorphous-polyethylene terephthalate) material. Feasibility was the main element in this package. Prent has won 16 WorlsStar awards and 11 AmeriStar awards.
Partnership and clamshell tray
Michael Rademacher said they learned about the issues and concerns of end users and came up with a design solution that could house the devices and not damage them during the transition. Fewer components were included for sustainability purposes, and they came up with a collection method that showed better performance over the previous large packs.
The design on the tray enables the front end to remain firm in position while the base end has a joint within the large lid to help the user in opening only the handle end and insert and remove the device easily.
Rademacher said finger tabs were added to help the users differentiate the opening to make it easier to use. This design allows easy use and storage in customer facilities and hospitals.
Users could check if each part starts from the dilator to the stopcock of the handle through the information provided at the bottom of the tray. This data at the bottom helped improve its use at the hospitals.
The clamshell helps easy organization and storage of the device and helps protect it and the dilator from damage. Previously, these used devices were transported from the hospital to the consumer facility loosely in a collection container for them to be re-sterilized.
These devices could not be reused as the tips of the devices were damaged. Currently, the end user can release the handle portion of the clamshell to slip the dilator or catheter into the proper location and close it when these medical devices are not used.
