The Latest Technology for Your Innovative Packaging
We're about solving problems ... Silgan has the engineering and technological know-how to take your brand from concept to consumer. From market and product research to conceptual design and patenting, Silgan will help your brand take shape and give your packaging the impact it needs to sell. Our Commercial Development Center, outside of Atlanta, continually investigates and pursues the latest technological advances in the field to create a better package for you. In this business so much has to do with technical expertise, and we have it.
Silgan's Commercial Development team continually evaluates current in-market technology as well as what's on the cutting edge. The facility is staffed with highly trained professionals offering technical support to our customers. These resources are focused on providing you with innovative packaging solutions, delivered on time and at a competitive cost.
From mono-layer HDPE bottles to multi-layer configurations with PCR and nylon, Silgan's expertise spreads across a wide range of sizes and materials. With multiple platforms and materials we have your needs covered. And it doesn't stop there, our entire team from product designers and mold engineers to quality support and process engineers, are at your service.
Developing the Right Packaging Solutions for You
Our Commercial Development Center offers a fully equipped Pilot Lab to provide prototypes, unit tools, production mold development and limited quantities of pre-production samples. Many of the same machines, from blow molding to decorating, you find in our plants are also found in the pilot lab. This allows us to provide key services to our customers without interrupting production at the plants. The center also staffs a Materials and Metrology Lab capable of performing a multitude of tests designed to meet your specific requirements.
The Right Test Results
The Materials and Metrology Lab routinely conducts:
- Material evaluations
- Package analysis
- Dimensional analysis
- Functional testing
- Color analysis
- Label testing
We stay on top of the latest material developments and continually evaluate new resins, color concentrates and additives. When reviewing a material, we look at how the product processes, review contamination levels, melt flow rates, recommend recycling guidelines, and conduct tensile testing. We perform these functions to provide you with the best materials in the industry.
Our fully equipped Metrology Lab routinely completes dimensional and functional analysis testing all key attributes and dimensional characteristics of your package. Our services include:
- Layer analysis for projected shelf life
- Measurement of all bottle dimensions including neck ID
- Top load testing
- Drop impact testing
- Leak testing — pressure vacuum
- Environmental stress crack resistance (ESCR) testing
- Application and removal torque
The final appearance and integrity of your package is critical to consumer acceptance. So, we provide color analysis, review opacity levels and can test the percentage of light transmission in the UV range for proper protection. When it comes to decorating Silgan routinely tests Dyne levels for ink and label adhesion. Our lab also reviews label coefficient of friction and adhesive coat weight.
Reviewing the Right Regulations
Our Commercial Development group also leads Silgan's regulatory affairs:
- FDA compliance
- CONEG — Coalition of Northeast Governors for heavy metal restriction
- RoHS — Restriction on Hazardous Substance for heavy metals and certain flame retardants based on a European Directive
- TSE/BSE — Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (Mad Cow Disease) as it relates to animal derived ingredients in resin
- latex free products
- Maintain four US Drug Master Files and one Canadian Pharmaceutical Master File.