What is an "A" SHELL?
The outermost shell on a lipstick swivel
mechanism.

What is ABRASION?
The rubbing and wearing away by friction of one surface by another.

What is ACCELERATED AGING?
A process whereby the deterioration encountered in natural aging may be accelerated and reproduced in the laboratory by heat.

What is ACCEPTANCE QUALITY LEVEL?
(AQL) The quality level which for the purpose of sampling inspection, is the limit of a satisfactory process average.

What is an ACTUATOR?
The finger button that, when depressed, opens the aerosol or mechanical pump dispenser valve mechanism and allows for dispensing of the product.

What is an ACTUATOR INSERT?
The plastic insert in the actuator of a spray pump with an orifice through which the product is dispensed.

What is AEROSOL?
A pressurized container permitting controlled dispensing of a product at the touch of a button.

What is AESTHETIC FILL?
Filling to a specific level in a clear package where the fill level is visible.

What is AESTHETICS?
The visual response to the physical appearance of an object.

What are AIRLESS DISPENSERS?
An integrated pump system especially suitable for products that are sensitive to environmental influences. Ideal for viscous lotions, creams, gels, treatment products and the like.

What is an AMPULE?
A glass container filled with medication and closed with a rubber stopper.

What is ANNEALING?
A controlled temperature method of gradually cooling glass containers in ovens or lehrs to relieve structural stresses and to make less brittle.

What is ANODIZING?
Electrolytic process for forming an oxide coating on aluminum for corrosion and wear resistance.

What is APPLICATION TORQUE?
The twisting force used to apply a closure to a finished bottle. The amount of torque varies with the size of the closure.

What is a BARCODE?
A way of labeling or coding a product that allows a clear description of the contents and limits dosage mistakes. Barcodes can only be read by scanners.

What is a BARREL?
The body of a deodorant stock container.

What is a BARRIER COAT?
A surface coating used to improve permeation resistance and protect the container from scuffing.

What is a BELLOWS?
A flexible, sometimes valved air chamber that as part of an airless pump system can be contracted and expanded to dispense product.

What is a BLANK?
The mold parts used in all glass container machines for preliminary formation of glass in preparation for completion of the glass containers in the finish mold where the bottles are blown. The blank forms the parison, hence the parison itself is at times referred to as the blank.

What is a BLISTER PACK?
A unit-dose package commonly constructed from a formed cavity containing one or more individual doses.

What is BLOOM?
Bloom is the result of ingredients coming out of "solution" in the component and migrating to the surface of the component. Can be seen on the surface of glass as a white scale after the glass has been aged in humidity.

What is BLOW AND BLOW?
Expression used to identify the production principle of the IS machine making narrow neck containers. Glass is blown into the blank mold and later blown into the finish mold.

What is BLOW MOLDING?
The process of extruding a hollow tube, called a parison, downward between two halves of a mold. As the mold closes, the bottom of the parison is pinched off and air is injected into the top forcing the material outwards to the walls of the mold.

What is BODY?
The principal part of a container, usually the largest piece containing the sides. In collapsible tubes, the body (or wall) is the cylindrical portion below the shoulder extending to the bottom of crimped end. In bottles, the body is the main portion of the bottle without the neck.

What is a BOTTOM PLATE (GLASS)?
The part of the mold equipment that forms the bottom of the bottle.

What is a BOTTOM PLATE (PLASTIC)?
That part of the mold, which contains the heel (base radius) radius and the "push-up" of the container to be formed.

What is a BULB?
The rubber or plastic squeezable component of a dropper or atomizer.

What is a BUTTRESS THREAD?
A design of thread profile (cross-section), which takes the form of a right triangle or slight modification of that form. It is usually positioned so that the right angle is at the bottom of the thread cross-section and adjacent to the neck of the bottle finish. The horizontal leg of the right triangle is the bearing surface for a matching cap thread.

What is a BUTTERFLY HINGE?
Flexible hinge used in joining the cover to the main body of a flip top dispensing closure Superior hinge for impact resistance.

What is a CAP INSERT?
The threaded inner part of a two-piece cap.
What is COMPATIBILITY?

The ability of a container or material to resist chemical degradation or physical change caused by the product, or to chemically change or physically degrade the product container.


What is COMPRESSION MOLDING?

The process of molding materials under direct pressure and high temperature.


What is CONSUMER PACKAGING?

Those packages generally concerned with small units in large numbers, often decorated in an attractive manner.


What is CONTINUOUS THREAD ("C-T")?

An uninterrupted protruding helix on the neck of a bottle to hold a screw type closure.


What is a COVER CAP/DUST CAP/HOOD/SHROUD?

Plastic cap used to protect a dispenser from accidental actuation and contamination. Also used to protect the point of a lip-eye pencil or lipstick.


What does CR stand for?

Child Resistant, indicates that a package will pass a test protocol administered by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.


What is CT FINISH?

Continuous thread finish - an interrupted protruding helix on the neck of a container to accommodate a screw-type closure.


What is CULL?

The remove defective or damaged parts or articles from the Production line.


What is DEBOSSING?

Depressing a portion or portions of an item below the ordinary surface level, usually to form lettering or decoration. Sometimes the background rather than the lettering itself leaving the letters at the original level.


What is DENSITY?

Weight per unit of volume of a substance, expressed in grams per cubic centimeter, pounds per cubic foot, etc.


What is DEPTH OF INSERTION?

The distance between the rim of a metal overshell and the skirt of a threaded insert in a two-piece closure.


What is a DESICCANT?

Highly hygroscopic substance used to absorb moisture in bottles, vials and blisters.
What is a DIE?

Any tool or arrangement of tools designed to cut, shape or otherwise form materials to a desired configuration.


What is a DIE CUT?

Any operation in which a form that incorporates sharp cutting edges is pressed into a substrate to cut out a desired shape.


What is a DIP TUBE?

Open ended flexible plastic tube that attaches to the tank of a pump and extends into the product creating a means for the product to be dispensed through the pump.


What is a DOUBLE GOB?

A special operation of IS machine in which two gobs of glass are blown simultaneously into containers in a double cavity-type mold.


What is "E" DIMENSION?

The measurement of the diameter across the root of the threads on a bottle finish.


What is ELECTROPLATING?

The deposition of a thin layer or coating of metal on an object by passing an electric current through an aqueous solution of salt containing icons of the element being deposited. The material being plated constitutes the cathode. The anode is often composed of the metal being deposited; ideally, it dissolves as the process proceeds.


What is EMBOSSING?

The creation of a design on a surface by causing letters, figures, patterns, etc. to be raised above the natural surface.


What is ENAMEL?

A class of coatings that contains a specially prepared vehicle, instead of raw oil. Term usually applied to coatings that dry with a high gloss finish.


What is an END CAP?

Metal or plastic sleeve type cap used to protect a pencil point as in eye and lip pencils.


What is ENGRAVING?

A process of impressing, cutting or etching a configuration into a plate.


What is EPOXY?

Plastics based on resins made by the reaction of epoxides or oxiranes with other materials such as amines, alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, acid anhydrides and unsaturated compounds.


What is ETCH?

To treat a material with an acid, leaving parts of the material that remain in relief to form the desired design.


What is ETHYLENE VINYL ACETATE?

A soft flexible plastic material derived from low-density polyethylene and vinyl acetate.
What is EXTRUSION?

The compacting of a plastic material and forcing of it through an orifice in more or less continuous fashion.


What is EXTRUSION BLOW MOLDING?

A process for forming hollow narrow-mouthed bottles and similar hollow shapes. A cylindrical tube (the parison) is extruded and, while still in a hot pliable form, clamped between two mold cavity halves and then inflated to conform to the mold surfaces.


What is FATIGUE?

A condition of stress created by repeating flexing or impact force upon a material.


What is an FEA FINISH?

European equivalent of GCMI finish.


What is a FERRULE?

Metal or plastic sleeve used to join two components together.


What is FILL LEVEL?

Distance as measured down from the open end of a container to the surface of the material filled into the container.


What is FILL POINT?

The level to which a container must be filled to furnish a designated quantity of the contents.


What is FINISH?

That portion of the neck of a glass or plastic container which carries the threads, lugs or friction fit members to which the closure is applied, and includes the sealing surface and sealing bead; generally, the whole portion above the transfer or pry-off bead. (The term finish in connection with glass containers is a holdover from earlier days before glass blowing became an automatic, mechanized operation. The neck of a container was the last part to be formed, hence the name finish.)
What are FISH EYES?

Undissolved particles in coating composition.

Also, air bubbles or voids in glass containers.


What is a FITMENT?

A device used as a part of a closure assembly to accomplish a certain purpose such as a dropper, sprinkler, powder shaker, etc.


What is FLAME RESISTANT?

Material which is capable or burning when in contact with flame, but not continuing to burn when the flame is removed.


What is a FLAME RETARDANT?

A chemical used in treating a material so that it will not support combustion.


What is FLAME TREATING?

A method of rendering inert thermoplastic objects receptive to inks, lacquers, paints, adhesives, etc. in which the object is bathed in an open flame to promote oxidation of the surface of the article.


What is FLEXIBILITY?

The property of a material that will permit its being bent or twisted without breaking.


What is FLINT?

A term used to describe a glass color, which is perfectly clear and transparent.


What is a FLIP TOP/SNAP TOP DISPENSING CLOSURE?

A two-piece closure system where both pieces are typically attached by a living hinge. One half provides the threads for attachment to a bottle, tube or jar and an orifice for dispensing the product while the other half provides the closure mechanism, usually a pintel that snaps audibly into the orifice.


What are FLOW LINES?

Any visible mark on a molded part, which indicates the direction that the liquefied resin, passes through in the cavity or the die.


What is are FLOW MARKS?

Often similar to flow lines, these marks are slight imperfections to the surface of a molded part that are results of the passage of liquefied plastic through the mold cavity. Often exhibits a wavy surface appearance.


What is GCMI?

Glass Container Manufacturers Institute.


What is a GEL CAP?

A gelatin-coated capsule which is easier to swallow, and tamper evident.
What are types of GLASS?

Four types of glass are specified by the U.S. Pharmacopeia on the basis of chemical durability tests. Type 1, 2 and 3 are intended for packaging parenteral preparations and Type NP for non-parenteral products.


What is TYPE 1 GLASS?

Containers normally made of borosilicate glass having a highly resistant composition. The specification test, called the Powdered Glass Test, is applied to glass as such in crushed or powdered form.


What is TYPE 2 GLASS?

Containers made of commercial soda lime glass which may have been treated on the inside surface at a high temperature to obtain a great improvement in chemical resistance. The usual treatment dealkalized the glass surface to a significant depth producing a chemical resistance similar to that of Type 1, and is known as sulphur treatment.


What is TYPE 3 GLASS?

Untreated glass containers made of commercial soda-lime glass average or somewhat above average chemical resistance. The specification places a limit on the amount of alkaline material extracted in the Powdered Glass Test. This limit is, of course, much higher than that set for Type 1 ware.


What is TYPE NP GLASS?

Untreated glass containers made of ordinary soda-lime glass. The specification places a limit on the amount of alkaline material extracted in the Powdered Glass Test. The limit is higher than that set for Type 3 ware.


GLASS SURFACE TREATMENT?

Pristine glass has a very high coefficient of friction: Glass containers are surface coated by the glass manufacturer to provide lubricity, so that containers can pass readily on conveying systems and will not cling to and scratch one another on contact.


What is GMP?

Good Manufacturing Practices (as established by the FDA).


What is a GOB?

The controlled globule or mass of molten glass fed into the mold.


What is a GODET?

Metal pan, i.e., pressed powder.


What is "H" DIMENSION?

(1) on a threaded bottle neck (finish), the measurement from the top of the finish to the point where diameter "T" extended parallel to the centerline intersects the shoulder or bead.

(2) the inside height of the closure, measured from the bottom of the closure in a line tangent to the threads of the closure and terminating at the inside top of the closure with liner removed.


What is HEAD SPACE?

The volume of empty space between the fill level of a container and the overflow capacity of the container.


What is a HEAT TRANSFER LABEL?

A label applied to a container by transferring the label, preprinted on a substrate, to the container surface.


What is HDPE?

High Density Polyethylene.


What is a HEEL?

The lower portion of a glass or plastic container starting with the bearing surface of the bottom and including a small portion of the lower wall.
What is HEELTAP?

Heavy glass on one side of the bottom of a glass bottle.


What is a HERMETIC SEAL?

A seal that will exclude air and will be gas tight at normal temperatures and atmospheric pressures.


What is HOT STAMPING?

Engraving operation for marking plastics in which roll leaf is stamped with heated metal dies onto the surface of the plastics. Ink compounds can also be used. By means of felt rolls, ink is applied to type and by means of heat and pressure, type is impressed into the material, leaving the marking compounds in the indentation.


What is "I" DIMENSION?

A specified minimum dimension inside the bottle neck that will allow sufficient clearance for filler tubes to enter the bottle neck.


What is INDUSTRIAL PACKAGING?

Usually made up of large heavy units with no attempt to make them appealing to the eye.


What is INJECTION BLOW MOLDING?

A two-stage process where a preform or parison is injection molded. The bottle finish is formed at this time. The preform is then transferred to blow mold where the bottle takes its final shape.


What is INJECTION MOLDING?

A process whereby molten material is forced through a gate, under conditions of heat and pressure, into a closed mold cavity.


What is INSTITUTIONAL PACKAGING?

Items that are destined for a particular segment of society such as Medical Doctors, Veterinarians Beauty Operators or Mechanics. Attention is primarily given to protection of the item.


What is an INTERRUPTED THREAD?

The threaded portion of the finish of a container, which has gaps or interruptions. Usually found at the parting line.


What is KRAFT?

A chemical wood pulp made by the sulphate process, or paper or paperboard made from such pulp. It is brown in color and is the strongest pulp product made from wood. (Kraft is the German word for strong).


What is "L" DIMENSION?

Measured from the top of the finish to the point where diameter ?E? extended parallel to centerline intersects the bead (for example, SP-410 and SP-415 finishes).


What is "L" STYLE THREAD?

A type of thread contour (cross-section) roughly trapezoidal in outline. The outermost part is radiuses. This is a "general purpose" thread contour designed for use with either metal or plastic closures.


What is a LABEL PANEL?

A flat place on a container where a label may be glued.


What is a LEHR?

An oven used to anneal glass in order to reduce internal stress that would result from too rapid cooling.


What is a LIVING HINGE?

Integral hinge made of flexible plastic.


What is LDPE?

Low Density Polyethylene.


What is LLDPE?

Linear Low Density Polyethylene.


What is a LOT NUMBER?

A number that is assigned to a production batch so that all of a product's components can be traced.


What is a LUG?

Extensions around the circumference of a lid, which are crimped down to hold the lid securely in place against the body of a container.


What is a LUG CLOSURE?

A screw-type closure where the thread is interrupted rather than continuous. The closure is effected by a short camming action. One advantage is that application is very fast, since the closure needs only a few degrees of rotation. In contrast, a normal continuous thread closure might require 360 degrees or more rotation to effect a seal.


What is METALIZING?

Applying a thin coating of metal to a non-metallic surface. May be done by chemical deposition or by exposing the surface to vaporized metal in a vacuum chamber.
What is a MIL?

A unit of measurement equivalent to 0.001 inch.


What is MILITARY PACKAGING?

A highly specialized type of packaging in which all elements have been worked out in the most intricate detail.


What is MINIMUM WALL?

A term that designates the minimum thickness of the wall of a container.


What is a MOLD (PLASTIC)?

(v.) To shape plastic parts or finished articles by heat and pressure. (n.) The cavity into which the plastic composition is placed and from which it takes form.


What are MOLDS (GLASS)?

A set of iron forms that are fastened on a bottle machine to provide a means of shaping a glass container.


What is a MULLEN TEST?

Pressure in pounds per square inch required to force a rubber diaphragm through a rounded hole against a paper specimen firmly clamped around the edge of a hole.


What is a NECK?

The part of the container where the bottle cross-section decreases to form the finish.


What is a NECK INSERT?

Part of the mold assembly, which forms the neck and finish. Sometimes called the "neck ring".


What is a NECK RING?

That part of the mold equipment, which forms the finish of a bottle.


What is NECK SIZE (TUBE)?

The # refers to the number of 64ths of an inch in the opening of the tube neck, i.e., a #16 neck size refers to a 16/64'' (1/4') opening. The number is sometimes preceded by a letter, M = metric series; S = U.S. standard series.


What is OFFSET PRINTING (OFFSET LITHOGRAPHY)?

The process where the ink is transferred from the plate to a blanket and from the blanket to the material to be printed. Commonly called offset.


What is OPAL?

An opaque, white glass used to make jars and bottles.


What is OPAQUE?

Descriptive of a material or substance, which will not transmit light.


What is ORANGE PEEL?

Uneven surface (of a bottle) somewhat resembling an orange peel.


What is OTC?

Over The Counter Drugs ? available without a prescription.


What is an OUTERSHELL?

Outer casing on a two-piece jar.


What is OVERFLOW CAPACITY?

The capacity of the container to the top of the finish or to the point of overflow.


What is OVERLAY?

In artwork, a transparent covering over the copy where color break is wanted.


What is OVERSHELL?

Metal, usually aluminum, outer casing on a two-piece closure.


What is "P" STYLE THREAD?

A type of buttress thread for use with plastic closures. The profile of the thread is roughly a right triangle. One of the two legs that form the right angle is part of the vertical wall of the neck (finish); the other is horizontal bearing surface, against which the closure threads engage.


What is PANELING?

Distortion (side wall collapse) of a container occurring during aging or storage, caused by the development of a reduced pressure inside the bottle.


What is a PARISON?

(a) A partially formed glass shape that will be blown into a glass container; (b) the extruded hot plastic tube that will be placed in a mold to be inflated into a bottle or other hollow form.


What is PET?

A polyester made from the combination of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid resulting in a good gas and water barrier.


What is PETE?

An extrudable form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).


What is PETG?

A form of polyethylene terephthalate, which has been copolymerized with glycol.


What is PHENOLIC?

The generic name for phenol formaldehyde.


What is PINCH-OFF?

A raised edge around the cavity in the mold, which seals off the part and separates the excess material as the mold closes around the parison in the extrusion blow molding operation.


What is a PINHOLE?

A very small hole in a plastic bottle.


What is a PINTEL?

Stopper integrated with a closure to form a corkage seal.


What is a PISTON?

A cylinder that moves in a cylindrical vessel, which displaces or is displaced by a volume of fluid.


What is a PISTON FILLER?

A filling machine in which the product is metered by drawing it into a cylinder of a set volume and then ejecting a measured amount into a container.
What is a PLUG?

A fitment that is pressed into a bottle neck opening to close off or reduce the passage.

Polymers derived from the direct reaction between aromatic and aliphatic dihydroxy compounds with phosgene or the ester exchange reaction with appropriate phosgene derived precursors.


What is POLYPROPYLENE?

A plastic or resin prepared by the polymerization of propylene as the sole monomer.


What is POLYSTYRENE?

A thermoplastic material derived from the polymerization of styrene.


What is POLYVINYL CHLORIDE?

A resin prepared through the polymerization of vinyl chloride alone.


What is POLYVINYL ACETATE?

A resin prepared through the polymerization of vinyl acetate alone.


What are POUCHES/SACHETS?

A flexible material (usually paper, foil, PE, PET or a multi-laminate) used to package medication.


What is POUR-OUT FINISH?

A bottle finish having uniform undercut lips as a dealing surface. Designed to facilitate pouring without dripping.


What is PRESS AND BLOW?

Expression used to identify the production principle of the Miller machine or IS machine used in making wide mouth containers. A plunger presses glass into the blank mold, and the partially formed blank is later blown into the finish mold.


What is a PROTOTYPE MOLD?

A simplified mold construction often made from a light-casting alloy or from epoxy resin in order to obtain information for the final mold or part design.


What is PVC?

Polyvinyl Chloride. Commonly used for blister packaging of solid and liquid dose products.


What is a RAMP?

A small depressed cavity (detent) in the base of the bottle to act as guide in positioning the bottle in the decorating machine for application of decoration.


What is RECYCLE?

The ability to capture, reprocess and reuse primary material used in the production of an item.


What is REGISTRATION?

A condition of correct alignment of one part or operation with another part or operation.


What is REMOVAL TORQUE?

The amount of rotational force required to remove a closure from a container.


What is a ROCKER?

A plastic bottle with a bulged or deformed bottom, causing rocking of the bottle in the upright position.


What is a ROLL-ON BALL SOCKET?

That part of a roll-on package into which the roll ball snaps.


What is "S" DIMENSION?

The vertical distance (height) measured from the top of the land area to the very most upper part of the start of the thread finish.


What is SA66?

3M trade name for pulp/aluminum foil/mylar cap liner material.


What is SADDLE FINISH?

A molding defect, which occurs during the Lehr process (cooling of the material). The top of the neck finish will actually have two high points approximately 180° opposite each other, and two low points approximately 180º opposite each other.


What is a SEALING BEAD?

A bead of material which is molded onto the top of the land area completely around the top of the neck finish in order to further enhance the sealing capabilities of the component.


What is a SIFTER TOP?

Perforated top on a container or fitment designed to dispense contents.


What is SILK SCREEN PRINTING?

A printing process widely used on plastic bottles and other articles, employing as a stencil a taut woven fabric secured in a frame, the fabric being coated in selected areas with a masking material that is not penetrated by the ink being used. The stencil fabric is commonly called a "silk screen" even though silk is rarely used today. Nylon is most often used, and screens of copper, stainless steel and many other materials are suitable. The screen is placed above the part to be decorated, and a flexible squeegee forces ink through the openings in the screen onto the surface of the article. Multicolor work requires multiple screens and impressions.


What is a SKIRT?

The wall of a closure below the functional threads.


What is an SKU?

Stock Keeping Unit.


What is a SLIP CAP?

Cover cap used on pencils to protect the tip against breakage and contamination.


What is S.P.I.?

Society of the Plastic Industry.
What is a SPIRAL WOUND TUBE?

Tubular packages made by spirally winding paper or foil-lined paper. Used as an insert and barrier material in shaker talc containers.


What is SPLIT SCREEN PRINTING?

A screen with a divider strip to separate colors in order to do multicolor silkscreen labeling in a single operation.


What is SPRINKLER FINISH?

A restricted orifice molded into the finish of a glass bottle.


What is STORAGE LIFE?

The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified temperature conditions and remain suitable for use. Storage life is sometimes called shelf life.


What is SURFACE TREATING?

Any method of treating a plastic so as to alter the surface and render it receptive to inks, lacquers and adhesives, such as chemical, flame or electronic treating.


What is "T" DIMENSION?

The outside diameter of the threaded portion of a container finish.


What is TAMPER EVIDENT?

One or more safety features used to indicate that a package is not in the original condition as it was when shipped from the manufacturer or packager.


What is THERMOFORMING?

A method of forming plastics in which a plastic sheet material is heated to a point where it is soft and pliable. The sheet is then formed to the desired shape using vacuum, pressure and mechanical assists or any combination of these.


What is TOLERANCE?

Minimum/maximum range of measurement.


What is a TOTTLE?

Tube-bottle (pinch bottom tube).


What is TORQUE?

Force in a circular motion as applied to closure on a container, either to attach or remove the closure.


What is a TRANSFER BEAD?

A projecting bead or ring on the outer surface of some glass containers, usually just below the finish, to provide a surface of engagement for the jaws of handling devices during manufacture.
What is a UNIT CAVITY?

A mold with only one cavity, usually a pilot for the production set of molds.


What is UPC (UNIVERSAL PRODUCT CODE)?

A 10-digit number, which uniquely identifies products. The first 5 digits identifies the manufacturer and the second 5 digits identifies the item.


What are UREA PLASTICS?

Resins made through the condensation of urea and aldehydes.


What is USP?

United States Pharmacopoeia (a non-governmental, non-profit, scientific body that establishes drug standards in the United States).


What is U.V. CURING?

A process, which uses UV light wavelengths instead of heat to cause the cross-linking of an ink or coating.


What is VACUUM FORMING?

A forming process in which a heated sheet of plastic is molded by causing it to flow by reducing air pressure on one side of the sheet.


What is a VENT HOLE?

Hole in the tank of a mechanical pump dispenser which allows the pump to ?vent,? i.e., pump air into the package to displace the material being dispensed from the package. If the pump does not vent, a vacuum will be created in the package causing the pump to stop functioning and may also result in deformation (wall pulling) of the container.


What is a VIAL?

Glass or plastic container filled with product.


What is VISCOSITY?

That property of material by virtue of which it tends to resist deformation of flow.