At Andex, we have dedicated years to perfecting our clamshell packaging designs. In fact, each of our clamshell packaging products help to both protect and promote your product. The Andex design staff has the experience and technology to craft your perfect custom or stock clamshell. You can count on Andex to listen to you and deliver solutions with excellence.
Trusted Plastic Clamshell Packaging Supplier
Andex is a reliable plastic clamshell packaging supplier, serving clients since our beginnings in 1961. We are your source for quality clamshell products. In addition, we are a G7 certified printer, so we can also produce printed cards to go with your clamshell order. Read more here about what makes our products stand out on our plastic clamshell packaging advantages page.
Thermoform Clamshells
Andex produces custom-designed thermoform clamshells. Please see all our solutions below:
- CAD/CAM design plus 3D-Printing.
- In house tooling to achieve fast delivery and quality.
- Innovative design to achieve your package goals and budget.
- Two-piece, fold-over and tri-fold to free stand.
- Materials including PVC, RPET, and PETG plastic.
- Key benefits of thermoform clamshells include:
- Excellent package protection and product visibility.
- Stability for light to heavy products.
- Multiple contoured cavities.
- Larger or specific quantities.
- Unique or complex shapes, die cuts, or design criteria.
- Insert cards with high-quality graphics that help sell your product.
- Sealable for theft and tamper resistance.
Custom Insert Cards for Less: Combo-Pac
The Andex Combo-Pac program offers you the same high-quality insert cards you get with a custom order, but lowers the cost of production to make your packaging dollar go further.
How Does It Work?
- Customize your package with 4-color printing on the front, 14 pt or 20 pt card thicknesses, different corner shapes, simple contours, or internal cuts.
- Then select from one of our specified Combo-Pac quantities—small to large quantities are available.
- Schedule your order to be printed on one of our convenient Combo-Pac production dates. Your package components will be designed, manufactured, and shipped right to you.
What’s the Advantage of Using Clamshells?
Lower costs! You’ll eliminate printing plate, cutting die and set-up charges as well as the fees for full production tooling. Get a customized package to fit your product at a very affordable price. Find out more about everything clamshell packaging has to offer in our article on the history of clamshell packaging.
Clamshell Packaging Product Videos
Please watch our clamshell packaging product videos with detailed spinning 360º views to get an idea of the quality of our clamshell products. Andex is proud to provide professional products with certified G7 printing services. We have many customization options and use PVC, RPET, and PETG plastic materials. To place your order, please give us a call at (800) 338-9882, email us at sales@andex.net, or contact our team via one of our contact forms.
Clamshell Packaging Product Gallery
What makes our clamshell packaging stand out? Please view our product gallery below to see the quality of work our team does!
Which Clamshell is Right for My Purposes?
Different Types of Clamshells
| Clamshell | Custom Clamshell & Card | DESIGN-PAC | STOCK PLATFORM | CLASSIC STOCK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tooling Costs | $$ | $ | none | none |
| Material Thickness | 10-40 mil | 20 mil | 20 mil | 17.5 mil |
| Round, Square or Rectangular Cavity | X | X | ||
| Contoured (shaped to product) | X | X | ||
| Quantity | Based on Size | Based on Size | As little as one case | As little as one case |
| Multiple Cavities | X | X | ||
| Package Must Stand | X | Depending on weight distribution of product | ||
| Try-Me Features | X | |||
| Unique Package Shape | X | |||
| Material Options | PVCs, PETs, Colors | RPET | RPET | PVC |
| Cavity on Front and Back | X | X |
If you’re unsure of which type of clamshell to get, take a look at our differences between types of clamshells page for more information.
Insert Cards
| Printed Insert Cards | Custom Insert Card | Combo-Pac Insert Card |
|---|---|---|
| 4-color front, Black Back | X | X |
| PMS (Pantone Matching System) & Special Match Custom Colors | X | Added Cost |
| Colored Back | X | |
| Metallic Inks | X | Added Cost |
| Foil Stamping | X | X |
| Card Thickness | 12 to 26 pt | 14 or 20 pt |
| Square or Round Corners | X | X |
| Unique Die cuts & Shapes | X | Ask Sales Rep |
Clamshell Packaging FAQs
Clamshell packaging is a type of packaging commonly used in retail and other industries to enclose and protect products. It consists of two hinged halves that resemble a clamshell, hence the name. Quality clamshell packaging will demonstrate excellent package protection with clarity and visibility to see the product inside, while also being quality sealed for theft and tamper resistance. Also, it can be customized to contain light to heavyweight products, and can even come in unique or complex shapes, die cuts, and design styles. Find out more about our process on the clamshell basics and our what is clamshell packaging page.
To open clamshell packaging, you will first: locate the edge where the two halves of the clamshell meet. Then, you will insert a sharp object like scissors, a utility knife, or a clamshell opener into the edge. Next, carefully cut or slice along the edge, following it around the entire package. Lastly, once you’ve cut through the edge, you can separate the two halves of the clamshell to access the product.
At Andex, we manufacture the packaging via a process known as thermoforming. The steps involved with thermoforming include: heating a sheet of plastic (usually PVC or PET) until it becomes pliable; and then placing the plastic sheet over a mold that has the desired shape and design of the packaging. The next step in the process is to use vacuum or pressure to draw the plastic sheet tightly against the mold. Lastly, once the plastic is cooled, we allow it to harden and maintain the shape of the mold. Lastly, the two halves of the clamshell are hinged together using a living hinge or attached with additional mechanisms. Find out more about thermoforming on our thermoform clamshell page.
There are various methods used for sealing clamshell packaging. These can include: heat sealing, which involves applying heat to melt the edges of the plastic, and fuse the two plastic halves together; or using adhesive or glue to apply to the edges of the clamshell to bond the two halves together. Another way the packaging is sealed is via sonic welding, which involves high-frequency vibrations to create friction and melt the plastic edges, joining them securely. And lastly, mechanical fasteners, such as small clips, pegs, or other mechanical devices to secure the clamshell, often requiring a tool or specific action to open them.
About Andex
What makes Andex stand out from the competition? Here at our packaging company, our clamshell experts focus on quality. In fact, we have a Quality Management System (QMS) which uses the ISO Q9001:2000 platform. With attentiveness to quality, our customers can rest assured that we are here to not only meet, but exceed expectations.
Andex Industries was founded in 1961 in Escanaba, MI, and since then we have been providing clients solutions for not only clamshell products, but also thermoform trays and blisters. Our team is highly skilled with thermoforming technologies, with each one of us having at least 18 years of experience with our company. With so many years of experience in the industry, you can rest assured that we know what we are doing! Our team is committed to reliability and responsiveness with every order.
Contact Us
With attention to detail, integrity, honesty, and respect, Andex is here to provide any thermoforming solution you need. To get started on your thermoform product order, simply give us a call at (800) 338-9882 today.
