A multi-pack also known as multipack is

packaging Packaging is the science, art and technology of enclosing or protecting products for distribution, storage, sale, and use. Packaging also refers to the process of designing, evaluating, and producing packages. Packaging can be described as a coo ...

that combines or holds multiple items or smaller packages.

Functions

Multi-packs can be used to: * Combine several items for a larger unit of sale, often with a reduced individual cost * Provide a

package handle Package handles, or carriers, are used to help people use packaging. They are designed to simplify and to improve the ergonomics of lifting and carrying packaging, packages. Handles on consumer packages add convenience and help facilitate use an ...

to conveniently carry several items * Help prevent package pilferage * Provide a tamper indicating seal * Reduce environmental impact of secondary packaging * Keep items clean * Obscure the

bar code A barcode or bar code is a method of representing data in a visual, Machine-readable data, machine-readable form. Initially, barcodes represented data by varying the widths, spacings and sizes of parallel lines. These barcodes, now commonly ref ...

s on the individual combined items and provide a new one for the multi-pack

Methods

A wide variety of materials and procedures are available to combine items or packages into a multi-pack. This can include

shrink film Shrink wrap, also shrink film, is a material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied, it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering. Heat can be applied with a handheld heat gun (electric or gas), or the product and film can p ...

, pressure sensitive tape, paper overwrap, adhesives, paperboard carriers, plastic clips, etc.

Beverages

Beverage cans and bottles are sold in multi-packs such as six-packs, twelve-packs, and cases of 24. These can be

paperboard Paperboard is a thick paper-based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker (usually over 0.30 mm, 0.012 in, or 12 Inch#Equivalents, points) than paper and has certain superior ...

baskets, paperboard overwraps and

carton A carton is a box or container usually made of liquid packaging board, paperboard and sometimes of corrugated fiberboard. Many types of cartons are used in packaging. Sometimes a carton is also called a box. Types of cartons Folding cartons ...

corrugated fiberboard Corrugated fiberboard, corrugated cardboard, or corrugated is a type of packaging material consisting of a fluted corrugated sheet and one or two flat linerboards. It is made on "flute lamination machines" or "corrugators" and is used for maki ...

boxes, HDPE plastic handles,

six-pack rings Six-pack rings or six-pack yokes are a set of connected plastic rings that are used in multi-packs of beverage, particularly six-packs of beverage cans. The rings have gained notoriety because of concerns for marine debris entangling wildlife. ...

, and shrink packs.

Other uses

A wide variety of items and packages are combined into multi-packs for sale.

Gallery

File:12 pack of tissue.jpg, Shrink wrap used to form a 12-pack of cartons of tissue File:PakTechTK.jpg, Clip used to join two spray bottles and provide a handle File:Shrink-wrapping machine by OCME S.r.L.jpg, Shrink film wrap being applied to beverage bottles File:Water bottles with tape handle.png, Six water bottles in shrink wrap with tape handle.

References