Where is the Nobel Prize for this invention?
Bubble Wrap is great when it comes to protecting things that are being shipped through the mail. Unless of course, the package handlers use the box as a Soccer ball, then it’s pretty much worthless. Still, there’s no denying that all of us have become addicted to the almost therapeutic popping of those air bubbles both big and small. Watching it being made is almost mesmerizing in itself and thanks to the original Bubble Wrap manufacturer (Sealed Air), we get to see how.
The company posted a video on Vimeo detailing the process, which starts by vacuuming resin pellets into an extruder, which melts them down and makes them into a special film.
UPDATE: The video was removed. I suppose too popular?
Instead, I grabbed two other videos in their place. See below.
The film is then passed through rollers outfitted with different sized holes (depending on the size needed) that vacuum the film into the bubble shape, thereby trapping the sir inside. It then passes through another set of rollers that cools the film that seals it forming a bond, making one side flat and ready for packaging. The process of manufacturing Bubble Wrap hasn’t changed much since it was introduced back in the 50’s, however it has become more automated and on a much larger scale.
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