IMPROVING PACKAGING ERGONOMICS THROUGH PUFF-ENHANCED SCREEN PRINTS

Effective ergonomic packaging ensures efficient and intuitive product handling, providing easy access and a secure grip, thereby enhancing user experience. Achieving this involves optimizing packaging size, shape, and material. This study investigates the application of screen printing with puff-enhanced ink to improve packaging ergonomics. Puff-enhanced ink augments surface roughness, thereby enhancing tactile perception and grip security. This research utilized objective measurements and subjective evaluations to assess the impact of tactile properties on manual pulling force. Building on prior work where the mesh count of 120 l/cm was investigated, this study explores prints created using a screen with a mesh count of 63 l/cm. Three substrates were used: bulky paper, paperboard, and matte-coated kunstdruk paper, with the amount of added puff base varied between 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30%. The findings reveal that surfaces with increased roughness not only enhance grip and increase the manual pulling force but also suggest how different substrates and mesh counts impact the ergonomic properties of packaging. This contributes to a better understanding of the optimal conditions for effectively applying the puff base in the packaging industry.