IML Containers, the plastic cups made of in mold labeling technology (IML), is no doublt the No.1 solutions of packaging for Yogurt and one of the key packaging solutions for the other dairy products. What makes the IML containers so popular among the Yogurt producers? How does an IML System work and what's the benefits of the IML technology? And whant an "IML Solution" provider officers? We're here to discuss these question one by one to help you to make the decision whether to enter this billions of dollars business.

What'IML?

The IML is a injection production process of which the injection molding machine will fuses pre-printed labels with plastic products during the injection molding process, resulting in a finished, highly-decorated, and fully recyclable one-piece container. An IML solution is a specific injection molding system with the capacity to produce an IML container of which will include an injection molding machine, the injection mold, the IML robot and other auxilairy machinery for the injection molding process.

How Does an IML System Work?

• Label Placement: The IML robot will have the pre-printed, thin polypropylene label placed into the injection mold cavity. To have the label sticked to the mold cavity, a static charger would be installed to the IML robot and have the IML labels well static charged before label placement.
• Injection Molding: The injection molding machine have the melted plastic injected into the mold and encapsulating the label. For IML Yogurt injection molding, mostly the producers will choose a high speed injection molding machine of Hydraulic, Hybrid or Full Electric to maximize the througput of the IML system.
• Fusion: The plastic and label will fuse together as the part cools and solidifies and make the cup and label a single, seamless unit.

What's the Benefits of the IML Technology?

• High-Quality Finish: The IML technology use a pre-printed label which will enable a more sophisticated graphic design with more printing colors. It'll have a much better printing quality compared to the off-printing technology of which will print the graphic on the containers directly. And for some specially designed IML sytem, it's possible to have the containers labeled by up to 4 different labels. With the new ink the IML label can even change the colors with different temperature. The vibrant, full-color graphic design is creating a high-quality, attention-grabing visual appeal on the package, which is one of the best solutions of brand promoting.

  Turn-key IML Solutions of 4 Cavities Yogurt Cups with 2 Labels

• Durability & Protection: The label is integrated as part of the container and the label is resistant to water, oil and scratches that would damage the traditional lables. The IML label will maintains its appearance and integrity even in cold temperatures.
• Full Recyclability: To ensure a perfect fusion of the label and IML containers, the label and the IML container are made from the same material (Polypropylene) to make the entire package 100% recyclable.
• One-Stage Production:

  For the IML cups are decorated immediatly after the injection molding and with no need of secondary labeling or printing process, it's now the most efficient solution of high quality containers bulk production for Yogurt and other dairy production. And with the secondary labeling/printing process eliminated, the IML technology will help to reduce the storage cost of the containers and the risky of secondary pollution to guarantee hygiene standard of the containers as a food package.

• Versatility: Not only the food package, the IML technology is also used in the production of other products like house hold products or plastic parts of electronic products. For example, Haitian group on showed a turn-key solution of IML shoehorn injection molding solution at PlastImagen 2025 in promoting of their new generation of MA series of injection molding machine.

What an "IML Solutions" Provider Offers?

As one of the leading IML solutions provider from China, GaungDong SWITEK Technology CO., Ltd. is providing a turn-key IML solutions to producers around the world which will include:

• Standard & Custom Made IML Robot: Since the first IML robot SW830 on show Chinaplas 2010, the SW8 Series of side entry IML robot comes to the 6^th for the production of small containers like 100g Yogurt cups to an ultra large size container say 55L dustbin. Or a custom made IML robotic arm according to the specific requirements. The IML robot on show K-Show 2025 at booth #13A73 is a custom made IML robot for the production of soft tubes for luxury cosmetics.
• Mould & Injection Molding Machine Purchasing: As the leading IML solutions provider in China, SWITEK R&D team has sound cooperation with the top thin-wall containers mold makers and is familiar with the performance of the high speed injection modling machine, will help you to reduce the cost of IML system integration and the potential dispute among the machinery suppliers.
• Automation System Integration: Other than IML Solutions, SWITEK R&D team will help you to design a more sophisticated production line of IML containers production which will include the IML robot, the vision control unit, the packaging and carton loading etc.
• Life Time Technical Support: For the IML system purchasing from SWITEK, we're providing the service from system operating/maintenance training, system start up and life time technical support.

With a huge domestic market, the IML solution is now a matural technology in China. If you're interested in purchasing a price cometitive IML system from China, please feel free to contact me via wechat/whatsapp below, SWITEK Team will provide you with a ready to work IML Solution.