March 22, 2007

Happy 50th Birthday - Bubble Wrap

From the Glasgow Daily Record:
Top of the Pops for 50 years
Bubble Wrap's half-century

Bubble Wrap is turning 50 - and it's still as popular as ever.

The plastic packaging has prevented the destruction of countless fragile items.

And millions of people have burst its bubbles with a satisfying pop as a simple form of stress relief.

But Bubble Wrap was invented by mistake, stationery store chain Ryman said yesterday. Two US engineers came up with the product while trying to make a textured plastic wallpaper in Hawthorne, New Jersey.

Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes realised they may have hit on a better idea and their wallpaper flop could serve as a unique cushioned packing material.

Within three years, the inventors had founded the Sealed Air Corporation - now the world's leading manufacturers of packing materials.

Bubble Wrap is made by passing two layers of plastic film over a drum that is punched with holes.

One layer of the sheeting is sucked into the holes and the other layer is laminated on to its back, creating air pockets.

Bubble Wrap's alternative use as a quirky tension relieving device is just as popular as its intended one.

It is almost impossible to hold the plastic sheets without popping one or more of the bubbles.

People are so fond of bursting the bubbles that websites have even been devoted to "virtual Bubble Wrap" so fans can pop away online.

Lisa Bond, of Ryman, said: "It's incredible to think Bubble Wrap has been around for 50 years, especially as it was an unintended invention.

"Not only has it taken the packaging world by storm, but households and offices around the country readily use the air-filled sheets as a fun way to let off steam."

Lynda Relph-Knight, editor of Design Week, said: "Bubble Wrap is one of those fantastic products that we couldn't live without."
Here is the website for Virtual Bubblewrap Posted by DaveH at March 22, 2007 12:18 PM | TrackBack