Request for Question Clarification by
byrd-ga
on
23 Oct 2003 07:55 PDT
Dear themayor,
I’ve been working on your question, and have certainly learned a great
deal about the plastic container business. First of all, I have
emailed Fujifilm to ask if they would be willing to share information
on the source of their film canisters, but have as yet received no
reply. However, while waiting, I’ve learned that the markings on the
film canisters, i.e. HDPE and LDPE, have nothing to do with any style
or company or manufacturer, but are material indicators.
Specifically, HDPE stands for “high density polyethylene,” and LDPE
for “low density polyethylene.”
With that in mind, I spent quite a bit of time searching for plastic
film canisters (or vials) made of this material and came up empty of
this product under that specific description. What I did find was
that very likely Fuji (and other film companies) have contracted with
a plastics manufacturer(s) to produce these canisters to their
particular specifications. Both HDPE and LDPE come in a wide variety
of colors and thicknesses and tubes made of this material can be made
to measure, with finished or unfinished bottoms, and separate or
hinged tops or plugs of various kinds. Some tubes can even have screw
threads on top for accepting a screw-type cap.
However, other plastics can be and are also used in manufacturing
plastic vials and containers of many kinds, which include acrylic, PVC
and polystyrene, and come in anything from clear to translucent white
or colored, to many solid opaque colors.
What I can offer you at this time is a listing of manufacturers and
wholesalers from whom you could either special order a particular size
of plastic vial, or select from a ready-made inventory of plastic
vials of various types. However, although some come close, I was not
able to find any ready-made vials of the exact (inside) measurements
of the plastic film canisters, which are 1 1/8” x 1 15/16”. The
closest would be 1 1/16” x 2”, which is 1/16 inch narrower and 1/16
inch higher than the film canisters. They can be purchased by the
case (144 pieces per case) for $23.39. Also, they are clear
polystyrene, not translucent polypropylene, and have white plastic
snap-on lids.
Therefore, if information on ordering the product described above, as
well as links to sources for ordering case lots of a variety of
similar products (though bear in mind none are precisely identical to
the film canisters in size or specs) would be acceptable as an answer,
I would be happy to post as such. If not, perhaps another Researcher
might have better luck. Just let me know how you’d like to proceed.
Thank you.
Regards,
Byrd
