How Poly Bags Are Made

If you’re considering poly bag packaging for your new product, it’s easy to see why! Poly bags are versatile, durable, and affordable. They’re also easy to customize to fit your product, as well as your brand, and their speedy production is perfect when you’re faced with a short lead time. 

It’s no wonder so many people choose poly bags for their packaging needs, but have you ever wondered how poly bags can feature so many great characteristics, yet be produced so quickly? Here’s a closer look at how poly bags are made. 

How Poly Bags are Made, Phase 1: Extrusion

Making poly bags starts with what’s called the blown-film extrusion process. This entails melting down small plastic pellets (resin) until they become molten and pliable enough to be pressed, or extruded, through a circular die gap. 

This extrusion forms a continuous tube of molten plastic that gets pinched off on one end and inflated to whatever size and thickness desired. The inflated tube is stretched vertically on a tower to cool, then flattened and wound onto a roll. Now it’s ready to be transformed into poly bags.

How Poly Bags are Made, Phase 2: Transformation

Once the blown-film extrusion process is complete and the plastic is on the roll, it can be fed through a machine that cuts and seals the plastic at a specified length, creating a poly bag. This process is repeated until enough poly bags are made to fulfill the order. 

Poly Bags are Made to Help You Succeed

Because poly bags are made in such a way that they can meet varying specifications of sizes and thickness, they can accommodate pretty much any packaging design and need. That means, no matter the size or shape of your new product, or how it’s transported and where, you can depend on the poly bag packaging to protect it. A product that goes from shelf to customer undamaged not only boosts customer satisfaction but also boosts your bottom line by reducing product failure and returns. 

In addition, the processes of extrusion, rolling, and cutting use automated machinery, allowing poly bags to be made efficiently and precisely, with very little waste. This saves time as well as money — a must for small to mid-sized businesses with ambitious revenue goals.  

Poly bags are also a cost-effective solution to display detailed branding logos and text, especially when compared to other packaging materials available on the market.

Finally, poly bags score major points for their fast turnaround time, too — a huge bonus when deadlines are looming, and often a key factor in a successful product launch.  

Why A-Pac Poly Bags Rank Above the Rest

Now you know how poly bags are made as well as what makes them such a great choice for packaging. The only thing left to do is find out where to get them! A-Pac prides itself on delivering the best-quality poly bags on the market, and can custom-manufacture your poly bags to any size, weight, and even quantity — no minimum order required! 

As a fellow small to mid-sized business, we understand your needs and will take the time to get to know you, your product, and your goals, then help you find the custom packaging solution that makes the most sense for you. 

For the best poly bags at an affordable price and on your timeline, A-Pac Manufacturing is here to help! Contact us today to learn more about our poly bag options. All of our orders are custom to your specifications. We want to help you succeed.

What are Wicketed Poly Bags?

Wicketed poly bags are plastic bags designed to fit on a wicket wire, so they can be loaded quickly and efficiently with automated packaging equipment. When packed together, a blower can easily open these high clarity bags on one end to place products inside.

Wicketed bags streamline your packaging operations by reducing handling time and increasing the rate at which you can produce, package, and ship your products.

Wicketed Poly Bag Materials

Wicketed poly bags can be made of a variety of materials, including:

• LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
• HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
• LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
• Metallocene
• VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor)
• EVA (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate)

Common Applications for Wicketed Poly Bags

Wicketed poly bags are found in many applications, packaging food to auto parts. Here are a few common examples of products that use this convenient product.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Food Packaging

These bags keep debris, moisture, and pests away from food items so they reach their shipping destination safely and stay fresh for the consumer. Made of durable, food-grade material, wicketed poly bags are one of the most cost effective, convenient food packaging solutions.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Bread Bags

Poly bags protect bread from moisture and contaminants. When packed on a wicket, production rates increase, so facilities can move items faster and deliver fresher bread items.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Produce

Lightweight and durable, wicketed bags are perfect for effectively packaging your produce while keeping costs low. High clarity poly bags make it easy to see what’s in the bag, and the wicket makes the bags more convenient for customers to use.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Pan Covers

Poly bags on a wicket are a great, low cost option for wrapping trays or pans individually, rather than covering an entire rack. In addition to keeping food fresh and protected from contamination, wicketed poly bags are easy to store and access for quick use.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Parts, Components, and Hardware

Wicketed poly bags are commonly used for packaging small parts for transit and display. The puncture-resistant poly bags protect the parts from moisture and abrasion, and make organizing and shipping small items faster and easier.

Wicketed Poly Bags for Your Application

Wicketed poly bags can be ordered in custom sizes, colors, and materials. They can even support custom branding. As a convenient, low cost option, wicketed poly bags can save your company money by speeding up your production and packaging process.

If you’re interested in exploring these versatile poly bags for your application, A-Pac Manufacturing is here to help. With high-quality, custom poly bags and no minimum orders, we’ve got the wicketed poly bags you need, exactly when you need them. Give us a call for more information.

6 Popular Poly Bag Seals

No matter what you need to package, from agricultural items to auto parts, there’s a poly bag seal that will be perfect for your application.

#1 Twist Tie Poly Bags

This type of poly bag seals with a thin, flexible wire or ribbon which wraps around the bag opening and twists or ties to secure. The poly bag is open on one end and heat sealed on the other. It’s commonly used for packaging food items such as bread, potatoes, or loose bulk cereals and grains.

#2 Seal Reclosable Poly Bags

Seal reclosable poly bags are a popular choice because they allow for an airtight seal and repeated use. To open and close this poly bag seal, tracks on either side of the bag opening fit together, allowing the bag to be pressed close. A lip extends above the seal so it can be easily reopened by peeling the two sides apart. 

Seal reclosable poly bags can be used for a variety of items, and are typically used to hold small parts, especially those that can be stored and accessed again later.

#3 Zip Seal Reclosable Poly Bags

Similar to the seal reclosable poly bags, this poly bag seal also closes by bringing the adjoining tracks together. However, this type of poly bag seals using a zipper or slide. The zipper eliminates the need for extra material to be used as a lip. Zip seal reclosable poly bags allow more convenient, repeated access to the contents of the poly bag. 

#4 Fold and Adhesive Poly Bags

As one of the most cost-effective poly bag seals, the fold and adhesive poly bag seal is a popular choice. An extra lip of material extends beyond the bag opening, which is folded over the bag to close. A strip of adhesive secures the fold to contain the bag contents. This type of poly bag seal is not typically reusable, as it requires the bag to be torn open. Some poly bags with this seal option may have a perforated edge for easy access. 

A fold and adhesive poly bag seal is ideal for packaging items that need protection from dirt or debris, but aren’t meant to be airtight or puncture resistant. They are commonly used for packaging items like clothing or fabric, or can even be used as temporary storage for food items.

#5 Drawstring Reclosable Poly Bags

Drawstring reclosable poly bag seals use a simple cotton rope, threaded through a heat-sealed tube at the opening of the poly bag. To close, the ends of the rope are pulled tight. To open, the rope slides back into the tube as the opening expands. 

One advantage of drawstring reclosable poly bag seals is that the rope closure can double as a handle for easy transport. This type of reclosable poly bag seal is often used to package ice, as it can be easily accessed and reused.

#6 Heat Seal Poly Bags

Heat seal poly bags use one of the most basic sealing options. Once the poly bag is filled, a special device fuses the sides of the bag together, melting the material slightly and then allowing it to cool quickly to form an airtight seal. Heat seal poly bags can be used for almost everything, from protecting plastic cutlery to containing small parts to packaging medical devices.

To access the contents of the poly bag, the material needs to be cut or torn, which means it can’t typically be reused or reclosed. Heat seals for poly bags are commonly used for single-use packaging, where items need moisture-protection or to prevent contamination of sterile products. 

Looking for sealable poly bags? A-Pac manufacturing offers custom poly bags at no minimum order. We can manufacture the bags you need, including the seal you need, on the timeframe you want. Give our team a call for more information. 

What Affects Polyethylene Pricing?

Four main factors can affect the price of polyethylene throughout the year: the price of the raw materials, fluctuating demand, producer inventory, and manufacturing delays or interruptions.

• Price of Raw Materials: When crude oil, additives, or other materials used to make polyethylene resin become more or less available, the cost of producing the resin goes up. To cover potential losses, manufacturers make up the difference by purchasing raw materials at a higher price, then recovering the cost from consumers.
• Demand for Polyethylene: The demand for polyethylene and products made from it can increase or reduce demand locally, nationally and internationally. For example, a push for plastic alternatives may reduce demand for polyethylene, while a greater need for single-use packaging for sanitation reasons could mean a significant demand for polyethylene. Polyethylene prices will increase significantly if there’s a high demand, and prices may be especially high if there’s also a low supply.
• Polyethylene Producer Inventory: Similar to demand, the supply of polyethylene available will affect its market rate. If there’s a surplus of polyethylene at the end of the year, producers may offer their product at a discount to reduce inventory in the new year. Similarly, a low supply may cause demand to be higher, increasing polyethylene prices for manufacturers and consumers.
• Manufacturer Delay or Interruption: Interruptions in the production, transportation, or manufacturing of polyethylene and polyethylene products could cause supply and demand consequences that raise prices. If production of polyethylene resin shut down for any reason or weather delays a shipment of materials, the price of polyethylene may go up suddenly.

Although some of these factors are difficult to predict, some polyethylene price trends can be anticipated by manufacturers and consumers, allowing them to order polyethylene at the right time, at the right price.

Understanding Polyethylene Price Trends

Significant events may affect many factors at once, leading to an upward or downward trend in polyethylene prices. Two examples are:

• Global Pandemic: An international health emergency increases demand for single-use plastics and polyethylene products. As demand goes up, supply may go down as producers race to fill orders and secure the materials they need. This could lead to a significant increase in prices for manufacturers and consumers.

• Sustainability Trend: A government push toward renewable resources may limit supply or add costs to purchasing materials such as polyethylene. Polyethylene prices may go up to make up for added production costs, or down to sell off a large inventory.

What Fluctuations in Polyethylene Prices Mean for You

If you’re at the mercy of fluctuating polyethylene prices, you might not be able to keep up with the constantly changing factors of the industry. It can be a headache to follow trends and know when and how much to buy to keep costs stable for you and your customers. 

Fortunately, if prices are up for now, chances are they’ll come back down again. Manufacturers of polyethylene products are likely working hard to secure the best value for their customers and be transparent about costs and where they come from. 

As customers, your investment in the partnership with your polyethylene supplier is what provides the greatest return — you trust them to supply quality products at the best price they can, and together you weather the fluctuations of polyethylene pricing.

A-Pac manufacturing is here to help supply the intelligent packaging solutions you need, with transparent prices for custom poly bags. Ready to talk about pricing? Give our team a call today.