In this post, we’ll discuss what goes into making custom poly bags to help you understand how much time to expect from production, manufacturing, and shipping. This way, you can prepare for your order and know when to submit it in order to get your poly bags on time.

Average Poly Bag Production Time

The total poly bag production time takes an average of 4 weeks, but it depends greatly on your specific order. If you already have a printed design and an approved proof with the supplier, you will likely not have to wait four weeks. But if you’re printing a new order, with a lot of special features, a nonstandard style, or branding, the order may take longer. The more complicated the design and printing, the longer lead time you should expect. 

Poly bag suppliers typically develop and send a proof of the bag before printing, to make sure the design meets your exact specifications. This can take up to a week to develop, especially if the design is complex. The poly bag production time starts once the proof is accepted.

Your custom poly bags supplier may be able to work with you on a quicker production schedule if you need your bags ready sooner. Some suppliers offer rush service for jobs with a quick turnaround, but there may be an extra associated cost.

What Goes into Making Custom Poly Bags

Production process to make poly bags is relatively simple. The longest part of poly bag production time is in the design while producing and shipping the bags can happen fairly quickly. For this reason, the number of bags you order doesn’t greatly impact the poly bag production time, as long as they are the same design and style.

Custom Poly Bags Design

Production of the poly bags can’t begin until the design of the bag is complete. Your custom poly bag supplier will develop a proof of the bag, considering all of the details you need it to include: size, style, color, branding, etc. Then, the proof must be sent to the client for acceptance. Developing the proof and waiting for approval can take up to a week or more. It may seem like a long time, but this stage of the process is the most crucial, as the supplier wants to make sure they have the design of the bag exactly right before production begins.

Making Poly Film

With the specifications of the bag design clearly laid out, the film is ready to be produced. Film will be manufactured to the desired gauge (mil strength) and color according to the proof, including any other additives — i.e. for bag clarity, food grade capability, etc.

Poly film is most commonly produced through a process called extrusion molding. In this process, the polyethylene is melted from pellets, then pushed through a die to form a bubble which facilitates the cooling of the film to the required thickness. 

From Film to Custom Poly Bags

Once cooled, the film is then rolled onto a spindle for easy dispensing. The film can be easily unwrapped, cut, and sealed to form the bags. Handles can be cut into the bags during this stage, and any special sealing options can also be added.

Branding Custom Poly Bags

The next step is what makes the bags unique to you, which is adding your custom branding. Your poly bag supplier will work with you to choose colors that will be well represented on the poly bag and create a striking and attractive design. The total poly bag production time can occur quickly, as the process is simple and the bags cool quickly. Once the branding is complete, the bags are complete and ready to be sent off to the client. 

Shipping Custom Poly Bags

The last step is to prepare the bags to ship by your preferred method, Shipping time depends on the distance to the destination and the size of the order, but generally takes about 5-7 business days, unless otherwise indicated in the order.

To make sure your custom poly bags arrive when you need them, be sure to plan plenty of lead time before the shipping date — at least four weeks. This means, if you need the bags complete by January 1st, make sure to order them before December 1st — or earlier, if your bag design is more complex. Your poly bag supplier will be able to give you a clearer estimate of your poly bag production time once they receive your design and the proof is accepted.

Looking for poly bags on a tight schedule? A-Pac offers custom poly bags at no minimum order, and in as little as 2-3 weeks. Give our team a call for more information about pricing and custom orders.

In fact, different types of poly bags are developed just for their strength properties. The strongest type of plastic bag is made of HDPE, or high density polyethylene. Changes to the material that determine thickness and strength occur during the polymerization process. Let’s break this down a bit further.

What Determines Plastic Bag Strength?

Plastic bag strength is established by the way the ethylene reacts during the polymerization process. To make polyethylene, small molecules of the ethylene bind together to form a chain of molecules, called a polymer. From this principal chain, branches can start to form. The more branches that form, the thinner and less dense the resulting polyethylene. To make a denser, sturdier polyethylene, fewer branches have to form.

For example, if the main polymer chain is relatively straight with few branches, it is called High Density Polyethylene. HDPE is made of tightly packed molecules that not only make it more dense, but also less flexible. It can be used to make plastic bags that are stronger and more durable than lower density plastics.

If the polymer chain has many branches that form along the main strand, it might be MDPE or LDPE. Medium density polyethylene and low density polyethylene are more flexible than HDPE and also have a lesser resistance.

How Can You Tell Which Type of Plastic Bag is the Strongest?

The strength of a plastic bag is determined by its material and thickness. We already know that the material HDPE produces the strongest plastic bags, but what about thickness? Thicker bags are typically stronger than thinner bags of the same material. To determine the thickness of a plastic bag, or its gauge, you need to find its mil score. 

Mil is a measurement used to express plastic bag thickness. A mil is equal to a thousandth of an inch. To get an idea of how bag thickness is expressed in mils, refer to these common examples of types of plastic bags:

• Common grocery store bag: ½ mil
• Bread bag: 1.5 mils
• Clothing store shopping bag: 2 mils
• Packaging for screws or nails: 4 mils
• Extreme puncture resistance for industrial parts that are sharp or heavy: 6 mils

Which Type of Plastic Bag Offers the Best Quality?

Bag strength and thickness aren’t the only determining factor of a good quality plastic bag. HDPE, MDPE, and LDPE all have useful applications as plastic bags. The application will determine which bag qualities are essential, such as durability, clarity, and ease of opening. Let’s take a closer look at these qualities to help you understand the different advantages these qualities of poly bags offer. 

Poly Bag Durability

Bag durability doesn’t just refer to the tensile strength of the plastic. The durability of a poly bag could also mean its resistance to chemical corrosion, punctures, or regular wear and tear.

Poly Bag Clarity

Bag clarity is important in many applications where product visibility is key. For example, for many food grade poly bags, customers need to be able to see the enclosed item clearly to check for quality. A translucent or opaque bag would not serve this purpose. 

Poly Bag Ease of Opening

If you’re just looking for which plastic bag is the strongest, you might not want a bag that is easy to open, but in some applications, this is a good quality to have. Bags containing small parts like screws and nails need to keep the items together, and be strong enough to not spill the items, but also need to be easy to tear to access what’s inside.

Which Type of Plastic Bag is Best for You?

When shopping for which type of plastic bag is the strongest, consider the other needs your application might have. If strength is the most important quality, then an HDPE poly bag at a high mil strength will likely be the best type of plastic bag for your needs. However, if you’re looking for a strong plastic bag with other qualities, consider other types of poly bags that may work just as well. 

If you’re still unsure which type of poly bag is right for your application, contact A-Pac Manufacturing. We manufacture the highest-quality poly bags, with no minimum order and 2-3 week lead times. Give our team a call for more information.