Custom Plastic Bags: Types, Applications & Considerations

Introduction

This article covers the following:

• What are Custom Plastic Bags?
• Properties of Custom Plastic Bags
• Types of Custom Plastic Bags
• How Custom Plastic Bags are Printed
• Important Points About Printing Promotional Custom Printed Bags
• Benefits of Printed Custom Plastic Bags as Advertising Material
• Disadvantages of Custom Plastic Bags

A customized plastic bag, poly bag, or pouch is a container made of thin, flexible plastic film, nonwoven fabric, or plastic textile tailored to meet a product's particular requirements. Chemicals, food, powders, ice, periodicals, and other products are all stored and transported in custom plastic bags. Custom plastic bags are a common form of packaging.

Personalized plastic bags are handy and adaptable in practically every business. They not only offer their goods storage and transportation, but they also present a fantastic advertising opportunity. Businesses can increase brand awareness and leave a positive impression on clients by having a company name, logo, or image printed on their plastic bags. Plastics companies offer LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) and HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) custom-made plastic bags in sizes up to 56 inches wide and gauges ranging from 0.75 to 8 mil. Towels, handkerchiefs, and men's briefs are frequently packed in these LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) custom plastic bags with punch holes so they may be hung on pegs in shop showrooms. These bags are popular due to their high quality, affordability, and durability. Numerous performance additives, different venting techniques, fantastic films, and print colors are all available to personalize these poly bags even further.

Plastic bags are very flexible containers or pouches made from thin polymeric sheets that are typically flexible and designed for a range of industrial, commercial, and residential purposes, including transit, storage, shipping, and packaging of goods. Plastic bags are also helpful because they frequently provide waterproofing and weather protection.

Polymers are big molecules made up of monomeric units that repeat one another and are the building blocks of custom plastic bags. The repeating units in the case of plastic bags are ethylene or ethene. Carbon atoms form long chains, with each carbon atom also being connected to two hydrogen atoms in the polymerizing ethylene molecules required to create polyethylene. Ethylene can be used to create a variety of polyethylene types. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), medium-density polyethylene (MDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) are the four main types of plastic materials used to make custom plastic bags. Grocery custom plastic bags are made from HDPE, whereas garment custom plastic bags from the dry cleaner are made with LDPE. Thick, glossy retail custom plastic bags from the mall are examples of LLDPE.

The degree of polymer chain branching is the main distinction between these materials. When secondary polymer chains are connected to a primary backbone, a polymer is said to be branching. This results in a variety of polymer designs, including star, H-shaped, pom-pom, and comb-shaped polymers. While LDPE chains are branched, HDPE and LLDPE chains are linear and unbranched. Tensile strength and crystallinity are just some physical characteristics that branching can affect. A molecule's crystallinity and tensile strength decrease with increasing branching. That explains why the dry cleaner's custom garment plastic bags are so thin and frail. This is because they are constructed of LDPE with several branches.

Polymerization is a process in which relatively small molecules, known as monomers, chemically combine to create a very big chainlike or network molecule, known as a polymer. Linear unbranched polyethylene was previously made using only Ziegler-Natta polymerization. Metallocene-catalyzed polymerization is a more recent, innovative method of manufacturing polyethylene with a higher molecular weight. Like the Ziegler-Natta method, the metallocene method frequently produces new copolymers using metal complexes as catalysts.

Free-radical polymerization is the technique used to create branching polyethylene, known as LDPE. The oldest of the three plastic types, free-radical polymerization substitutes a metal complex for an initiator molecule like benzoyl peroxide. When benzoyl peroxide molecules split into free radicals, polymerization begins. The free radicals attack the carbon-carbon double bond in ethylene to create new free radicals. These subsequently react with other ethylene molecules, creating a chain of carbon atoms with single bonds that continues to expand until the reaction stops, which frequently happens when two free radicals combine.

Low-density polyethylene is more transparent than MDPE, which is slightly less transparent than HDPE. Therefore, carrying or storing bulk goods is not recommended for bags made of MDPE because they do not stretch well and lack a high degree of strength. However, MDPE is frequently used to make rubbish bags and is frequently found in the packaging of paper goods for consumers, such as toilet paper and paper towels.

Frosted plastic bags are a desirable option for product packaging. Frosted plastic bags are plastic bags that are wrinkle-resistant. They are sturdy and long lasting, making them ideal for businesses that need to shield their goods from harm. They are resistant to punctures since they are composed of high-density plastic. Frosted custom plastic bags may be recycled and are safe for the environment. They are extremely strong and won't tear like paper bags.

Furthermore, frosted custom plastic bags comply with the specifications for reusable bags in most plastic bag-ban rules. The fear of a ban on single-use plastic bags makes them a favorite among retailers due to their ability to be used repeatedly. Additionally, these bags are reasonably priced. Tissue paper or ribbons are used to embellish some frosted custom plastic bags. Strong and environmentally-friendly, frosted plastic bags provide an excellent way to provide presents for others. They also work as a second gift since they make excellent carryall bags for various items around the home or during future shopping visits.

There are numerous applications for high-density plastic bags. They are lightweight, affordable, and strong. Additionally, they can be altered to meet customer requirements. There are thick and thin variations of the bags available. Versions of high-density custom plastic bags are available with frosting to add strength. Customized handles and sizes are also available for a more-upscale appearance.

Frosted high-density plastic is robust and long-lasting. These bags are the ideal solution for keeping food or clothing. Frosted high-density plastic has a sleek, contemporary appearance. These bags may contain lovely hot-stamped patterns enhanced by an interior tissue's hue. Frosted high-density bags contain die-cut handles and high-density plastic and cardboard bottom inserts.

Discreet plastic bags are reclosable bags that have, to some extent, beneficially transformed the lives of so many people. These bags also help to preserve food and reduce food waste. In addition, discreet bags are frequently utilized and have been adopted as standard household items as storage bags or, in some cases, as trash bags.

A wicket is a metal ring in the shape of a "U" where several plastic bags are arranged. Wicketed plastic bags have one open side and three closed sides. Items are inserted into a bag after one side is opened. High-speed industrial applications use these plastic bags since they feature a straightforward design that increases packaging speed in highly-automated manufacturing environments. In addition, wicketed plastic bags cut down on handling time and meet USDA standards regarding food storage.

Gusseted plastic bags feature an additional piece of material providing more space and strength to a bag. The edges and bottoms of these bags are especially well-designed for the packaging of larger and bulkier objects. Gusseted plastic bags often appear almost as pouches. Packaging candy assortments, garden soil, hardware, tools, and crafts are common uses for gusseted plastic bags.

Polyethylene plastic is the main material to create a zip-top plastic bag. These bags are recognizable by the zipper-type sealing mechanism they have on their top and are adaptable and simple to customize. In addition, the contents of zip-top plastic bags are shielded from the weather and kept from leaking inside, thanks to the zip seal.

Food grade custom plastic bags are held to the strictest requirements and standards. For a custom plastic bag to be categorized as food grade, it must meet the three qualifications of being protective, durable and sturdy, and chemically resistant and safe. The protective standard is measured by a custom plastic bag's ability to block moisture and contaminants without breaking down. Included in its protective qualifications is being able to withstand the manufacturing process, packing and storage of food, and being loaded and transported.

The chemical requirements for custom plastic bags relates to the materials contact with food where it won't leech or allow chemicals to seep into the food. This standard is in regard to any change in the flavor, taste, or appearance of food. It must be proven that the plastic material will not in any way have an adverse effect on consumers.

The approval of a custom plastic bag for use with food is monitored and regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory organizations, which have three criteria they use to determine if a custom plastic bag is approved for use with food.

• Material - All ingredients and additives are tested to ensure the material is safe and will not affect the taste, smell, or color of food. The testing process includes subjecting the material to changes in temperature, humidity and moisture, and chemicals, oil, and alcohol. The various tests are designed to test the durability of a custom plastic bag as well as its expected lifetime of use.
• Manufacturing Facility - The manufacturing facility has to meet strict cleanliness standards and have practices in place for the prevention of contamination. ISO 9000 from the International Standards Organization (ISO) stipulates the minimum standards for the product of food grade custom plastic bags.
• Certification - Once the food grade plastic has been manufactured, it is checked for its compliance with the certification for food grade and safety, which is a food safety certification from the Food Safety System Certification (FSSC 22000) that was established by the Global Food System Initiative (GFSI). To maintain this certification, custom plastic bags are regularly checked throughout their lifetime of use.

The use of food grade custom plastic bags is rapidly growing as world hunger and other factors are making it necessary to ship food products across the globe. Food grade custom plastic bags can be found in supermarkets, pharmaceutical distribution centers, and contaminant free environments. This form of plastic bag has become an essential part of food production and distribution.

Plastics can be colored in various ways, depending on the customer's requirements and the intended purpose of the plastic. Although there are several ways to color plastic, masterbatches, cube mixes, and pre-colored resins are the three most-frequently employed methods.

Masterbatches, usually referred to as concentrates, are the most popular technique for coloring plastics. Here, pigments are pre-mixed with a resin. To ensure effective mixing, their intense pigments and polymer resins must be heated before being combined.

With cube mixes (or blends), often known as salt and pepper mixes, customers can precisely regulate their output by combining a masterbatch blend with polymers. The polymer keeps its original properties since it stays solid throughout the procedure.

Pigments are combined to form a polymer and forced into the plastic resin during pre-coloring. As a result, pre-colored resins can immediately match the desired performance rate and are simple to produce.

Plastic film undergoes the extrusion method, where it is heated and shaped, to create plastic bags.

To begin the extrusion process, plastic resin pellets are first dumped into a hopper, or container for holding bulk material. The extruder's hopper is situated at the start of a barrel above the drill. Simple cone-shaped holes served as the earliest hoppers, which had to be manually loaded with resin pellets. Modern hoppers have kept up with technology and are available in various designs with various cutting-edge feeding mechanisms, eliminating the need for human hopper loading.

The extruder is the heating mechanism required for the production of plastic bags. It comprises a large tube called the barrel and an auger, which is a helical screw. The auger gently advances the resin pellets toward the die as they drop from the hopper into the barrel. Heating elements are positioned along the barrel on either side, gently melting the resin pellets to create the molten liquid that will reach 500° F and be pushed into the die. For the heated resin to pass through the circular die at the extruder's end, it must be sufficiently malleable. The molten plastic is driven through a spherical, circular die at the barrel's end before it enters the cooling tower. Before reaching the die, a screening or breaker plate is used to eliminate any potential contaminants to guarantee the purity of the molten resin. The breaker plate has two purposes: it cleans up debris and shields the die from the extremely high pressure that the extrusion process generates.

Pressure is applied to the molten plastic resin as it travels along the extruder barrel, forcing it past the screen or breaker plate and into the die used to produce the intended form of a product; in this case, custom plastic bags. The die can be inserted either vertically or horizontally into the long cylinder of the cooling tower. It is filled with compressed air to give the plastic material a tubular shape and provide its thickness before transporting the molten material into the cooling tower. The type of plastic being processed determines the tube's diameter. Plastic sheet axial and radial stretching results in a tube significantly bigger than the die ring.

As the process continues, the molten plastic resin is driven past the breaker plate and die as it leaves the extruder and enters a cooling tower's cylinder bottom. There, the plastic material cools and assumes the shape of the finished plastic bags. It is also at this point where it is determined that the proper bag thickness has been reached and that bags do not contain holes. The cooling process' pace is also affected by the cooling tower's height, which ranges from 25 to 35 feet. The speed of the plastic material's speed of movement through the cooling tower determines the plastic film's thickness. The plastic bags will have thin walls and be extremely light when they expand quickly. The final bags will have full walls and be more durable if the molten plastic is allowed to expand gradually.

Check now, you’ll find an array of custom plastic bags tailored to various needs, providing innovative solutions to enhance your packaging strategy.