What is flexible packaging?
Flexible packaging is any packaging where the shape can readily be changed when filled or during use. The packaging is flexible (as opposed to rigid).
What formats of flexible packaging do you offer?
We offer flow-wrap film (printed film on reel), stand-up pouches, flat pouches, quad-seal pouches, centre-seal pouches and more. Other options include twisted-handle bags and thermally insulated bags.
What kind of stand-up pouches can you offer?
We can offer stand-up pouches in the following formats: doy-seal; K-seal and delta seal. Other free-standing options include quad-seal pouches.
What is a doy-seal?
A doy-seal pouch uses a curved tool to create a curved base at the bottom of the pouch. The pouches are sometimes just known as doy pouches.
What is a K-seal?
The K-Seal creates a diagonal seal across the bottom corners of the bag to form a flat base.
Is there a reason why I would choose the doy-seal pouch or the K-seal pouch?
No, the decision is purely aesthetic. It’s up to you how you wish the pouch to look.
What is a delta seal?
This is an alternative format more commonly used for cooking bags
What is a quad-seal pouch?
A quad-seal pouch is also known as a quad-pack, a block-bottomed pouch, a box pouch or a flat-bottomed pouch. Most commonly used for heavier goods, it has four sides when stood up, plus a base. With four vertical seals, the base flattens out once filled, creating a rectangular and flat base. Free-standing once filled, it’s good for saving space both on-shelf and in transit as the ‘blocks’ stack neatly. The four sides offer lots of space for branding. It is made up of five panels, with four vertical seals.
What’s a flat pouch?
A flat pouch is exactly that, it lays flat (and is sometimes known as a lay-flat pouch) and cannot be free-standing. Many pouch formats class as flat pouches, including: 2 or 3-side-seal pouches; pillow pouches; side-weld bags & skirt-side-weld bags.
What is a 2 or 3-side-seal pouch?
The flat pouch has four sides. Either 2 or (normally) 3 are sealed, leaving one (or two) sides open, to be sealed once the contents are inside.
What is a pillow pouch?
Pillow pouches, also known as pillow packs and centre-seal pouches, are lay-flat pouches with 3 seals, top, bottom, and a fin seal which runs down the centre of the back of the pouch. The either the top or bottom is left open to be sealed after the pouch has been filled. The most common example of a pillow pouch is a crisp packet. Pillow pouches are high-strength and leak-proof, and often used where shelf-life is an issue – crisps, biscuits dried meats, dried fish and spices are often packed in pillow pouches. It’s also possible to put a side-gusset on a pillow pouch (centre-seal pouch).
What is a fin seal?
A fin seal, sometimes known as a “fold-over seam”, is where both interior edges of the film are sealed together and then the fin is folded over. A fin seal is the seal used on the back of pillow pouches, and also in some flow-wrap packaging formats.
What’s a side-weld bag?
A side-weld bag is made by folding the two sides of the bag together (they are already joined at the base) and then sealed/welded on the sides.
What’s a skirt-side-weld bag?
The skirt-side-weld bag is similar to the side-weld bag, but there is a stronger seal running down the two sides.
Do you offer bags as well as pouches?
Yes, formats offered include twisted-handle bags and thermally insulated bags. Both options are reusable and recyclable.
What is a twisted-handle bag?
A twisted-handle bag is a paper bag, with the handle literally made out of twisted paper. Because the bag and handle are paper, it is paper recyclable.
So you can offer custom printing?
Yes, we can offer custom printed flexibles, including custom printed film-on reel and custom printed pouches.
What kind of printing do you offer?
We offer flexo printing inhouse, using water-based inks. Digital printing is also used for some shorter print runs.
What is flexo printing?
A flexographic (or flexo) press uses flexible photopolymer printing plates to imprint images across a wide range of surfaces, making it one of the most efficient methods for large volume requirements. Flexo presses can be used to print a wide range of substrates, including traditional flexibles, recyclable plastics and paper.
What are water-based inks?
Traditional printing inks are made using solvents. Water-based inks don’t use solvents and use water as the carrier for the pigments.
What flexible packaging materials do you offer?
We can offer a range of materials, including mono-materials, laminates and even papers. Options include polyester, polyethylene, nylon, aluminium foil and coated papers.
Are any of your flexible packaging options recyclable?
Yes, we can offer mono-material plastics, including PE (recyclable with the soft plastics recycling stream) and heat-sealable barrier papers which are recyclable in the paper recycling stream.