What are self-seal bags?
Self-seal bags are polythene bags that are closed by squeezing an interlocking plastic seal that runs across the top of the bag. The same seal is pulled apart gently to open the bag.
This re-usable seal allows self-seal bags - also known as resealable bags, mini grip bags or grip-seal bags - to used repeatedly, avoiding leakage and providing protection from external contamination without the need for any kind of bag sealer (e.g. tape, clip, staple), thus differentiating them from standard polythene bags.
Blessed are the cheesemakers, for they shall use self-seal bags
You may have noticed more and more food producers using resealable polythene bags to package their food in recent years, in a bid to win over consumers by allowing them to keep their food fresh for longer.
Cheesemakers have been at the forefront of the move to self-seal bags, with Cathedral City among those to lead the way, but you will also find resealable bags being used from products as diverse as Bird's Eye Field Fresh Garden Peas and Cadbury's Creme Egg Splats.
Richard Clothier, managing director of cheesemaker Wyke Farms, who introduced grip-seal packs to its cheese in 2009, believes the benefits of producing resealable packs outweigh the extra costs involved in manufacturing the packaging.
"Aside from being convenient and retaining the branding throughout the life of the product, reseal prevents the use of secondary packaging in the home such as cling film and foil," Clothier told packagingnews.co.uk.
"Reseal costs the manufacturer more money, but we see it as a marketing investment in the same way that we would view investment in more flavours and better quality. It's part of the package."
What some people say about self seal bags
Self seal bags retain dispatch lines moving because they let packers close packs fast without reaching for tape or a heater at all unit. That proper rhythm matters on busy benches where small delays soon build up into wasted time and uneven output. Fit is only as necessary as speed, since a bag that matches the product properly requirements less fiddling, sees tidier, and avoids the scruffy effect of excess film bunching around the contents. When the size, opening lip, and adhesive strip work together, the pack closes cleanly and leaves less chance of snagging amid handling.
Gripper bags work optimal when they are specified for repeated handling rather than treated as a normal sleeve, because the all point is fast opening and proper closing without losing control of the contents. That matters on packing benches where small fittings, spare parts and mixed kits are counted, checked and resealed several times before despatch. A sound film gauge and a firm closure profile assist the bag stand up to clips, zips and sharp edges while still lying flat enough to retain case occupy efficient. If the material is also thin, split seams and twisted mouths soon beginning to slow the line. A bag that grasps its shape saves time and cuts avoidable handling damage.
Grippa bags earn their place when small stock has to be handled fast without losing count or control. The grip-seal strip lets packers open, occupy and close the same bag several times, which suits kitting, sample picking and loose components that transport through a bench fast. The proper selection sits in the film grade and gauge, though, because thin LDPE can feel flimsy, twist in the hand or split around rough edges, while overweight film wastes material and bulks out storage. A bag that opens cleanly and seals properly after handling retains the work flowing and cuts avoidable rework.
Minigrip bags do a lot of work when small items need to stay clean, visible and easy to handle without taking up much room. Their value is often seen on packing benches, in garment rooms and in parts picking, where staff need to identify contents fast and reseal them without wasting time. The bag has to be manufactured from film that grasps a consistent gauge, because thin spots lead to splits and thicker areas waste material. A sound zip seal also matters, since repeated opening should not weaken the closure or leave the bag hanging open. When those details are proper, packing transports faster and presentation stays tidy.
Self-seal bags work properly only when the film grade, seal strip and opening size suit the contents, because small parts can shift, snag and waste space in a poorly matched pack. A bag that appears roomy on the spec sheet may lose usable capacity once the closure takes up room, which soon matters when counting clips, fasteners or other light components for dispatch. The film requirements enough gauge to resist corner splits and sharp edges, yet not so much that it adds needless weight or material use. Get that balance proper and packing becomes cleaner, quicker and less prone to counting errours.
Global Grip Seal Bags Market 2018 Professional Survey and Industry Forecast 2025
Grip seal bags only work well when the film and the closure are manufactured with proper control, because small faults soon display up in packing and handling. A superb resin blend gives transparent film, proper gauge and enough slip for the bags to separate cleanly, while still resisting the kind of creep that lets cartons shift on a pallet. If the slip level is gross, staff lose time opening bags at the packing bench; if the channel profile is soft or uneven, the seal becomes patchy and the bag will not stay closed. That is why output figures matter less than repeatable conversion and a bag that behaves the same from one box to the next.
Mini grip bags stand or drop on the quality of the grip seal, not on how tidy the pouch sees when it comes off the line. If the melt is uneven or the sealing profile is poorly controlled, the closure can fail after a few opens and shuts, which fast turns a useful pack into a nuisance. That matters in picking areas where screws, samples, labels and other small items need to stay visible and separated without spilling into outer cartons. Good film gauge retains the bag light and easy to handle while still giving enough resistance to sharp corners and rough treatment. A proper seal means less sorting back at the bench and less chance of mess at dispatch.
Details about GREY MAILING POSTAGE bag manufacturers MAILER POST polythene suppliers suppliersING SELF SEAL BAGS
Self seal bags need the proper film spec if they are going to survive proper handling, not only see tidy on a sheet. A low-gauge bag can still perform well when the polythene suppliers has enough puncture resistance and the seal line closes evenly without small gaps or weak spots. That matters in packing areas where cartons are slid, pressed and stacked at strange angles, because a flimsy feel often turns into tears or split seams once the load beginnings moving. A bag that seals cleanly first time retains the line moving and cuts waste straight away.
Gripper bags work properly because the fluted surface retains the layers apart and stops them sealing flat against each other. That leaves a small air path, so the bag can open out and follow the shape of the duct wall instead of fighting it. The point is not decoration nevertheless controlled movement below load. A film with the gross balance of flexibility and recovery will either sit also rigidly or spring back also much, and both faults hurt contact and grip. A sensible specification relies on matching the flute form to the polythene suppliers behaviour, because the bag only performs when the material and the shape assist each other.
Grippa bags perform optimal when the film is chosen for handling rather than only for a tidy first impression. Thin polythene suppliers can see fine on a sample sheet, then behave badly once it is folded, stacked, lifted and opened plenty times in the warehouse. If the gauge is also light or the seal area is weak, the bag can split at the lip, attract dust, or cling in awkward methods where static and debris are normal. That means more rebagging, slower picking, and a messier consignment by the time it reaches dispatch or display.
It's a WRAP - report finds self-seal bags are a winner with consumers
A March 2013 report by the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP), a government-funded not-for-profit company tasked with increasing recycling and reducing waste, found that consumers are in favour of re-closable packs.
The paper, entitled 'Consumer Attitudes to Food Waste and Food Packaging', reported that consumers viewed re-closable packs as the most useful packaging innovation available to them.
Presented with 13 "recent changes to food packaging" and asked to choose up to four that "are/would be most useful", 56% of respondents chose re-sealable packaging.
The report also found that, when presented with two cheeses - one packaged in a resealable pack and the other in a non-resealable pack - two-thirds (67%) of consumers chose the resealable option. Their reasons for the choice were as follows:
- The top reason for choosing either option was a preference for how the packaging looked (18% mentioning this for the normal pack, 33% for the re-closable pack).
- Of those who chose the re-closable pack, 20% said they did so for exactly that reason (despite the fact the text was not enlarged in any way, i.e. they recognised or were looking for this functionality).
Source: Consumer Attitudes to Food Waste and Food Packaging - WRAP, March 2013
Top 5 practical uses for self-seal bags
- Save time at airport security by buying yourself a clear self-seal bag and arranging your toiletries for your hand luggage before you set off for the airport. Watch with a smug grin on your face while other passengers lose their place in the queue as you waltz by
- Take a self-seal bag on your trip to the beach, swimming pool or fun park (one with water rides) and use it keep your camera and other valuables waterproof while you're all having a whale of a time splashing about in the water
- Staying on the theme of water, large self-seal bags are a great way to keep your wet swimming costume and towel away from your dry clothes after a trip to the swimming pool or the beach. If big enough, you could even use the same bag as that used to keep your valuables dry - just make sure you've taken them out of the bag first!
- Chop up your half-time orange wedges before the big match and stick them in a self-seal bag before putting them into your kit bag. This will leave you free to concentrate on the half time team talk, rather than worrying about chopping up oranges on the touchline, plus it will keep your kit free from orange juice!
- For all you chefs out there, your self-seal bag is a handy tool in the kitchen. Use it to shake up the ingredients for a delicious salad dressing, or do the same for a marinade before adding the meat or fish straight to the bag. This same technique can be applied to dry coatings (e.g. breadcrumbs, fajita spice mix) provided your self-seal bag is clean and dry!
