Flexible Packaging

Flexible packaging can be bags, wraps and films, made of one or more layers of plastic, foil, paper, or other materials that are usually lightweight or bendable in some way.

Basic plastic or blown film that has not yet been converted, for later converting processes such as printing, laminating, slitting, or for multi-layer laminating with other webs.

Rolls of flexible packaging or labels that have already been converted from large webs and arrive from the converter preprinted with finished package graphics. These rolls are designed to be mounted onto either vertical or horizontal form/fill/seal equipment, flow wrappers, labelers and related equipment.

Any flexible, cylindrical tube, made of plastic or metal, that can be squeezed by the consumer or end user to force product out, such as tubes for toothpaste or hair gel, or pharmaceutical ointments. These tubes come from the manufacturer with a threaded opening on one end and are open at the other. After product is filled into the tube, the open end is sealed.

Any peelable foil, plastic, or other material used specifically in induction or conduction sealing machines, such as a membrane placed on the mouth of a bottle of nutraceuticals, or a foil seal over a can of potato crisps.

A wide range of plastic and paper materials that serve to protect or envelop products. These materials can consist of clear films or unprinted papers, but they can also be printed. Overwrap films are considered to be distinct from shrink films.

Pouches or bags that have already been converted and often pre-cut or formed into individual units for loading by machine or hand. A variety of bag and pouch sealing equipment is available for sealing pre-made bags, usually different from form/fill/and seal equipment, which also forms the bag inline before filling and sealing.

Any film that is used on a flexible or semi-rigid thermoforming machine, either as part of a thermoform/fill/seal process or during package manufacturing, where a blister or clamshell is created through thermoforming.

Features, most often on flexible bags or pouches, that include a liner and zipper feature so that the consumer can open the package by pulling on a thin string liner and/or reseal packages once opened, to maintain freshness.