Plastic pellets are heated up, melted and extruded to form the plastic film.  The film can be clear, opaque or high gloss and made from polypropylene, and polyethylene. Some packaging films offer high-barrier properties which makes them a good fit for food packaging. They provide protective properties for food items requiring restrictive visibility and will increase the product’s shelf-life, and freshness. Oxygen transfer rate is used to measure the amount of oxygen that passes through a film. The lower the number, the better the film barrier. Additional barrier properties include UV protection, odor prevention, moisture  and gas barriers. Deciding on the barrier film for your packaging application can be a complicated process. There are many variables to consider in order to best preserve your packaged product. Below are a list of the most common type of barrier films used for food packaging.

 Foil (aluminum) backings offer the best best barrier protection with an OTR of 0. Foil is often used in candy wrappers, and to preserve chocolate.

EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) barrier films have a OTR at .6 cc/må_. EVOH barriers are often used to package meat, fish & poultry related products.

MPET when OPP/BOPP films are laminated with metal foil (MET) it will increase the film’s oxygen & water barrier & block out UV rays. Because of the film’s stiffness, its used as a wrap for hard candies, chocolates & is resistant to heat and moisture.

KPET is a soft saran coated PET film with good transparency. It is used as a substrate to laminate with other films. KPET has excellent gas, moisture and vapor properties making suitable for packaging of dry goods and protecting fragrant related items.

PET (polyester) is very good oxygen barrier, heat resistant & strong film with good durability. PET film is an excellent laminating substrate for stand-up pouches. When PET films are laminated with metal foil it will increase the film’s oxygen- water barrier & block out UV rays. Metallized films for flexible packaging are essential when the product requires extra protection to ensure a longer shelf life MET PET provides protective properties for food items requiring restricted visibility.

Nylon films have a high melting point and are used for cooking applications such as boiling, microwaving & baking. They have very good clarity & moisture barriers & considered a very strong film.

Polypropylene is soft, clear glossy film with good moisture barriers & high oxygen transfer rates. They are often used for plastic food bags.

LLDPE barrier films are inexpensive and have good clarity. They are used to package fresh, produce, frozen foods & baked goods. Because of their high OTR of 2500 cc/må_, they work well when the package requires oxygen.

About Pyramid Packaging

Est. in 1968, Pyramid Packaging is a value-added supplier of flexible packaging films, equipment & services. We create value by working with clients who need help in selecting and customizing their packaging films. Pyramid Packaging can customize your plastic packaging films & barriers according to your blend, size & graphic design. Call us at 847-272-3400 or [email protected].

 

Block and brace is a packaging technique that fills or surrounds the void areas of a packaged product. This secures the items and reduces the chances of it getting damage during transportation.

Automated Packaging Systems AirPouch FastWrap air tubes protective packaging is more cost effective when compared to other types of block and brace, such as Styrofoam peanuts, foam-in-place, or molded pulp inserts. The on-demand air tubes are lightweight, and reusable. The tubes are dust free and durable enough to provide excellent product protection in a minimal space. AirPouch FastWrap tubes come in a compact box that generates more than 1,380 linear feet of protective packaging. The tubes can be inflated when needed at speeds up to 65 feet per minute. Compact and convenient, the all-electric design and small footprint of the AirPouch FastWrap is ideal as a stand-alone system or combined with a variety of equipment accessories for any size pack station.

Pyramid Packaging is a supplier of Autobag AirPouch FastWrap. For more information click here or call us at 847-272-3400.

Customized packaging films are a great way to stand out and get noticed. Pyramid Packaging can customize your plastic packaging films according to your blend, size and graphic design. We can help you decide on which films are best suited for your packaging needs. At Pyramid Packaging, we provide out of the box packaging solutions and can custom engineer your packaging film. We have experience working with an array of films, resins and laminations. Our packaging engineers understand the extrusion, converting, design, printing processes and can oversee these task for you. By working with our packaging experts, we’ll ensure you get the right film for your application while reducing cost.

Established in 1968 Pyramid Packaging is a value-added, and ISO 9001 compliant supplier of packaging machinery, films, and services. Click here to contact us regarding your custom packaging film needs.

Pyramid Wins the Automated Packaging Distributor of the Year Award

We are pleased to announce that Automated Packaging has selected Pyramid Packaging as their top distributor for 2015. Pyramid Packaging has been representing APS for over 50 years in the Chicago market. We are honored to have been selected as the Automated Packaging Distributor of the Year. Pictured from left to right: Brad Worman – APS, Bob Ploen, Nancy Lee, Jeremias Gonzales, Justin Miller, Neal Houseworth, Tristan Farrell – Pyramid Packaging, Brian Zamary, Jim McCarthy – APS.

 

Have you ever wondered how many bags are on an Autobag roll or how many rolls are in a box? Well it all depends. Autobags are pre-made plastic bags on rolls designed to improve a company’s packaging efficiency. These bags are ideal for low to high volume packaging operations. The plastic bags come in stock and custom sizes. Stock bags range in sizes from 2″ wide x 3″ long and as large as 15″ x 34″. For high production bagging applications, the bags on a roll added to a bagging machine to increase productivity.

The number of bags on a roll is determined by the bag’s length. For example, a standard duty, clear 2 x 3 stock bag has 5,500 bags on its roll whereas a larger 4 x 6 bag (double the length) has 2,500 on a roll. The bag’s size also determines how many rolls are in a case. Because of its smaller width, 16 rolls of the 2 x 3 bags are in a case but only 8 rolls of the 4 x 6 are in a case. When determining how many bags needed for your bagging application refer to the Autobag stock bag list or click here to contact a Pyramid Packaging and one of packaging engineers will assist you. Established in 1968 Pyramid Packaging is a value-added supplier of packaging machinery, supplies, and services.

Stretch wrap also called stretch film is a highly stretchable plastic film. It’s commonly made of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE). Because of it elasticity, it keeps skidded packages tightly bound or protects wrapped items from moisture and debris. Warehouses and distribution centers are filled skids and pallets wound in stretch wrap. Once the stretch wrapped item reaches its destination, the stretch wrap is removed where it is either discarded as trash or recycled.

 

If stretch wrap is thrown in the garbage, it means you are paying to throw away someone else’s trash. There’s also the guilt of knowing it’s going to a landfill where the stretch wrap may take years to decompose. Stretch is wrap is easily recyclable. Once the wrap is removed it can be compacted in a baler so it can be easily stored until enough bales are ready for shipment. The bales could then be sold to a plastic recycling management company. These companies will either resell the bales or recycle the wrap into plastic pellets. The recycling management company will sell the plastic pellets to injection molders, blow molders and extruders.

 

Recycling stretch wrap can have hefty economic benefits, prevents it from entering landfills, saves energy and makes the world greener for future generations. Companies like the feeling of environmental responsibility especially if it doesn’t cost them anything. Flexible packaging products like stretch film should be recycled. It’s the right thing to do for business and environment.

Void fill packaging uses material such as peanuts, paper or air pillows to fill spaces in packages. This eliminates the voids within a package and prevents the packaged item from moving around and possibly causing damage. Void fill paper packaging creates dust & although reusable, most of the time it gets thrown out. Peanut packaging is messy and time consuming. The time spent each day loading stored peanuts, and cleaning up the mess at each packaging station creates quite a bit of work. Additionally clients complain about the mess associated with the peanut packaging material.

Pyramid Packaging is a distributor of AirPouch Express 3 Void Fill packaging equipment. The AirPouch Express 3 Tabletop Void-fill System provides on-demand, easy-to-use AirPouch EZ-Tear air pillows for high packing productivity, and reduced shipping costs. Operating at speeds over 50 feet per minute in semi-or fully-automatic modes, the AirPouch Express 3 creates continuous strips of air pillows that are ideal for all protective packaging applications. Simply plug the unit in, load the air pillow material, and start packaging.

The AirPouch EZ-Tear pillows are puncture-resistant air significantly improve protection while reducing packing and shipping costs.  Its perforated technology makes it extremely easy for packers to grab a strip of air pillows and quickly tear off as many as they need. The pillows are specially designed perforations allow more air into each pillow. They are available in 8, 10, and 12 inch widths. For more information, click here or call Pyramid Packaging at 847-272-3400.