Printed Bag Help

Everything you always wanted to know about bags.... but were afraid to ask.

There's a lot of terminology going on so we've put a few details together so that you can know your HD from your LD and your vest from your punch hole when someone asks you at that next party...

Material - HD and LD
HD - High Density = Soft feel plastic
LD - Low Density = Crinkly plastic
High density is usually stronger but the plastic is harder and so more prone to ripping on sharp items
Low density is usually weaker in comparison but is stretchier and has a nice, softer feel

Varigauge
On a varigauge bag the top end is thicker than the bottom to reinforce the handle. This is done when the film is extruded during the bag manufacturing process. Having a thicker handle area means that there is no need for a reinforcing patch.

Bag Types
- Punch Handle/Varigauge
This is a square or rectangular bag where the handle is a punch hole in the top of the bag. Typically a punch handle carrier is a varigauge bag which is normally 45/90 microns thickness.

- Patch Handle
Exactly the same in appearance as a punch handle bag but the film is usually one thickness so the handle area is reinforced by a patch of thick polythene stuck on to the inside of the bag over the handle area.

- Vest
This is the shape of bag you would typically get at your local supermarket. It is shaped like a vest, hence the name and comes in any mix of HD or LD polythene and a variety of thicknesses. Typical thickness of a supermarket carrier is between 10 and 15 microns and in HD polythene to make it stronger with less material.

- Twisted Paper/String/Raffia Handle
A paper carrier usually more up-market than a standard polythene carrier. It has a handle made from twisted paper strands which makes it look like string or raffia but gives the handle a very good strength in comparison to a flat paper tape handle carrier which is like a food takeaway bag.

- Rope Handle Paper/Laminate
Top of the range bag which is quite thick and strong in comparison to a twisted paper handle carrier and has a rope handle with reinforced holes to strengthen it. Usually expensive but used where presentation is important.

Bag Sizes
There are lots of different measurements flying about so what do they mean and how do you tell what they mean on your bag?

Punch and Patch handle bags are measured like:
15" x 18" + 3"
The 15" is from left to right
The 18" is from top to bottom
The +3" is the width of the bottom gusset when opened out

Vest and paper carriers are measured like:
11" x 17" x 21"
The 11" is from left to right
The 17" is the mesurement from left to right with the side gusset opened out
The 21" is the measurement from top to bottom

On a vest the measurement is from the top of the handle to the bottom but on a paper carrier it is from top of the paper bag to the bottom excluding handles.

On polythene bags the measurements are stated before manufacture but because the film shrinks with the heat during the manufacturing process the finished sizes are usually slightly smaller than stated.

Thicknesses
Here are some examples:

A punch handle carrier is usually either varigauge 45/90 microns or anything upward of 30 microns.
A patch handle carrier is probably 30 microns with an extra reinforced patch.

Vest Carriers can be anything usually from 10 microns upwards, for instance as a very rough guide:
10 microns - Bag of crisps and newspaper.
15 microns - Can of pop and sandwich, light shopping or fish & chips.
18 microns - Cans of beer, general groceries.
20 microns - Heavier items, groceries, cans, bottles.
22 microns up - Heavy duty goods.
Of course strength tensile/ductile will depend on material HD/LD as well as thickness so an 18 micron bag that is HD will seem to be as strong as a thicker LD bag.

Disclaimer: You should always test the type of bag with the goods you want to put in them first to avoid disappointement/breakages (ie.: don't try this at home kids!).

Paper bags are usually measured in gsm (grams per square metre) and can be anything, for instance our printed, twisted paper bags are 110gsm, laminated bags are much thicker than this. As a comparison normal A4 photocoper paper is around 80gsm.

Gauge, Microns and GSM - what are they?
GSM is a metric measurement, the standard measue for paper and board thickness, meaning grams per square metre

Microns are a metric measurement, also expressed as 'mu' or 'mic' - 1 micron = 0.001mm
Gauge is imperial, also expressed as 'g' - 1 gauge = 0.004mm

1 micron = 4 gauge = 0.001mm

Types of process
We supply two types of printed bags:

- Overprints
Your details are printed on the bag after it is made. This is where a standard, plain bag is fed through a printing machine where your details are printed on the bag.
Advantages:        Low cost, low minimum, fast turnaround.
Disadvantages:  One colour, limitations in logo and print possibilities, limitation in image placement.

- Manufactured
Your details are printed on the film before the bag is made.
Advantages:        Multi colour, precision image placement, any logo or image within reason.
Disadvantages:  Higher cost, higher minimum, possibly longer turnaround.

Any other questions not covered here just contact us or give us a call on 0114 2967613 and we will be happy to help.

Items shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be reproduced without the respective owners' permission.  Some items shown may be subject to copyright.