Based in Austin, TX, Alpine Packaging specializes in manufacturing custom plastic poly bags and offering label printing services. The company provides tailored flexible packaging solutions to businesses throughout Texas, including Austin and Dallas. They focus on producing custom bags designed to meet diverse commercial and industrial client needs.
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Flexible Packaging Manufacturers
Last updated: January 2026
This directory lists 88 flexible packaging manufacturers across the United States, from regional converters to nationwide packaging partners.
Buyers engage flexible packaging manufacturers to solve critical problems related to product preservation, market differentiation, and supply chain efficiency. This often means designing custom film structures with specific **oxygen transmission rates (OTR)** or **moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR)** to extend product shelf life, especially for sensitive food or pharmaceutical items. Beyond barrier requirements, they seek solutions that provide structural integrity for diverse products, from liquids in spouted pouches to granular goods in gusseted bags, ensuring proper product presentation and preventing damage during transit and retail display.
Flexible packaging manufacturers span a wide spectrum, from smaller, agile operations specializing in digital printing for lower MOQs and faster turns, to large integrated facilities offering rotogravure or flexographic printing for high-volume, cost-effective runs. Some excel in specific formats like retort-ready pouches or child-resistant (CR) packaging, while others offer extensive in-house material science expertise for custom film development. The key differentiator often lies in their vertical integration – whether they perform extrusion, lamination, printing, and converting all under one roof, or specialize in one or two of these stages.
Company Directory
88 companies nationwide
Based in Green Bay, WI, American FlexPack manufactures custom flexible packaging for diverse industries. They produce single-use sachets, pouches, fluid-filled packaging for gels and creams, and towelettes. Serving sectors like health and beauty, automotive, industrial, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals, they offer versatile packaging with flexible production processes and low minimums.
Based in Riverside, CA, A Plastic Bag manufactures high-quality poly bags in the USA. They handle the entire production process, from extruding films to custom printing and converting. The company specializes in rapid turnaround, offering rush production from 1-7 days and an on-time delivery guarantee for commercial clients.
AstraPouch provides custom flexible packaging solutions, including pouches and bag-in-box options. They offer product development and custom printing services for various industries such as wine, spirits, beer, cold brew coffee, food, beverages, and chemicals.
Based in Sulphur Springs, TX, Base Plastics manufactures high-quality polyethylene solutions, including bags and liners. They offer various gauge and finishing options to protect products. The company also provides a Just in Time program for product storage and shipping.
Based in Lockport, NY, Bison Bag, established in 1968, specializes in manufacturing flexible packaging solutions. They offer custom printing and design for products like pouches, rollstock, and bags. The company operates an SQF certified facility equipped with industry-leading printing presses.
Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, CastlePierce Printing Company provides custom flexible packaging solutions. They manufacture stand-up pouches, roll stock, seal bags, zipper pouches, stick packs, and flow wraps. Utilizing materials like plastic, film, foil, or paper, their packaging extends shelf life and serves diverse industries, including food and pharmaceuticals.
Based in Placentia, CA, Cleanroom Film & Bags manufactures custom cleanroom packaging solutions. They produce sterile bags and films for medical, electronic, aerospace, semiconductor, and food industries. Their ISO 9001:2015 certified, vertically integrated facility ensures superior quality with pure resins and a no regrind guarantee.
Based in Schaumburg, IL, Cosmo Films Inc. manufactures diverse flexible packaging solutions. They produce heat sealable, non-heat sealable, metallized, and barrier films for various applications. Their offerings also include specialty films such as pressure sensitive and wrap around label films, along with nylon, PET, and OPP films.
Based in Fontana, CA, DaraFlex provides flexible packaging and printing solutions. Specializing in printed rollstock for HFFS/VFFS machines, premade pouches, stand-up pouches, coffee/foil bags, and thermoformed trays. DaraFlex serves industries including food, consumer products, healthcare, and pharmaceuticals across the U.S.
DazPak provides flexible packaging solutions for innovative brands, leveraging expertise in printing, laminating, and converting. The company focuses on delivering business continuity and quality. They produce Prime-Peel Labeled Roll Stock featuring vibrant graphics, custom die cuts, and high-barrier film performance, supporting quick and effective product launches.
Based in Bristol, PA, Dunmore manufactures coated, laminated, and metallized packaging film. They offer a flexible packaging film portfolio including roll stock foil laminates, multi-layer laminates, label face stock, barrier film, and lidding film. Dunmore serves manufacturers across food, personal care, pet food, and industrial applications.
Based in Batavia, IL, Eagle Flexible Packaging manufactures custom printed flexible packaging. They provide sustainable, FDA-compliant pouches and rollstock with advanced in-house capabilities. Specializing in high-barrier solutions, the company serves diverse industries like food, pet, and medical with various custom styles.
Based in Louisville, CO, EcoEnclose specializes in sustainable flexible packaging. They offer customizable stand-up pouches made with post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, helping brands reduce virgin plastic use. The company also provides eco-friendly poly mailers and other shipping supplies designed for product protection and strong brand presence.
Based in Vista, CA, EcoPackables specializes in manufacturing sustainable flexible packaging. They exclusively produce eco-friendly packaging, offering custom and bulk solutions alongside stock products. The company provides sample packs for clients to evaluate materials, serving businesses across North America with innovative, green packaging options.
Based in Union City, CA, Emerald Packaging manufactures flexible packaging solutions. The company provides roll stock, bags, pouches, and lidding, serving diverse markets. They focus on sustainability, offering packaging with 30% Food Contact Post-Consumer Recycled content. Emerald Packaging is a prominent supplier in the produce packaging industry.
ePac Flexible Packaging is a technology-driven company manufacturing custom flexible packaging solutions. They produce high-quality standup pouches, lay flat pouches, and rollstock, serving diverse industries like coffee, snacks, pet food, and health & beauty. Most orders ship within 10-15 business days from artwork approval.
Flexible Pouches provides fully customized flexible packaging solutions. They manufacture stand-up, flat bottom, and lay-flat pouches, custom printed rollstock, and retort pouches. The company offers digital printing, low minimums, fast turnaround, and eco-friendly options to meet diverse packaging requirements.
Based in McAllen, TX, Fox Packaging is a family-owned manufacturer with over 60 years of experience in flexible packaging. They provide custom solutions for fresh produce brands, offering reliable products with competitive lead times across the U.S. The company emphasizes domestic production, sustainability, and supply chain efficiency.
Frankston Packaging, located in Frankston, TX, is a manufacturer offering a single source for diverse packaging solutions. The company produces flexible packaging, folding cartons, pressure-sensitive labels, and litho-laminated corrugated products, consistently achieving over 5 Sigma quality standards for its commercial clients.
Based in Menomonee Falls, WI, Glenroy manufactures sustainable flexible packaging solutions. The company specializes in custom laminations and stand-up pouches, serving a diverse range of brands and industries with tailored packaging options.
Based in Milford, OH, Golden Eagle Extrusions, Inc. specializes in flexible packaging solutions for food, beverage, and industrial companies. They provide custom film lamination, coextruded films and bags, custom printing, and various lidding films. Capabilities include hot needle micro-perforation, hole punch macro-perforation, gel pack films, and produce bags.
Based in Vernon, CA, Great American Packaging manufactures custom poly bags and film, providing flexible packaging solutions. They serve diverse industries including food, ice, medical, and consumer applications. The company controls all aspects of production from extrusion to printing and is IFS PACsecure certified for food safety.
Houston Poly, based in Tomball, TX, manufactures flexible packaging solutions for various industries. The company specializes in designing custom film for automation, collaborating with clients to ensure optimal performance on their specific equipment. Their technical department provides expertise in developing packaging tailored to operational needs.
Based in Sebastian, FL, IMPAK Corporation designs and manufactures custom flexible packaging solutions. They produce pouches in a wide range of sizes, offering numerous materials, features, and custom laminations. Capabilities include rotogravure or digital printing for custom branding, creating packaging for diverse and challenging applications.
Based in Cerritos, CA, IPS provides poly and paper packaging solutions for businesses across diverse industries. The company offers sustainable options such as poly take out bags, trash bags, produce bags, bakery and deli plastic films, and various specialty paper bags.
Based in Gray Court, SC, ISOFlex Packaging manufactures specialty plastic films and bags. They provide packaging solutions for shrink, barrier, laminating, coating, converting, and can liners. As part of the Sigma Plastics Group, the company operates seven U.S. facilities, offering 350 million pounds of film and bag capacity.
Based in Urbandale, IA, John Boyt Industrial Sewing specializes in manufacturing custom fabric pouches. They produce waterproof manual, tool, equipment, and travel pouches using materials like vinyl, canvas, Cordura, and ballistic fabrics. Capabilities include RF welding, die cutting, and single/double needle sewing for durable, custom-shaped solutions with various closures and features.
Based in Moonachie, NJ, LPS Industries, LLC manufactures custom flexible packaging solutions. The company produces stand-up pouches, flat pouches, and rollstock, offering services like custom printing, laminating, and converting. LPS serves diverse sectors including food & beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial markets with their barrier films and packaging products.
Maxim FlexPac manufactures printed flexible packaging for major corporations, focusing on quality products and full service. Offerings include sustainable, eco-friendly, and custom flexible packaging solutions. They specialize in consumer packaged goods, pharmaceutical, and cannabis packaging, utilizing digital printing and rotogravure technologies.
Based in Montebello, CA, Montebello Plastics manufactures high-quality polyethylene film. The company provides customizable film solutions for diverse applications, including industrial packaging and construction. With over 40 years of experience, they offer FDA-approved films and industrial sheeting.
Founded in 2009, MSI Flexible Packaging, Inc. specializes in creating high-quality, innovative plastic packaging solutions. They provide custom printed pouches and stand-up pouches, serving industries such as food, beverages, pet supplies, lawn and garden, and household products. The company focuses on cost-effective and timely project implementation.
Based in Wisconsin, NBi FlexPack manufactures custom flexible packaging. They specialize in nutraceutical and cannabis packaging, eBeam embellishment, and sustainable solutions. The company selectively sources all materials from within the USA, providing quality and domestic supply chains for their clients.
Based in Fontana, CA, New Wave Converting, Inc. is a family-owned flexible packaging manufacturer with over 40 years of experience. They provide advanced technology solutions to protect products, serving various commercial and industrial clients. The company is an active member of FTA and R&DA.
Based in Anaheim, CA, Osiopack manufactures flexible packaging film and stand-up pouches. They utilize 10-color rotogravure printing for full-color, 360° packaging, serving U.S. consumer product manufacturers. The company also supplies automatic high-speed shrink sleeve systems.
Based in San Antonio, TX, Packaging Blue specializes in custom flexible packaging, manufacturing Mylar bags and pouches for product freshness. They also provide custom-printed mailer boxes, corrugated, display, and rigid packaging. Their services cater to retail, e-commerce, CBD, vape, and beverage industries.
Packlane, based in Sherman Oaks, CA, manufactures custom flexible packaging. They provide customizable pouches for products like snacks and soaps, in standard (MOQ 750) and custom (MOQ 10,000) sizes. Options include diverse materials such as metallized and clear matte, plus various closure types.
Based in Van Nuys, CA, Packola manufactures custom flexible packaging, specializing in printed pouches. They offer three barrier film materials—clear, white, and metallized—to protect products from oxygen, moisture, and light. The company provides full-color printing for custom designs, ensuring product freshness and brand visibility.
Based in Neenah, WI, Personalized Packaging Systems offers custom printed digital pouches and flexible packaging solutions. They specialize in stand-up, 3-side seal, zipper pouches, roll stock, sachets, and stick packs. The company provides speed to market, low minimums, and no plate costs with superb print quality.
The Platinum Packaging Group, based in Paramount, CA, offers flexible packaging and container solutions, emphasizing in-house film converting for sustainable products. They provide packaging supplies and machinery. The company serves diverse B2B markets like food processors, produce packers, medical, beauty, and cannabis manufacturers.
Based in Grand Prairie, TX, Poly-America is a manufacturer of polyethylene construction film and various types of trash bags. Founded in 1976, the company operates multiple manufacturing facilities across the United States. They also specialize in recycling and compounding polyethylene materials.
Based in Fort Worth, TX, Polymerall LLC manufactures and distributes flexible packaging. They specialize in custom printed and laminated films, bags, and pouches for various industries. Offerings include Easysnap single dose packaging, packaging films, rollstock, and bags for coffee, snack, food, pet food, and personal care products.
Based in North Canton, OH, Polymer Packaging manufactures, converts, and distributes flexible packaging solutions. Offerings include stand-up pouches and rollstock, alongside protective, bakery, and general-purpose packaging. The company serves the food, beverage, and industrial markets, leveraging over 50 years of experience.
Based in Norcross, GA, Preferred Packaging manufactures multilayer flexible films and thermoformed containers in its US facilities. The company produces Affirm™ Lidding Films and FINA™ Food Trays. Preferred Packaging provides complete packaging solutions for meal providers and school systems.
Based in Chicago, IL, Pregis LLC specializes in manufacturing high-quality flexible films through advanced blown film extrusion. They produce monolayer and multi-layer coextruded films with precise controls, utilizing various resins including polyethylene and polypropylene. Capabilities encompass automatic gauge control and custom roll widths for diverse packaging needs.
Premium Label & Packaging Solutions specializes in custom printed flexible packaging, providing in-house printing, lamination, and forming services. They produce fully formed sachets, gusseted bags, stick packs, and pouches for beauty, nutraceutical, household, food, and healthcare brands, supporting high-growth markets with low minimum orders.
Based in Rosenberg, TX, Print247 specializes in manufacturing custom flexible packaging solutions. The company produces ideal stand-up pouches in various colors and attractive themes, catering to businesses seeking tailored packaging for their products.
Based in Dallas, TX, Armadillo Packaging, Inc. creates custom printed bags for commercial organizations. The company offers a range of retail packaging solutions, including paper bags, poly bags, reusable bags, Euro totes, and gift bags, serving diverse industries and businesses.
ProAmpac manufactures flexible packaging products, offering rollstock in paper, film, and sustainable materials, along with various pouches and bags including grocery, shopping, and produce options. The company serves diverse sectors such as food and healthcare, emphasizing sustainable solutions that enhance shelf life and product appeal while minimizing packaging weight.
Based in Tukwila, WA, Redi-Bag manufactures low-density film and protective flexible packaging. The company provides 100% custom engineered solutions from its 100,000 sq ft facility, featuring 11 extrusion lines. Redi-Bag serves industries like food processing and industrial markets across the Western US and Southwestern Canada.
Based in Wausau, WI, Roastar, Inc. manufactures custom-printed stand-up pouches, offering flexible packaging solutions for coffee, wet, dry, or frozen products. They provide a wide selection of materials, finishes, and custom sizes. Customers can add features like valves, zippers, and tin ties to their pouch orders.
Based in Chalfont, PA, RTG Films converts and distributes flexible packaging films for industrial and commercial companies. Since 1995, they provide tailor-made solutions like vacuum skin packaging, printed films, and lidding films, alongside contract slitting. The company also supplies polypropylene, polyethylene, and sustainable PLA films.
Based in Pompano Beach, FL, Sigma Plastics Group manufactures creative stretch packaging solutions. The company operates five state-of-the-art facilities across North America, specializing in stretch films and packaging bags. They utilize a proprietary Rite-Gauging process to enhance packaging efficiency and client profitability.
Based in Hartsville, SC, Sonoco Products Company provides innovative packaging solutions across various industries. They offer integrated packaging services for beauty and personal care, food and beverages, pet care, and household products. The company focuses on sustainable and advanced material processes to meet diverse client needs.
Based in Orlando, FL, SunDance USA manufactures digital flexible packaging pouches for diverse industries. They produce flexible pouches suitable for food and beverages, pet food, natural and organic products, and sports and nutrition. The company also offers folding cartons, rigid boxes, and label printing services.
Taylor Corporation offers custom flexible packaging solutions, including pouches, roll stock, and wrappers. They provide versatile options designed to protect products, enhance brand image, and improve customer convenience. Their packaging uses high-barrier film to increase shelf life and promotes sustainability with lightweight designs.
Based in Spring, TX, The Custom Pack manufactures stand-up pouches for various applications. The company offers a wholesale selection of flexible packaging solutions, available in different shapes and sizes to meet specific client needs for product presentation and protection.
Based in Brooklyn Park, MN, The Packaging Lab specializes in custom printed flexible packaging solutions, including stand-up and lay-flat pouches, as well as custom rollstock film. They are known for fast turnaround times, often as quick as 24 hours, with no minimum order quantities. The company also offers design assistance, with all products proudly made in the U.S.
Based in Woodinville, WA, TricorBraun Flex manufactures flexible packaging solutions. They offer stock bags and custom designs, specializing in digital printing and hot stamping services. The company provides sustainable packaging options, including post-consumer recycled and compostable materials, and patented Made in the USA degassing valves.
Based in Staten Island, NY, Tycoon Packaging manufactures custom flexible packaging solutions. The company specializes in producing various stand-up pouches, including retort pouch packaging and stand-up pouch bags with windows. They offer customized options designed to enhance product presentation for commercial clients.
Based in Dallas, Texas, Printpack specializes in manufacturing flexible and rigid packaging solutions. The company operates its own facilities and employs a dedicated workforce to produce a variety of packaging products for commercial and industrial clients.
Based in Newark, DE, Zacros America specializes in manufacturing innovative flexible packaging solutions. The company produces spouted and spoutless pouches for home & personal care, cosmetics, food & beverage, and industrial products. Utilizing a state-of-the-art facility, they offer comprehensive capabilities including pouch forming, filling, and lamination services.
AeroFlexx specializes in manufacturing innovative flexible packaging solutions for liquids. Their technology creates lightweight, curbside-recyclable flexible packages designed to perform like rigid bottles. They serve diverse industries including personal care, household, baby care, pet care, food, and industrial sectors.
Based in New York City, Limcy Packaging designs, manufactures, and prints a range of custom packaging solutions. They provide flexible packaging options such as custom printed bags and Mylar bags and pouches. Their offerings also include various custom boxes, sleeves, and labels, with an emphasis on eco-friendly and biodegradable materials for commercial clients.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, PackMojo specializes in manufacturing custom boxes and pouches. They provide flexible packaging solutions with varying materials such as clear and holographic options. The company focuses on custom specifications to meet diverse client requirements for their packaging needs.
Pouch.me manufactures custom flexible packaging solutions, including stand-up and flat pouches, utilizing high-technology Gravure and Digital presses. They produce unique bags for diverse industries such as food, beverages, pet supplies, supplements, and cannabis products. The company also provides prepress checks for custom artwork.
48HourPrint specializes in designing and printing custom flexible pouches for diverse products. They provide branded flat and stand-up pouches in various sizes, featuring options like hang holes and tear notches. The company offers fast printing turnaround to meet commercial packaging needs.
Accredo Packaging produces recyclable, traditional, and compostable sustainable flexible packaging solutions. The company primarily targets the Consumer Packaged Goods segment, offering innovative and environmentally conscious packaging options tailored to client needs.
Based in Framingham, MA, Avery manufactures custom stand-up and flat pouches for flexible packaging. They offer various sizes and high-barrier film materials, including white, transparent, and metallized films, with glossy or matte finishes. Customization options like resealable zippers and tear notches are available for food and retail applications.
Brand My Bags specializes in custom Mylar packaging solutions, offering stand-up pouches, lay-flat bags, and barrier films. They cater to various industries, including food, CBD, nutraceuticals, pet products, and private label co-manufacturing, ensuring products remain fresh and meet market demands.
Based in Norcross, GA, C-P Flexible Packaging is a custom manufacturer and printer of various flexible packaging solutions. They produce pouches, bags, shrink sleeves, and roll-fed labels for diverse applications.
Based in Mesquite, TX, Dallas Plastics manufactures premium flexible packaging solutions and converter-grade films. They provide blown film operations, multi-layer coextrusion, lamination, and printing treatments. Products include shrink films, mailer film, and various liners, serving medical, food and beverage, and industrial sectors.
Based in Cincinnati, OH, Diversipak, Inc. provides flexible packaging solutions. They specialize in custom pouches, bags, spouted pouches, and mailers, offering custom branding services. With over 25 years in the packaging industry, they focus on strategically planned solutions for clients.
Earthfirst Films is a global manufacturer of compostable sealant, barrier sealant films, and laminates. They serve diverse industries including food, beverage, medical, personal care, and other consumer packaged goods segments. Their lamination division offers small batch production and fast prototyping, accelerating innovation in packaging solutions.
Inovar Packaging Group, headquartered in Newburyport, MA, manufactures diverse custom product labels and versatile flexible packaging solutions. They offer reclosure and lidding options, serving national and global brands with advanced, sustainable packaging. The company operates from 13 U.S. locations.
Inteplast Group, based in Livingston, NJ, manufactures high-quality plastic solutions. As a North American producer, they create flexible packaging materials including BOPP films, LLDPE stretch films, and engineered films for various consumer and industrial applications. The company also supplies institutional can liners.
Based in Anaheim, CA, Mozaik designs and manufactures customizable flexible packaging options, including shrink sleeves, pouches, and bags for various products. They offer custom packaging design services, from initial concept to final printing, with a focus on custom wholesale boxes, promotional displays, and shipping supplies for businesses in Orange, CA.
Based in Monroe, LA, Mid South Extrusion manufactures innovative blown films for the flexible packaging industry. They provide custom film solutions tailored for agriculture, comfort, consumer goods, food packaging, and industrial applications, building long-term partnerships.
Based in Houston, TX, Reef Industries is a plastic film and laminate manufacturer with over 60 years of experience. They specialize in custom plastic laminates, providing solutions to safeguard and prolong the service life of investments across various industries.
Based in Franklin, TN, Resource Label Group manufactures custom flexible packaging solutions. They produce pouches, sachets, high-barrier films, and various laminations. Capabilities include stick packs and stand-up pouches, offering design options such as matte or UV finishes, clear windows, and resealable zippers.
Sunshine FPC, Inc., based in Montebello, CA, manufactures flexible packaging solutions for the food industry and various other markets. With over 20 years of experience, they specialize in compostable and biodegradable green packaging, recognized for quality.
Based in Euless, TX, Tejas manufactures flexible packaging solutions, primarily serving the nutraceutical industry. The company offers a variety of products including custom pouches, high-performance films, and specialty bags. Tejas focuses on delivering fast, reliable, and cost-effective packaging that enhances visual appeal and optimizes speed to market for clients.
Based in Los Angeles, CA, United Film Solutions manufactures USA-made stretch films and packaging supplies. The company, operating since 1997, provides eco-friendly solutions designed to enhance efficiency and reduce costs for businesses across all 50 states. It focuses on innovative packaging technologies for a wide customer base.
Vistaprint provides custom flexible packaging solutions, including stand-up and flat pouches, designed to preserve and display products. They offer various sizes, materials, and finishes with full-color printing capabilities for brands in sectors such as food, beauty, health, and supplements.
Pactiv Evergreen manufactures a wide array of fresh food and beverage packaging solutions. Based in Lake Forest, IL, the company leverages broad material expertise and an extensive network of 50+ manufacturing facilities across North America to produce over 14,000 unique products for diverse customer needs.
Based in Buffalo Grove, IL, PPC Flex manufactures advanced flexible packaging solutions. They provide a wide variety of flexible bags, pouches, rollstock, reclosable, and cleanroom stock packaging, plus prototype services. PPC Flex serves diverse markets including food, healthcare, petcare, nutraceuticals, fresh produce, and floral industries.
Sealed Air develops and manufactures flexible film packaging solutions for diverse applications, including food and protective packaging. Their product portfolio features brands like CRYOVAC, BUBBLE WRAP, and AUTOBAG. They provide barrier bags, e-commerce solutions, and options with recycled content, serving various industrial and commercial needs.
ABC Packaging Direct manufactures custom flexible packaging, offering stand-up pouches, flat pouches, and roll stock solutions. They provide diverse material options including clear, foil, biodegradable, and recyclable films. Customization features encompass spouts, zippers, and hang holes, with production capabilities both domestically and overseas.
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How to Choose a Company
- Verify the manufacturer's converting capabilities align with your desired package format, specifically asking about their experience with stand-up pouches, spouted pouches, or reclosable features like zippers. Confirm they have the proper equipment for your desired web width and can consistently hold tight tolerances on seal integrity and pouch dimensions.
- For any food, beverage, or pharmaceutical product, prioritize manufacturers with recognized food safety certifications like SQF (Safe Quality Food) or BRC (British Retail Consortium) Global Standard for Packaging Materials. If sustainability is a priority, inquire about FSC certified options for paper-based laminations or their capabilities with post-consumer recycled (PCR) films.
- Thoroughly discuss your product's specific shelf life requirements and how the manufacturer will validate the proposed barrier properties. A reputable supplier should offer in-house OTR and MVTR testing data for their film structures and be able to provide data or recommendations for accelerated shelf-life studies.
- Beware of manufacturers who quote extremely low overall MOQs without specifying minimum order quantities by SKU for printed film. Flexible packaging often involves significant setup costs for print plates (flexographic) or cylinders (rotogravure), which are amortized across individual SKUs, leading to surprisingly high unit costs for small runs of each unique design.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I accurately specify the barrier properties my flexible packaging needs?
Specifying barrier properties begins with understanding your product's sensitivity to oxygen and moisture, which directly impacts shelf life. You'll need to define target Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR) and Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) values. Most manufacturers will assist in this by analyzing your product, its intended shelf life, and storage conditions. They should then propose film lamination structures designed to meet these specific OTR and MVTR targets, often backing up claims with internal testing data.
What are realistic lead times and minimum order quantities (MOQs) for custom printed flexible packaging?
Lead times for custom printed flexible packaging typically range from 8-16 weeks for initial orders, primarily due to the time required for artwork approval, print plate/cylinder creation, material sourcing, and production scheduling. Repeat orders can be shorter, often 4-8 weeks. Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) vary widely by print method and package format. Digitally printed rollstock might start around 500-1,000 linear feet, while flexographic printed stand-up pouches could require 10,000-25,000 units per SKU or more, reflecting the significant upfront tooling costs.
What packaging considerations are crucial if my product requires post-filling processes like hot-fill, retort, or freezing?
If your product undergoes hot-fill, retort (heat sterilization), freezing, or other thermal processes after packaging, the film's lamination structure and seal integrity become paramount. For hot-fill or retort, you need films designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures without delamination or seal failure, often requiring specialized adhesives and material layers. For freezing, the film must remain flexible and resist cracking at sub-zero temperatures. Always clearly communicate these post-filling processes to your manufacturer, as they dictate material selection and sealing parameters, profoundly impacting package performance and product safety.