Layflat tubing packaging guide

Layflat tubing is made from a continuous tube of polythene on a roll.

It is is ideal for packaging long 'difficult to wrap' items. Items can be inserted into layflat tubing which is then cut to the required length. The ends can be heat sealed, tied, stapled or taped shut to create made to measure bags.

Layflat tubing is made from low density polyethylene film.

Polythene layflat sheeting is widely used to provide all year round tunnelling cover for green houses in commercial agriculture, forestry and gardening. The sheeting uses high quality raw material to ensures high transparency. Polythene sheeting offers protection against ultraviolet rays. Composting cover polythene sheeting is extremely robust against mechanical damage, resistant to compost acids and withstands aging caused by sun light.

Common usages of polythene layflat sheeting include:

• Dust sheets
• Protecting pallets of goods.
• Temporary floor covering.
• Temporary roofing covers.
• Water tight isolation of tanks and reservoirs.
• Water proofing of various building partitions.
• Underlays to provide smooth base for flooring.
• Temporary protection of materials on building sites.
• Wrapping goods in storage or transit.
• Protecting furniture and floors while decorating.
• Outdoor tasks such building work, plant protection, ground work, greenhouses etc.

The thickness of polythene sheeting is expressed in gauge or microns. Gauge was the traditional imperial measurement of polythene thickness. Gauge has now been replaced by micron as the European metric standard. The higher the gauge/microns the thicker the polythene.

Black polythene will deteriorate at a much slower rate when exposed to sunlight.

Black absorbs more light and is naturally hotter than clear polythene.

Black polythene can be used to warm soil in frosty seasons. Black polythene is used by gardeners to kill weeds simply by covering them and starving them of sunlight. Black polythene sheets are effective at clearing a garden overrun by growth.

Black polythene is used for temporary waterproofing.

Black polythene can be used as temporary drainage systems on site.

Black polythene can be used as dust covers.

Heavy duty black polythene is used for construction. Concrete curing and covering. Black polythene is used to protect concrete during curing. Concrete is sensitive to temperature and moisture changes. Covering wet concrete with black polythene sheets means that moisture cannot escape and rain cannot get in.

You are almost certainly going to need to do is find a way of sealing the poly bags once you have filled them. Many bags have their own self seal system, such as grip seal polythene bags. These bags are especially useful if the bags are going to be opened on a regular basis. If you need a strong closure that you want to ensure will stay closed until it reaches the end user then the most practical answer is to use an impluse heat sealer. And with polythene layflat tubing, you can make your own plastic packaging bags.

Layflat tubing is a long roll of flat cylindrical polythene which can be cut to exactly the length you need it. We sell layflat tubing from 2" to 48", so there’s plenty of scope for different sized content. The width of layflat tubing is measured folded flat. To calculate the diameter of a particular layflat size, multiply the width by 0.6364. There is a lot of choice in terms of the strength of the plastic, with thicknesses available from 250 gauge to extra heavy duty 500 gauge tubing.

Use following steps to make your own poly bags:

• Cut your layflat tubing to the plastic bag size required.
• Seal one end so that whatever you put in does not fall straight out the bottom.
• Use an impulse heat sealer. This uses heat to melt the two sides of plastic together, creating a strong seam once it cools back down again. Start with the temperature control set very low, keep raising it slowly until you find the lowest temperature that will seal the bag. If you set the controls too high, you will need to replace parts on your sealer much more often. You will need a lower temperature for small bags, whereas thick, large polythene bags will need quite a high temperature to get effectively sealed. Once the bottom has been sealed, your bag is ready to be filled with whatever you want to fill it with.

This is a quick and cost effective way of making the polythene packaging bags that are just right for your product.

• What are the advantages of layflat tubing?

  The no need for a large inventory poly bags. Layflat tubing is great for packaging products that have odd sizes.

• Is layflat tubing water tight?

  Layflat tubing isn't completely airtight. However layflat tubing is fully watertight.

• Can I use layflat tubing for wrapping and freezing foods?

  Polythene is temperature stable down to domestic deep freeze levels. Therefore layflat tubing can be used for freezing food.

• Can I use layflat as air-ducting?

  Layflat tubing is commonly used as cheap air-ducting.

• Can I make my own bags from layflat tubing?

  Yes. You will need a heat sealer with a cutter. If you are packing components of various lengths with a common width layflat tubing is the ideal solution. Layflat tubing saves stocking loads of different bags.

• What duty should I use to pack steel angle-iron?

  Medium duty is not tough enough to hold the angle-iron. Heavy duty layflat tubing will be OK.

• What duty should I use for packing curtains?

  Medium duty layflat tubing will be OK. If shipping by carriers use heavy duty layflat tubing.