Protective and Flexible Bags & Pouches

Bags and pouches are available to meet a wide range of needs. Some customers need a breathable pouch that will withstand the rigors of a sterilization process. Others require a strong bag to hold heavy devices. And everyone wants a package that resists tears and punctures—but still opens easily. Fortunately, the materials suitable for bags and pouches make it possible for all customers to obtain the packaging they need and a look they like.

High-performance PVC and polyolefin shrink bags are designed especially for medical and pharmaceutical packaging. Pouches and bags come in clear, tinted, and standard prints with custom printing also available. Sizes range from 1 to 4 mil in thickness and 20 to 900 mm in width. Traco Manufacturing, Orem, UT.

A company manufactures peel pouches, header bags, flat and square bags, rollstock, and lids in an FDA-registered facility. Custom die-cut insert cards are also available to hold products in place within an outer sterile barrier package, such as a peel pouch or header bag. The cards are made of polyethylene or polypropylene and can withstand sterilization. Beacon Converters Inc., Saddle Brook, NJ.

Leakproof zipper bags are designed to contain infectious liquids and safeguard hospitals, laboratories, or medical clinics from the spread of infection. The 3-mil Infecon bags feature a double-track zipper, reinforced side seals to prevent leakage, and a separate pouch to keep paperwork clean and dry. Custom products and volume discounts help customers meet specific packaging requirements. Associated Bag Co., Milwaukee, WI.

Pouches designed especially for the medical industry can withstand autoclave sterilization. The paper-and-film pouches are preformed and are tested to be safe in accordance with USP Class VI levels. Their breathability and moisture stability improve the flow of air and gases during prehumidification, vacuum, air washing, and poststerilization cycles. As a result, sterilizer creep, or seal fatigue, is neutralized. Oliver Products Co., Grand Rapids, MI.

Single- or double-seal polyethylene bags have a range of closures and fittings to meet the needs of pharmaceutical packagers. Applications include double-seal, liquid-tight containers and bottle holders. Laminates or coextrusions are available for products requiring a barrier film. Vonco Products Inc., Lake Villa, IL.

A company has expertise in barrier protection for a variety of products. Bags and pouches protect against oxidation, thermal shock, and other events that can harm contents. Technical personnel are available to help customers create protective, economical packages. FlexPrint Inc., Seabrook, NH.

A company offers a program to ensure a fast and convenient supply of materials to drug manufacturers for testing pouch-packaged pharmaceutical products. The Pharma-Pouch program offers a fast response to manufacturers for three critical testing steps: lab work, stability testing, and machinery validation. Pharma-Pouch specifications are available for packaging caplets, capsules, gel-caps, lotions, powders, and tablets. Sample quantities are available in as little as two weeks. The rollstock can be used on a variety of machines. Reynolds Metals Co., Richmond, VA.

Pouches are produced to satisfy any configuration. Tailor-made composites can be delivered to provide constructions suitable for any barrier requirement or sterilization method. Additional product features may include clear barrier films, peelable seals, tear notches, gussets, header strips, vents, and one- to six-color flexo printing. Rollprint Packaging Products Inc., Addison, IL.

Tyvek brand spunbonded olefin header bags are suited for custom procedural trays and other medical devices that require gas sterilization. The Kwikbreathe Header System permits maximum airflow through the bags' uncoated Tyvek headers, allowing for efficient gas sterilization. The bags are also compatible with radiation sterilization. Larger bags have a window that is designed to eliminate product pressure on opening seals. Bags open easily with a smooth, fiber-free peel. The company's standard header bag program offers price breaks based on the total dollar amount of an order rather than the quantity purchased per size. Samples are available. Kenpak Inc., Commerce, CA.