Stand-up pouches are a type of packaging used to package a wide range of products.
They are bags that, thanks to their particular structure, stand on their own.
It is their shape that makes them a particularly popular and flexible option on supermarket shelves, as they are able to make the pouch's graphics and brand stand out and capture the attention of consumers.
Competition to win customers' interest is always fiercer. Often, the quality of the product is identified with the quality of the packaging. It is therefore essential to create eye-catching packaging that stands out from the competition.
Stand-up pouch packaging is a viable option. Its many benefits make it one of the most popular solutions used by large retailers and the food industry.
An industry with excellent growth prospects and estimates, as shown by several industry studies.
According to Fortune Businees Insights, the market for stand-up pouches will grow at a CAGR of 7.89% in the near future. In fact, it is estimated that the sector will reach a valuation of USD 55 billion in 2030.
In this article we will analyse:
Despite its slim and lightweight appearance, each bag has a structure consisting of 2 or 3 layers of film laminated together. These are aligned and heat-sealed to form a combined multi-layer structure.
Each layer provides a protective barrier, protecting and preserving the contents from external factors.
The outer layer, depending on requirements, is generally composed of PET, OPP, NY, and KRAFT.
On the one hand, this communicates the brand and its promotional message, and on the other hand, it makes it more difficult to puncture the carton during handling. Furthermore, even in the event of a puncture, the tear is hardly likely to reach the contents of the product.
The middle layer provides a protective barrier. The choice of material used depends on the packaged product and thus the level of barrier needed.
The inner layer is extremely important, especially when used for food packaging. The inner layer is in fact the material that comes into contact with the product.
More and more people are switching from rigid to flexible packaging. Stand-up pouches are the flexible solution par excellence and have many advantages. In particular they stand out:
The unique shape and large printable area provide space to highlight branding elements, logos or promotional messages. Extensive customisation and flexibility allow brands to create eye-catching packaging that stands out from the competitors. The largest printable area of the bag is upright and customer-facing.
Packaging protects your items from contact with air, moisture, light and parasites. This helps to extend the freshness of the products and prevent possible external contamination. The puncture-resistant film also protects your products during transport. The resealable closures help to prolong the life of the food.
Protection from external agents guarantees the extension of product shelf life and freshness of the packaged product.
Stand-up pouches are one of the most versatile types of packaging. In fact, they are an excellent solution for the storage of a large number of products. Dried fruit, supplements, pet food, to name but a few.
They offer substantial savings in distribution and storage costs. Compared to traditional rigid packaging, they are lightweight and space saving. In fact, the packages can be easily piled up and stored in large quantities.
Flexible packaging uses less material, energy and water in its production. The packages can also be recyclable or biodegradable without affecting safety or quality. In additional, the reduced weight and more compact dimensions reduce fuel emissions during transport.
The flexible design, light weight and small footprint are particularly appreciated by customers. The possibility of catching a glimpse of the packaged product and the numerous customisation possibilities are other important elements. Resealable closures help to extend the life of food, reduce waste and improve the customer experience.
Stand-up pouch bags can be used to pack a wide range of products. Their versatility allows them to be adapted to various dimensions and shapes, making them suitable for packaging different types of products.
Depending on the type, its properties and the customer's requirements, we can differentiate between different types of packaging.
Some of the most popular stand-up pouches used in the flexible packaging sector are:
They are designed for high-end (premium) products.
The top of the bag can open fully on all four sides, greatly enhancing its effectiveness.
The flat bottom and vertical side gussets ensure stability and attractive display on shop shelves.
Doypack bags are usually made of materials that offer a good barrier against moisture, oxygen and light, thus protecting the contents from external agents. This type of packaging is often used for dry foodstuffs such as pet kibble, snacks, cereals, dried fruit and the like.
The closure of Doypack bags can vary, but they are often equipped with a zip or pressure seal that allows them to be closed even after opening to keep the freshness of the product longer.
These bags are popular for their practicality, ease of use and capacity to attract consumers' attention due to their distinctive shape.
These are bags with a side inward fold, known as a 'gusset', which allows the bag to expand when full. This design provides more capacity and interior space, allowing the bag to better accommodate a larger amount of products.
The gusset also extends to the bottom, allowing the bag to maintain a square or rectangular shape both when empty or semi-empty and when full.
Zippered reseaable bags are generally flexible bags made of materials such as plastic or laminated film. These bags are equipped with a zip fastener that allows them to be easily opened and resealed. They are used to package a variety of products, including food, chemicals, medicines and other goods.
The distinguishing feature of these bags is the presence of a zip fastener, which offers a more convenient opening and closing option than traditional sealed bags, once opened. This design allows users to access the contents of the bag several times without compromising the freshness or quality of the product. These are therefore practical solutions for product storage and distribution, providing effective protection against factors such as moisture, light and oxidation.
The great versatility of stand-up pouches makes an exhaustive classification of all its fields of application difficult.
Its use is widespread in various fields such as:
In line with market requirements and the evolution of packaging, we have developed a bagging machine specifically designed for Doypack bags.
The MF POUCH 3000 horizontal intermittent motion packaging machine is the ideal solution for small and medium-sized pre-formed bags. For high productivity.
It is particularly geared toward the food and pet food market considering its complete stainless steel structure.
The pet food sector is among the most suitable considering the possible presence of "open-and-close" systems such as center zippers, side zippers or self-adhesive stickers.
MF POUCH 1000, is a packaging machine model designed for smaller formats and for lower productions, up to 1000 bags/hour.
Quick changeover provides its unique use flexibility.
Ease of cleaning the parts in contact with the product instead maximum safety of use.
Electronic multi-head weighers or other dosing systems are combined with the packaging machine so as to ensure maximum efficiency and filling speed.
The "stepping" movement is achieved by means of a chain driven by brushless motors.
The filling of the bags takes place via a series of small unloading hoppers which can follow the packages as they move along a circular curve.
In pouch bag packaging, the bagging machine plays a key role, but it is not the only machinery involved. In fact, as is the case in all automatic packaging systems, it starts with transportation systems and weigher, and ends with secondary packaging (boxes or bundling machines) and palletising.
In the case of pouch bags, it is very common to use multi-head weigher, which are perfect for small sizes and medium to high throughputs. After primary packing, however, cardboard machines or shrink wrapping machines are often used to group and protect the bags.
At the end of the line, box palletisers and pallet wrappers are often used, which play a key role in keeping the created pallet stable.
We specialize in building complete packaging systems.
All our systems are designed, manufactured and tested internally at our headquarters in Italy.
Turnkey solutions including customized conveyor, weighing, packaging, robotic palletisers and end-of-line systems.
Choosing MF Tecno means relying on a trustworthy company, a partner that assists you in all phases of the project. From design to after-sales service.
You can see our stand up pouch packaging machines in action in the video below.
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