Grip seal bags
What are grip seal bags?
Grip seal bags are reusable plastic bags. They feature a simple seal at the top of the bag that opens and closes with a simple squeeze, allowing the bag to be used time and time again.
The grip seal makes the bags waterproof and protects the contents from external contamination such as dust and dirt, making them very handy for storing all types of contents, from documents to haberdashery goods to nuts and bolts.
How grip seals work
The grip seal that gives the bag its name comprises a plastic strip on opposite sides of the bag’s opening. One strip features a single plastic ridge (male) running across the full width of the bag, while the other strip feature a double plastic strip (female).
The male ridge slots neatly inside the female ridge and, with a simple squeeze along its length, the seal shuts, making the bag waterproof and contamination-proof.
To open the seal, you simply take one side of the bag in your right hand (between thumb and forefinger) and the other side in your left hand, before giving both sides a gentle pull. The grip of the male and female ridges comes loose and the bag fully opens, allowing you to access or replace the contents before using the bag all over again.
Grip seal bags - what size do you need?
Also known as minigrip bags, gripper bags or self-seal bags, grip seal bags are available in a range of sizes and can cater for a wide range of contents.
Standard bag sizes start out at around 3cm x 6cm and go up to 38cm x 50cm, which means they cater for a wide range goods and products of all shapes and sizes, for either storage or transportation.
Anything from thousands of the tiniest beads or just a single pair of shoes - whatever you need to store, there is more than likely a grip seal bag that is just what you need.
The benefits of mini grip bags
Mini grip bags would be a handy addition to your house, office, garage or garden shed for a number of reasons, including:
- They are simple to use
- No ties or bag clips required to seal the bag
- Protect contents from contamination
- There is a wide range of sizes available
- They extend the shelf life of food
- They are freezer safe
- They are easy to clean
- They can be reused time after time
Specialist minigrip bags
On top of all of the standard benefits offered by regular grip seal bags (as detailed above), some specialist minigrip bags also offer particular benefits for certain uses. Some of those in question are as follows:
- Heavy duty grip seal bags - tougher bags for storing heavy, sharp or awkwardly-shaped objects, with added peace of mind that the bag won’t rip or tear
- Coloured grip seal bags - perfect for quick and simple categorisation, allowing quick and easy retrieval of stored items
- Labelled grip seal bags - write the contents of the bag on the label to remind you what’s inside
- Specimen bags - ideal for medical professionals, police officers and forensic experts alike, pop your specimen in this bag and write on the label it the attached pouch
- Antistatic bags - see detailed information below
Antistatic grip seal bags
Antistatic grip seal bags, also known as conductive grip seal bags, protect tiny electrical components from any possible damage caused by the build-up of electrostatic discharge (ESD) or static electricity.
How do antistatic grip seal bags work?
If delicate electrical components come into contact with ESD, they are at risk of permanent damage. Placing the components in an antistatic grip seal bag provides them with protection from the static electricity, as the electricity doesn’t make it past the bag itself. Instead, the antistatic grip seal bag acts as a Faraday cage, which dissipates all of the electricity, moving it around the bag layer that surrounds the component, rather than touching the component itself.
Where can I buy grip seal bags?
Manufacturers and suppliers of grip seal bags include:
Mini Grip Bags
Online retailer of a full line of reclosable packaging solutions. Used by many retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers alike due to their high quality and reliability. Mini Grip Bags' innovative products offer great solutions for storage, protection and advertising.
www.minigripbags.co.uk
Grip Seal Bags
GripSealBags.com are specialists on all self-seal bags, including grip seal, mini grip and zipper bags. Includes a fantastic range of information on all types of self-seal bags, including an explanation of the terminology of grip seal bags and details of how they work.
www.gripsealbags.com
Grip Seal Bags
A very useful site for any individual or business looking for information on grip seal bags. Includes details of different types of self-seal bags and a list of manufacturers from where to source your own grip seal, self-seal or zip lock bags.
www.gripsealbags.co
Grip Bags
Grip Bags bring you all the information you could wish for if you are looking to buy grip seal bags. Contains details on minigrip, ziplock and self-seal bags, a list of grip seal bag manufacturers for you to choose from and lots of useful details on eco friendly packaging.
www.gripbags.co.uk
Research & Resources
For more detailed information about grip seal bags, including how they are manufactured and the different types of grip seal bags available, please visit:
Goldstork: Free "best of the web" directory, where you will find hand-picked information and websites specialising in grip seal bags.
PlasticBags.uk.com: Free web directory specialising in polythene packaging. Submit your product listings for free or browse for useful grip seal bags websites.
PackagingKnowledge: Read in-depth information and news about the flexible plastic packaging industry including this article on grip seal bags.
Danger! High voltage!
It has been suggested that Electric Six wrote their successful 2003 song ‘Danger! High Voltage!’ after spending a day in a room with a particularly thick shag-pile carpet.
Rumour has it that the band were putting autographed photos into grip seal bags and sending them to fan clubs around the country, when moving around on the thick carpet led to high levels of static electricity flying round the room and the inspiration for the following lyrics:
Danger! Danger! High Voltage
When we touch, when we kiss!
Danger! Danger! High Voltage
When we touch, when we kiss,
When we touch, when we kiss!
Thankfully, autographed photographs are not at risk from electrostatic discharge, so standard grip seal bags were perfectly adequate for the job in hand. However, had they been sending electronic components to their fans instead, then they would have had to use antistatic grip seal bags, otherwise it would really have been a case of “Danger! Danger!”
Interesting facts about Grip Seal Bags
Grip Seal Bags
A grip seal bag is optimal judged by how reliably it protects small items through handling, not by how simple it sees. The small interlocking strip has to close cleanly, grasp without slipping, and open again without tearing the bag body, particularly when the contents are sharp-edged, oily, or packed in a rush at a busy bench. Gauge matters here, because a flimsy film can split amid filling or rub through in transit, while a heavier film adds confidence nevertheless may take up more space in a carton. That balance affects picking, packing, and returns.
A grip-seal bag is a superb fit for fine powder handling because it retains material contained, tidy and easy to reopen without ripping the pack apart. With something like dye powder, the bag does above make storage tidy: it gives a basic barrier against damp and stops dust drifting away amid picking, packing and transport. The packaging supplierble lip also assists on the shop floor, where operatours may open the pack, take a measured amount and close it again without messing up the seal. That assists maintain product quality and retains the work area cleaner, which saves time later.
Grip Seal Bags Plain
A plain grip seal bag in a 115 x 115mm format suits small parts that need fast packing and controlled access. The compact square size retains contents tidy on the shelf and assists batch control when items are counted out for despatch or production issue. Grip seal closures are useful because they open and close cleanly without additional equipment, which saves time on the shop floor and reduces the chance of pollution from loose ties or polythene suppliers. The plain stop also makes the bag easy to label, barcode, or insert into a secondary pack. For fast-moving stock, that combination of simple handling and tidy presentation normally works well.
A grip-seal bag relies on proper converting, not only on the plastic used to make it. If the zipper profile drifts even slightly, the closure can see tidy at packing stage and then beginning leaking, snagging, or opening unevenly once the pack is handled in dispatch or opened a few times on shelf. Clean web tension and the proper seal temperature retain the zip straight, while sharp cutting leaves edges that sit evenly and do not pull the closure out of line. That sort of control reduces rejects and retains the pack looking tidy through the rest of the supply chain.
Grip Seal Bag Transparent 102 x 140 mm 1000 Pieces
Grip seal bags are a simple method to retain small parts together without adding much weight or bulk. The interlocking top lets a packer close the bag fast, then open it again without tearing the film, which suits fast-moving picking lines and workshop storage. Clear polythene suppliers also assists with stock control because contents can be checked at a glance, so labels, screws, samples, or fittings do not need to be opened all time. Where the bag is written on, the marking stays with the contents instead of needing a separate tag that can drop off. That makes identification easier and reduces the chance of misplaced items.
A grip-seal bag is a sensible method to retain a small sticker pack together without turning the job into overpacking. The packaging supplierble strip grasps the contents flat, so labels are less likely to curl, select up dust, or drift loose amid handling and storage. Clear film also assists staff spot the proper stock fast at picking or packing, which matters when small items are mixed on a busy shelf or in a dispatch area. Used well, the bag gives light protection and cleaner presentation while adding very small material, so it suits products that need tidy secondary packing.
