When it comes to the food industry, few things are as crucial as sealability—the ability for the film to close tight and keep its contents safe from outside elements. Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) film is ideally suited to this task due to the specialized features that set it apart from other films on the market.
So, what is BOPP film? Read on to learn about the innovative product and the features that have made it one of the leading films in the world.
What is BOPP film?
BOPP film gets its name from its manufacturing process. Raw materials are melted, cooled, and then stretched in two separate directions (hence the term biaxially oriented). This cross-direction technique results in a thinner film with high flexibility and strength.
The film is primarily used by fill, form, and seal machines, which use one single machine to:
- Take rolls of packaging film
- Shape them into a bag
- Fill the bag with a product such as chips
- Seal the bag
The benefit of these machines is their efficiency, allowing food manufacturers and other industries to create packets of product quickly. Why is BOPP film better suited than other types of film when using these machines? It seals better than the competition at a lower cost.
Also read: The Printed Film Applications Every Packaging Distributer Should Offer
What are the film’s other uses?
BOPP film’s sealability makes it ideal for food packaging, as well as replacing cellophane for applications such as cigarette packaging. In fact, the wrap has an ever-growing range of applications, such as:
- Medical-grade plastics
- Laboratory products
- Adhesive tapes
- Pressure-sensitive tapes
- Extrusion coating
- Textbook covers
The wide variety of its uses is one of the main reasons for the film’s popularity.
Does it have any other advantages?
BOPP film has many other features that contribute to its popularity, including:
- Oxygen and water vapor resistance: Its increased barrier properties to oxygen and water vapor mean stored products have a longer shelf life.
- Impact resistance: BOPP film is better able to resist impacts and punctures than competitors due to its high rigidity.
- High flexibility: The film is highly flexible, making it well-suited to rounded and flat surfaces.
- Paper thin: The manufacturing process makes it very thin, so graphics appear to be printed directly on the product.
- Superior clarity: A transparent finish makes the film an excellent option for beverages and retail packaging, but it can also be created with matte or white finishes.
- Elemental resistance: The film is designed to resist extreme temperatures and oil to reduce wrinkling and smearing, making it ideal for outdoor settings (enhanced further by ultraviolet (UV) protection).
These features combine to create an economical, protective, and flexible product.
Stretchtape BOPP film
Warehouse operators should be confident that the film they use protects their products. Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) film from Stretchtape offers superior tear and temperature fluctuation resistance while featuring industry-leading puncture resistance. Additional features include:
- High gloss transparency
- Moisture resistance
- Custom printing
Rely on Stretchtape for completely clear, matte, and white BOPP films, and take products to the next level with printing capabilities that set them apart from competitors.
Contact Stretchtape to find the best film for your sticker, labeling, or other needs by contacting an expert or calling us at 216-486-9400.