Product positioning

BOPP Film (3-75 Microns) is a general-purpose biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film. It is produced for buyers who need a film that runs predictably on existing converting equipment and that can be specified in writing against a technical data sheet before the first production run.

Search termsa general-purpose biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) film

How this page is organised

The page moves from grade identity to construction, then to the figures that must be fixed in an order, then to processing, packing and the information needed to place an enquiry. Each section can be read on its own or in sequence.

Figures quoted on this page are reference values taken from the manufacturer's own technical documentation. The order confirmation and the attached technical agreement define the binding specification, and where the two differ the agreement prevails.

Where the grade name alone does not identify a specification, use the product code quoted on the page together with the enquiry checklist in the last section. That combination removes the most common cause of a delayed reply: a specification that was agreed in an earlier conversation but not restated in writing.

Construction

The grade is built as a biaxially oriented polypropylene core with balanced surface treatment on one or both faces for printing, lamination or heat sealing. Layer order, surface treatment and the face intended for printing, sealing or lamination are set out in the technical data sheet and confirmed against the converter's process before production.

What is controlled at the plant

• haze and gloss
• heat shrinkage
• seal strength and seal-start temperature
• coefficient of friction
• surface treatment level (dyne)
• thickness and grammage uniformity

Each production lot is checked against the specification before it is released for packing, and the check record is issued with the shipment documentation.

In practice, the layer structure is what determines how the film behaves on the line: it decides how the film unwinds, how it takes ink or adhesive, and how sealed areas hold. A converter who changes the structure changes the process conditions that worked before, so the structure should be fixed before the line trial, not after it.

Typical values

How the specification is fixed

Thickness, reel width, reel length, core diameter and the surface treatment level are set per grade. Physical-property figures are supplied as guide values for grade selection; the values agreed in the order confirmation and the attached technical agreement govern supply, and a tolerance band is agreed at the same time.

A tolerance band is agreed alongside the nominal figure because it is the band, not the nominal number, that determines whether a reel runs cleanly through a given machine. The nominal value selects the grade; the tolerance decides whether the line accepts it.

Specification referencesBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) specificationBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) technical data sheetBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) thicknessBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) width

Typical applications

Applications for this grade include flexible packaging for dry goods and snacks, overwrapping and flow-wrap packing, label and wrap films, printed bags and pouches, cigarette and tobacco packaging film. The right grade for a given pack depends on the converting route, the sealing method, the shelf-life target and any regulatory requirement for direct food contact.

Application areasflexible packaging for dry goods and snacksoverwrapping and flow-wrap packinglabel and wrap filmsprinted bags and pouchescigarette and tobacco packaging filmlaminating base film for paper and film

What each route requires

Each of these routes asks something different from the film. Printing needs surface energy and a stable surface; lamination needs bond strength and a stable web; heat sealing needs a defined seal window; and packaging that is filled hot needs barrier performance. The same nominal film can behave very differently across these routes, which is why the application should be stated when the grade is selected.

Selecting the right grade

Where more than one grade appears to fit, the deciding factors are usually the converted performance needed on the line, the pack contents and the applicable regulations. Samples can be supplied for trial before a specification is confirmed.

Converting route

This grade is normally processed through slitting and rewinding, flexo and gravure printing, adhesive lamination, thermoforming and bag making, corona treatment. Treated face, sealing temperature window, tension and line speed should be matched to the actual machine during trials, and a trial reel is recommended before a production run.

Processing stepsslitting and rewindingflexo and gravure printingadhesive laminationthermoforming and bag makingcorona treatmenthigh-speed automatic packing

Why a trial reel is worth the time

The trial reel is the cheapest way to settle a specification. It exposes the questions that a datasheet cannot answer — how the web behaves at the speed of the line, whether the treated face runs in the right direction, and whether the material holds a seal or takes ink cleanly on this particular machine. A short trial reel answers all three before a full order is committed.

Before the trial starts

Before the trial, it is worth confirming the treated face, the corona level, the core size and the unwind direction against the machine. These four items are the ones most often left to assumption, and each of them can stop a line without touching the film quality at all.

Why converters choose this grade

• balanced mechanical properties in both directions
• good printability after corona treatment
• wide gauge range from thin overwrap to heavy-duty film
• good dimensional stability on the roll
• consistent haze for shelf appeal
• option for pearlised, metallised and matte finishes

Packing and identification

Reels are wound on the specified core, wrapped, labelled with the roll label shown below and packed in cartons on pallets for transport. Each reel carries its own roll number and batch mark, and cartons and pallets are marked to match the packing list so that incoming goods can be checked on arrival.

Storage and handling

Storage should be dry, shaded and away from heat sources and direct sunlight. Stock should be used in rotation order so that older reels are consumed first. Handling marks on the label follow the export packing standard and apply to the reel as well as to the carton.

Why the roll label matters

The roll label shown below is not decoration: it is the record that ties a physical reel to its specification, and it is what makes a complaint traceable. Keeping the original polyethylene wrapping until the reel is opened protects the edge from damage and keeps dust off the surface, which on thin grades can show up as pinholes in a downstream coating. Rolls that have been unwrapped and re-wrapped should be declared, because the second wrap does not restore the original protection.

On arrival, a quick check against the packing list is worthwhile: reel count, roll numbers, core and width against the order, and the condition of the outer packaging. A short inspection at goods-in is cheaper than discovering a shortage after the line has been set up.

Packing referencesBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) packingBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) roll labelBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) export packing

How an order is confirmed

Available gauge, width, length, packing method and delivery schedule are confirmed in writing against each enquiry. Minimum order quantity, lead time, the documents accompanying the shipment and the payment terms are agreed before the order is placed, so that both sides work from the same written record.

Commercial points are settled in writing for a practical reason: film orders are usually produced against a confirmed specification, and a change of gauge, width or reel length after production starts cannot be absorbed. Written confirmation before the order is placed is what keeps the schedule and the specification aligned.

Documents that can be supplied

• food contact compliance where applicable
• RoHS and REACH declarations
• batch test reports and certificates of analysis
• recyclability guidance by local regulation

Reading the lead time

Delivery times should be read as production windows rather than fixed dates, because they depend on the specification being confirmed, the line schedule and the quantity. Where a date is fixed — a promotion, a shipping deadline or a trial date — say so in the enquiry and it can be planned against.

Commercial referencesBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) MOQBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) lead timeBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) supplier

Points usually confirmed before ordering

These are the points that come up most often before an order is placed. Each answer refers to the figures and documents shown elsewhere on this page, so a buyer can check the wording against the specification before writing.

• Which gauges, widths and reel lengths are available for this grade, and are they held in stock or made to order?
• Is the film suitable for the specific machine and application, and can a trial reel be supplied for line trials?
• Which technical documents, test reports and compliance statements can be issued with the shipment?
• What are the minimum order quantity, lead time and packing arrangements for the required quantity?
• Which port of loading and delivery terms apply for the destination?

Related grades

Grades used on the same converting lines are listed with this page so that a buyer can compare construction and specification before selecting. Test reports, compliance certificates and material safety data sheets are issued per shipment and can be requested in advance when an incoming-goods procedure requires them.

Comparing grades on the same line is useful for a second reason: it narrows the conversation. If the alternatives and their differences are already documented, the enquiry can start from a shortlist instead of from a blank specification, and the reply can be faster and more precise.

Documents

Documents are issued per shipment. If your incoming-goods procedure requires a document before the goods arrive, say so in the enquiry and it can be sent in advance.

Related searchesBOPP Film (Polypropylene film)flexible packaging for dry goods and snacksoverwrapping and flow-wrap packinglabel and wrap filmsprinted bags and pouches

Enquiry checklist

Please state the grade and product code, the required thickness, width, reel length and core, the treated face, the intended machine and application, the quantity, the packing requirement, the destination and the required delivery date. These details allow a written confirmation to be prepared without repeated clarification.

• Grade and product code
• Thickness and width
• Reel length and core size
• Treated face
• Machine and application
• Quantity and packing
• Destination and delivery date
• Required documents

The three details most often missed

A complete first enquiry is the fastest route to a written confirmation. The items that most often have to be asked for again are the treated face, the core size and the reel length, because they are frequently assumed rather than stated — and each of them changes what can be offered.

Enquiry referencesBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) enquiryBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) quotationBOPP Film (3-75 Microns) price