Perforation on Reel (POR) Bags, UK Made

A reel of polythene bags on the perforating line ready for line-side packing

At a glance

Key points

Bags come joined on a reel and tear off one at a time at the perforation
Gauges from 15 to 50 micron, made to your lay-flat width and length
Reels wound to the core size and diameter your dispenser or machine takes
Plain, coloured or printed to your artwork
Extruded and converted in house at our Blackburn factory

Perforation on reel (POR) bags specification
Gauge	15–50mu
Material	Polythene, extruded and converted in house. Recycled grades available.
Sizes	Made to order to your lay-flat width and bag length
Colours and print	Clear, natural or coloured. Plain or printed to your artwork.
Supplied as	Perforated bags on reels, wound to your core size and reel diameter
Lead time	Typically 2 to 3 weeks for bespoke runs, quicker on repeat and standard specifications
Minimum order	Varies by product and gauge. One-off bespoke trials supported.

What are perforation on reel (POR) bags?

Perforation on reel bags, usually shortened to POR bags, are polythene bags produced as a continuous run and wound onto a reel, with a line of perforations between each bag. The packer pulls the next bag forward, fills it and tears it off at the perforation, so there is no loose stack of bags on the bench and no time lost separating one bag from the next.

We extrude the film and convert it into reels at our factory in Blackburn. That means the bag size, the gauge and the perforation are all set to suit your job rather than to a stock format.

How do I specify perforation on reel bags?

To specify perforation on reel (POR) bags we need the lay-flat width and the length of the finished bag, the gauge (we make POR bags from 15 to 50 micron), the colour and the quantity. If the bags run on a machine or a bench dispenser, tell us the core size and the largest reel diameter it takes so the reel fits the holder.

Print is optional, and we print to your artwork. Bags can be clear, natural or made in a colour, and recycled grades are available across much of what we produce. If you are replacing an existing reel, a sample or the old specification sheet is the quickest way to get a like-for-like quote.

How are POR bags used on a packing line?

Perforation on reel (POR) bags are mounted on a bench-top stand, a wall dispenser or a bagging machine, and the operator draws each bag off the reel in turn. Because the bags stay joined until they are torn off, they keep their order, stay clean on the reel and get dropped or wasted far less than loose bags tipped out of a box.

They suit repetitive packing where speed matters, such as order picking, kitting and small parts bagging. If your bags run on automatic equipment, send the machine details with your enquiry so the reel is made to suit it.

What gauge do I need for POR bags?

POR bags are made from 15 to 50 micron. Lighter gauges suit small, light and smooth items where the bag only has to keep dust and handling marks off the product. Heavier gauges suit bulkier or sharper contents, and anything that has to survive a trip through a distribution network.

If you are not sure, tell us what goes in the bag, how heavy it is and how the packs are handled afterwards. We can adjust strength, elasticity, slip and stiffness when we extrude the film, so it is often possible to get the performance you need without simply going thicker.

Common applications for perforation on reel (POR) bags

Warehouse order picking and despatch
E-commerce fulfilment and returns packing
Small parts and fixings bagging
Automotive and engineering component packing
Garment, textile and accessory packing
Print, stationery and paper finishing
Horticulture and nursery plant packing
Third-party logistics and contract packing

Questions

Perforation on reel (POR) bags FAQs

Do perforation on reel bags work with automatic bagging machines?

Yes, POR bags are made to run on automatic and semi-automatic bagging equipment as well as by hand. The reel has to match the machine, so tell us the core size, the maximum reel diameter and the bag size the machine is set for. Send the machine make and model with your enquiry and we will make the reel to suit it.

What is the difference between POR bags and loose polythene bags in a box?

POR bags stay joined on a reel until the packer tears one off, while loose bags sit in a box and have to be separated by hand. The reel is faster on a repetitive line, keeps the bags clean and in order, and cuts the number that get dropped or double-picked. Loose bags still make sense for low volumes or for mixed sizes on the same bench.

Will the perforations tear cleanly without pulling the next bag off the reel?

That comes down to matching the perforation to the film, which is set when we convert the reel. A perforation that is right for 15 micron film is not right for 50 micron, so we set it against the gauge and bag size you order. If a clean single-handed tear is critical on your line, ask for a trial reel before you commit to a full run.

Can POR bags be printed with our logo?

Yes, we print POR bags to your artwork as part of the manufacturing run. Send the artwork with your enquiry along with the bag size and the number of colours you want, and tell us where on the bag the print needs to sit. Printed bags are made to order, so allow for that when you plan your first order.