Buy tubular film – LDPE on a roll for bag production, industry & food

Tubular film is a seamlessly extruded LDPE film tube, already closed on its two long sides. You only seal the top and bottom – and your custom bag is ready. The standard semi-finished product for packaging machines, bakery liners and industrial packaging.

In the range on a roll as the standard delivery form, food-grade to EU 10/2011, extra strong for big-bag liners, transparent for visual packaging and cut to size as custom production.

Wall thicknesses 30–200 microns, standard widths 100–800 mm, on a 76 mm cardboard core. A detailed guide to self-production in the film bag guide.

Shipping from our German warehouse. Ask us for samples before your first order.

Shipping & delivery

Film rolls are shipped by the pallet or individually from our German warehouse. For special sizes, the delivery time is agreed individually. Free shipping from €200 net within Germany.

What is tubular film?

Tubular film is a seamless plastic film in tube form. It is supplied extruded closed on two sides – you only need to seal the top and bottom to obtain a finished bag.

The standard material is LDPE (low-density polyethylene) – flexible, tear-resistant, recyclable. On request also in HDPE, recycled LDPE (GRS-certified) or food-grade to EU 10/2011. More in the PE tube guide.

What is tubular film used for?

  • Your own bag production: unroll, cut, seal – done
  • Machine processing: for packaging machines on a roll
  • Industry: protective film for semi-finished products, machine parts
  • Box liners: moisture protection for shipping
  • Corrosion protection: metal parts against moisture
  • Food: vacuum packing, bakery liners, take-away
  • Collective packaging: bundling small parts

Which tubular film variants are there?

Advantages of tubular film

  • Your own bag production: any size you want can be made in-house.
  • Cost-efficient at large quantities.
  • Available food-grade to EU 10/2011.
  • Various thicknesses: 40 to 200 microns depending on the application.
  • Machine-compatible: 76 mm inner core standard, special sizes possible.
  • Recyclable: LDPE single-type in the recycling collection.
  • Sustainable options: made of recycled LDPE (GRS).
  • Fast shipping from our German warehouse.

Material properties of tubular films in detail

Tubular films are endless PE tubes on a roll that are individually cut and closed into bags. The material thickness and film type determine the application area and processability.

LDPE 50 microns — standard transparent variant

Low-density polyethylene, flexible, clear, cost-efficient. The standard for light packaging: textiles, shipping packing, protective storage bags. Up to approx. 1 kg fill weight.

LDPE 100–150 microns — extra strong

Reinforced material thickness for heavy or sharp-edged contents: tools, metal parts, industrial goods. Higher puncture and tear resistance. The standard for commercial shipping and storage applications.

LDPE 200 microns — industrial grade

Maximum material thickness for heavy-duty applications: bulk goods, industrial components, logistics packaging with a high impact and tear risk. Suitable for large quantities and storage packing.

HDPE — vest-bag look

High-density polyethylene film with a crisp look and high tear resistance at a low material thickness. Suitable for light packaging with high puncture resistance.

Food-grade variant

LDPE tubular films certified to EU 10/2011 for direct food contact. Declaration of conformity on request. Suitable for baked goods, fruit, vegetables and fresh food packing.

Application workflow

Tubular film is cut to the desired length at the end and closed by heat sealing. This makes content-specific bag sizes possible without keeping various bag formats in stock.

Material comparison at a glance

VariantMaterialThickness / propertyTypical application
StandardLDPE50 microns, clear, up to approx. 1 kgTextiles, shipping, protective bags
Extra strongLDPE100–150 microns, puncture-resistantTools, metal, commercial shipping
Industrial gradeLDPE200 microns, heavy-dutyBulk goods, industrial logistics
Vest-bag lookHDPEthin & tear-resistantLight packaging with puncture protection

Individual customisation — film thickness, width and packing

Tubular films are produced in almost any widths and material thicknesses — the most flexible film packing in the range.

Material thickness

Freely selectable film thicknesses from 30 microns to 250 microns LDPE, in 10-micron steps. Choice according to contents: light textiles 50 microns, medium-heavy industrial goods 100 microns, sharp-edged or heavy 150–200 microns.

Tube width

Tube widths from 50 mm to 1,500 mm possible. Standard roll length 100–500 m, depending on material thickness and roll diameter. For machine packing with a length stop we supply to specification.

Printing

Printing in flexo printing with up to 6 colours is possible, but rarely required in practice, as tubular film is mostly used unprinted for internal packing.

Minimum order quantity

Minimum quantity and delivery time on request. Send an enquiry.

Sustainability — tubular films and PE recycling

Tubular films made of pure LDPE are mono-material and fully recyclable in the PE stream.

Mono-PE recycling

Pure LDPE tubular film is classified as polyethylene by near-infrared detection (NIR) in German sorting plants and fed into the PE recycling stream. For commercial use, collection via a film collection system (e.g. Interzero, Reclay).

Recyclate tubular film

On request we process post-consumer recyclate with shares of 30–80 %. Recyclate tubular film is cost-efficient and ecologically advantageous, but not approved for food contact.

PPWR compliance

Tubular films already meet the EU Packaging Regulation today, as they are mono-material. Recyclable printing inks to the RecyClass design guideline on request.

Material efficiency through optimal dimensioning

Tubular film is material-efficient, as the bag length can be cut precisely to the contents — no standardised bag size with material loss at partial filling. Advice on optimal dimensioning on request.

Frequently asked questions about tubular film

What is tubular film?

Tubular film is a seamless plastic film in tube form, produced by blown extrusion. Already closed on its two long sides – you only seal the top and bottom and you have a bag. Synonyms: PE tube, film tube, LDPE tubular film.

How is tubular film produced?

By the blown film process: PE granulate is melted at 180–220 °C, pressed through a ring die and inflated from the inside with air. The cooled film bubble is laid flat and wound onto a roll.

Which inner core does the roll have?

The standard is a 76 mm cardboard core. For special machines we supply other inner core diameters on request.

Which widths and lengths are available?

Width (laid flat) typically 100–800 mm, special sizes up to 1,500 mm. Length 200–1,000 m depending on the thickness. Order the exact variant you need → tubular film on a roll or cut to size.

Which thicknesses are there?

30–60 microns (light), 60–100 microns (standard), 100–200 microns (heavy) → extra strong. Also thinner (25 microns) or thicker (250+ microns) as custom production.

Is tubular film food-grade?

The standard is yes – certified to EU 10/2011 with a declaration of conformity. → food-grade variant. LFGB conformity on request.

How do I seal tubular film myself?

With a film sealing machine (impulse or bar sealer). Match the temperature and sealing time to the thickness – typically 3–5 seconds at 80 microns. A detailed guide in the film bag guide.

Tubular film vs. flat film – what is the difference?

Tubular film is seamlessly closed on its two long sides; flat film is an open web without a longitudinal seam. For bag production, tubular film is more efficient – only 2 instead of 3 seal seams are needed.

Can tubular film be vacuum-sealed?

Standard tubular film is not suitable for vacuum (too smooth). For vacuum applications you need structured vacuum film – as custom production.

Is tubular film freezer-suitable?

Yes – LDPE stays flexible down to approx. −50 °C. For frequent freeze-thaw cycles a thicker wall (80–120 microns) is recommended.

Is HDPE tubular film possible?

Yes – on request we supply HDPE tube for special applications with higher tear resistance per wall thickness.

Available with an aluminum laminate?

Pure tubular film is single-type PE. For aroma or UV protection we offer aluminum-laminated composite films as custom production – typical for coffee, tea, spices.

How many bags do I get from one roll?

Example: 200 mm width, 80 microns, 500 m roll, 30 cm bag length → approx. 1,665 bags per roll.

Delivery time and minimum quantity?

Standard tubular film is available from our German warehouse – fast shipping. Custom production is made individually; delivery time and minimum quantity on request.