There seem to be as many myths as there are facts about your best options for

packing clothes long-term. Vacuum storage bags

are no exception to this and they endure an interesting reputation for the place they

hold in the world of closet organization and design. Let’s explore all those details

and nuances so we can get to the facts at the heart of the matter: do vacuum seal

bags ruin clothes?
What Are Vacuum Storage Bags?
Surprisingly, this question holds more philosophical weight than you’d think for

what appears to be a pretty straightforward topic. Is it still a

Vacuum Shrink Bag if all you

did was stuff your things in a garbage bag and hoovered out the air? Well -

technically, it fits the definition, but you definitely don’t want to try this hack

if you actually care about protecting your clothes!
Proper vacuum-seal storage bags for clothes should be made of a material

substantially more durable than the kind of trash bag you pick up while shopping.

This is a slightly thicker, sturdier type of plastic in most cases, but you might

find that less expensive brands aren’t offering much of an improvement on that trash

bag hack.
Storage bags that do have a valve for use with a vacuum machine will feature a

special zippered opening that allows you to fill the bag up with your garments.

Either style can be found in a variety of sizes, but you’re more likely to find

extra-large sizes in those with valves compared to roll-up style storage bags.
Why Use Vacuum Storage Bags?
When Dairy Products Vacuum Shrink Bags first showed up on the

market, you can imagine they might be a pretty big hit. It’s hard to argue against

the benefit of shrinking the space bulky clothes and linens took up all while

protecting them from the elements. And, vacuum storage bags deliver on their promises

more often than not. After all, using a household garbage bag may not be a great

idea, but it’s an idea that still works - it’s not exactly rocket science, right?
The problems that come with using vacuum storage bags have to do with why people

think they should be using them, and what they’re actually effective at doing. Here

’s the thing - yes, sucking out all the air from around a bundle of clothing does

shrink how much space they take up. And yes, a durable, completely sealed plastic

covering absolutely protects textiles from external sources of damage.
For processors of goods such as meat, cheese, vegetables and bakery products,

Thermoforming Film packaging

is commonplace, and for good reason. This format provides a high level of protection

for the products within, drastically increasing shelf life potential and delivering

great product visibility on-shelf to attract consumers.
While these benefits are far-reaching in terms of the supply chain, and indeed a

critical element of customer satisfaction, processors must always have a keen focus

on the efficiency of the production line and how best to optimize throughput in a way

that never compromises on safety – both for staff and consumers – and quality. It

is about investing in systems that deliver results in terms of productivity and

efficiency, as only then can the total cost of ownership feed into an attractive

return on investment.
Producers of thermoforming equipment have a deep understanding of the technology

and its limitations, but do they understand the pain points their customers are

facing in day-to-day operations? Well, maybe, maybe not. The only way to fully get to

grips with what advances are needed is to engage and collaborate with the very people

that use the technology on a daily basis. Only then can true progress be made with

the next-generation systems.
Improved packaging quality
The packaging itself is, of course, at the heart of the thermoforming process and

the quality of that packaging is fundamental to ensuring the finished product appeals

to consumers as it should. Having asked a series of open questions to those using

thermoforming systems, a number of challenges in this area were identified. Issues

such as wrinkles, non-optimal Functional Film positioning and seal

seam problems still leave room for improvement. These primarily stem from uneven and

uncontrolled film tension, the non-optimal positioning of the top web in relation to

the bottom and high forces applied during sealing.
One of the solutions here is to motorize the unwinding systems for both the top

and bottom films and to synchronize them with the machine’s advancing cycle. In

combination with an advanced web tensioning system, it is possible to facilitate

controlled unwinding and to simplify and secure the film path. For top and bottom

films, some systems allow adjustments to the transverse position during operation.

The axial position of the films, when automatically monitored and regulated, can

substantially improve sealing seam quality. Overall, forces applied to the sealing

seam can be reduced by up to 75% when compared to traditional dancer systems in this

instance, enabling processors to use more cost-effective, thinner film types that

reduce material use.