Tubular Film

How many rolls of tubular film do you need?

Dozens of versions in various widths and thicknesses are waiting for you. Choose the rolls you need. This enables you to pack and protect both large and particularly small products easily. To order the tubular film you need, simply go through the shop's ordering process. Please note that our price scale in the online shop is set for up to five rolls. If you require larger quantities, please contact us so that we can provide you with a customised quote. If you would like to order more than five rolls, please send us an e-mail with your order request or give us a call.

We also recommend that you contact us for customised orders, such as special formats, printed tubular film, etc. For the processing of tubular film, it may be beneficial to use a film welding machine. You can use our film welding machines to make cuts and bags from tubular film. You can read more about this below. Regardless of your exact order requirements, we will also be happy to welcome you to our warehouse in Reutlingen if you are from the region or are currently staying here. You can then order your goods directly on site and take them with you or collect goods that have already been ordered. Please note, however, the weight of the film rolls.

What data do we need for customised orders?

If you would like to order tubular film with customised dimensions, all we need is information on the desired roll width, film thickness and quantity. Almost all dimensions can be produced within a short time.

If you would like to have your tubular film printed, please let us know exactly what you want. In the end, you will receive goods that are perfectly customised to your wishes and requirements. If you are still unsure about the required dimensions of your tubular film, that's no problem at all. Simply tell us the size and weight of the package so that we can determine the dimensions of the tubular film for you. And of course, this service is completely free of charge.

How are our tubular film rolls shipped?

We normally send orders between 5-100 kilograms in a cardboard box via parcel service, unless our customers request otherwise. For shipments of more than 100 kilograms, we commission a forwarding company. Individual rolls are then delivered to you on pallets.

If you would like to specify a delivery date, we will be happy to do so. Otherwise, your tubular film will be shipped the same day or the next morning at the latest.

The delivery of our products is always free of charge within Germany. For delivery to neighbouring European countries (e.g. Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Poland, the Czech Republic), we charge a small shipping fee. For deliveries to more distant countries and worldwide, we will be happy to make you a suitable offer. We always research the cheapest freight costs to save our customers money.

Please note: If you wish to collect the goods you have ordered from our warehouse, please contact us by telephone in advance.

What is a tubular film and what are its properties?

A tubular film – also known as a film tube – is a double-layer film that is closed at both ends and wound "endlessly" on a roll. The core of the roll is usually made of cardboard or plastic.

Almost all tubular films are made of polyethylene, PE (for short) or LDPE (low-density polyethylene). This is a food-safe, clean, waterproof and dustproof material that can be recycled endlessly. It is non-toxic, extremely lightweight, easy and quick to process/weld, and is extremely tear-resistant despite its thinness. In addition, it has high water resistance and temperature resistance (70-80 degrees). This makes polyethylene indispensable as a material for tubular films. Very similar values also apply to HDPE (high-density polyethylene).

What makes polyethylene so environmentally friendly?

Many customers are surprised to hear that polyethylene film is proven to be the most environmentally friendly packaging in the world. After all, it is made of plastic. However, there are three factors that make PE so environmentally friendly:

• it has extremely high tear resistance despite low film thicknesses (meaning that less material is needed for maximum benefit)
• it consists of carbon and hydrogen and is therefore infinitely recyclable
• it contains no toxic substances that are harmful to humans

Neither paper nor special bioplastics or cotton products come close to matching the excellent environmental performance of polyethylene products.

What types of tubular film are there?

In fact, not all tubular films are the same. There are many different applications and thus many varieties to meet the specific requirements. The most common types include the following:

• Breathable film
• Needled film
• Perforated film
• Punched film
• Shrinkable (biaxal/monaxial) film
• Biodegradable film (bio-film)
• Antistatic or conductive film
• Anti-corrosion film
• Printable film
• Side-gusseted film

We would like to point out that this list of variants is by no means complete. So if the design you are looking for is not included, please feel free to contact us. We can definitely help you.

Where is tubular film used?

Tubular film is most commonly used in different areas for packaging products of different sizes and lengths. The film tube can be easily unrolled from the roll and cut to size to fit the product perfectly.

This means that individually designed packaging is no longer needed for cartridges, items of clothing and many other products, including food. The corresponding products are simply packaged using tubular film. In addition to the packaging industry, there are other areas of application. Here are a few examples:

• For protecting washed clothing in dry cleaners and laundries
• For temporary gutter pipes on construction sites
• As plant cover / tomato tube for early harvesting or as heating tube for greenhouses
• For direct shipping instead of using boxes (especially in the fashion industry)
• As gusset tube or shrink tube for pallets and boxes in warehousing

How is tubular film manufactured?

Tubular films or film tubes are manufactured in so-called extruders using the so-called blow moulding process. To put it simply, this process works as follows:

• Granulate / PE raw materials are placed in a cylinder (extruder) and transported through it with the help of a screw.
• A melting process takes place through which the previously loose material melts into a homogeneous mass.
• At the front of the cylinder is a mould that forms the melted mass into a corresponding shape when pressure is applied from behind.
• After it has been formed, the mass cools down outside the cylinder and can then be cut to size.

Once you order a customised tubular film from us, the described manufacturing process takes place. DM-Folien has a large network of manufacturers and partners who have the appropriate extruders to meet your wishes and requirements to your complete satisfaction. Please note, however, that we can only fulfil these wishes and requirements for order quantities of approx. 100 kilograms or more.

It is also interesting to note that, with regard to the manufacturing process, only tubular film is produced by "blow extrusion" (technical term). This means that every end product made of polyethylene, such as various flat films, was once a tubular film.

For example, before you can order a flat film, a film tube must first be produced and then cut open on one side. This is why a flat film is also referred to as a half-tube film. PE bags, such as flat bags or zip lock bags, are also made from tubular film. All bags are produced on professional converting machines at a very high speed.

What do you need to bear in mind when working with tubular film?

The easiest and quickest way to process your tubular film is to use a film dispenser. This is particularly worthwhile if you want to pack and/or protect different products of varying sizes. You can simply unroll the piece of film you need and then cut it using a cutter knife, scissors or a special cutting machine.

Use our film welding devices to seal the cuts accordingly. Sealing the ends is the cleanest and safest way to make bags out of a tubular film. If you don't want to use a film welding device, you can also use a bag sealer or simple adhesive tape. However, in purely visual and safety terms, this cannot be compared with welded ends. If you do not yet have a film welding device, you can also find these in our shop.

Tip: Do you regularly pack the same product or products that hardly differ in size? In this case, instead of tubular film raw material, you can also order finished cut-to-size bags or perforated tubular bags on a roll from us. Please feel free to contact us by phone or email.

What sizes and thicknesses are tubular films available in?

At dm-folien gmbh, we have a unique range of tubular films available in stock throughout Germany. We offer tubular films in widths from 35 mm to 1200 mm, available immediately for delivery. Our standard range of tubular films includes 50 µ, 75 µ, 100 µ, 150 µ and 200 µ. We often have special sizes and thicknesses available as well. In total, we have more than 100 different versions in our warehouse. If you cannot find a suitable tubular film, we can produce almost any size individually for you, with a minimum order of 100 kg.

What colours can a film tube be?

A film tube can be manufactured in any colour. Usually, it is transparent / translucent or black, as shown in our shop. However, we can also add dyes during production and color the material in any color you want. If you would like to receive a film tube in a specific colour, simply contact us with your request and we will make it happen. Whether you want it in white, red, blue, silver, purple or even opaque, we can realise every wish.

Can I have my tubular film printed on?

Yes. We can print tubular film individually according to your wishes for quantities over approx. 200 kg. If you require tubular film printed with your company logo or product information, we can offer you this. We can provide a simple, single-colour message or a photo-realistic printed image. Contact us and we will prepare an individual offer for you.

Are tubular films food-safe?

Our tubular films are made of polyethylene and are therefore food-safe and harmless to humans, animals and the environment. No harmful substances are used in the production of our tubular films. You can use our tubular film to package any type of food. We can, of course, send you a food safety declaration for our tubular films.

How do I calculate the diameter and circumference of my tubular film?

The width of a film tube is usually given in "flattened width" (FW) and mm. If you are unsure how to convert the flattened width into the diameter and circumference, these two formulas will help you:

FW -> Circumference = FW x 2

The double width of the flat surface is equal to the circumference of the film tube.

For example: a film tube with a FW of 200 mm has a circumference of 400 mm.

FW -> Diameter = FW x 2 / Pi (3.14)

The diameter of the film tube is equal to twice the flattened width multiplied by the number Pi.

For example: A film tube with an FW of 200 mm has a diameter of 1,256 mm.

How do I calculate the weight of my incoming order?

As many customers are initially unable to estimate how heavy the roll of tubular film they have ordered is, we are happy to provide you with a calculation formula. This makes it easy for you to calculate the weight of your incoming order:

The formula is as follows: width x 2 x thickness x length x 0.92 by 1,000 = weight of the roll (the individual steps are to be calculated one after the other and not all at once, the value 0.92 corresponds to the specific weight of polyethylene).

For extample: let's take a tubular film with a width of 1,000 mm, a thickness of 0.2 mm and a length of 500 m.
The weight of this product will be: 1,000 x 2 x 0.2 x 500 x 0.92 / 1,000 = 184 kilograms

What is the customs tariff number for tubular films?

The customs tariff number for tubular film is 39201025.