Paper bags are widely used across many sectors of the retail industry. While plain paper bags are considered universal, branded paper bags offer businesses more marketing opportunities. In terms of order processing, branded paper bags generally require more production time than plain paper bags, although the extent of the difference depends on the design’s complexity, the production scale, and the manufacturing technology used. This additional time is primarily associated with pre-press preparation, the printing process, drying or curing, and quality control procedures.
How plain paper bags are made
Plain paper bags https://pa-perbag.com/ follow a relatively streamlined manufacturing process. After kraft or other paper stock has been produced and cut to size, it is formed into bags by folding, gluing and sealing the bottom. As no printing stage is required, production can proceed continuously with minimal interruptions. This simplicity allows for high-speed output and shorter lead times, especially when standardised sizes and specifications are involved.
What is added to the process with branding
Branded paper bags introduce additional steps before and during fabrication:
- The first stage involves preparing the artwork. Logos, colours, typography and layout must be finalised and converted into print-ready files. In commercial production, this often requires plate making or digital file calibration to match specific colour standards. For larger print runs using flexographic or offset printing, physical printing plates must be created. The production of these plates alone can add a considerable amount of time to the overall manufacturing schedule, particularly if revisions are needed.
- Once the prepress stage is complete, the printing stage itself introduces additional complexity. Depending on the equipment used, printing can be done either on large rolls of paper before the bag-forming stage, or directly onto pre-cut sheets. Multi-colour designs require multiple passes or printing units, which increases setup time and the need for alignment adjustments. Accurate colour registration is essential for maintaining brand consistency, but machine calibration can slow down the initial production process compared to unprinted bag lines.
- Drying or curing times also need to be considered. Water-based or solvent-based inks require sufficient drying time to prevent smudging or offsetting. Although modern production lines integrate drying systems, printed paper may still require controlled conditions before further processing. In contrast, plain paper proceeds directly to cutting and forming without this intermediate pause.
- Quality control demands are typically higher for branded bags. Manufacturers must inspect print clarity, colour accuracy, alignment and consistency across batches. Any deviations may necessitate reprinting or adjustments, which can extend production timelines. Plain bags, by comparison, involve structural inspection rather than visual evaluation of branding, reducing complexity.
However, the time difference is not always significant. In high-volume manufacturing environments with integrated printing and bag-forming systems, printed bags can be produced efficiently with minimal additional delay once the setup process is complete. This is because modern industrial systems are designed to minimise these differences, particularly in standardised, large-scale production settings. Prepress time decreases significantly for repeat orders using existing plates or digital templates. Small production runs involving intricate, multi-colour graphics are more likely to experience longer lead times.