Food Roll Film: A Complete Guide to Materials, Functionality, and Applications

Introduction

Food roll film offers efficiency, durability, and protection for perishable goods. Whether used for flow wrap packaging, vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines, or horizontal packaging, food-grade roll film ensures product freshness, extends shelf life, and enhances branding opportunities.

 

This article contains:

1. What food roll film is and how it works
2. Key materials and their properties
3. Unwinding direction and machine compatibility
4. How to choose the best roll film for your needs

 

What Is Food Roll Film?

Food roll film is a flexible packaging material supplied in rolls, designed for high-speed packaging machines. It is used for wrapping snacks, confectionery, frozen foods, baked goods, and more. The film is fed into FFS (form-fill-seal) machines, where it forms a pouch, is filled with product, and sealed.

 

How Food Roll Film Works

Unwinding – The roll film is loaded onto a packaging machine and unwound in the correct direction (inside or outside wound).

Forming – The film is shaped into a tube or pouch via heat and pressure.

Filling – The product is dispensed into the formed pouch.

Sealing – The film is heat-sealed and cut to create individual packages.

 

Key Materials Used in Food Roll Film

The choice of material depends on barrier properties, durability, and food safety requirements.

Common options include:

Material	Properties	Best For
BOPP(Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)	High clarity, moisture resistance, goof printability	Snacks, candy, dry foods
PET(Polyrthylene Terephthalate)	Strong, heat-resistant, excellent barrier	Coffee, frozen foods, pet food
PE(Polyethylene-LDPE/LLDPE/HDPE)	Flexible, good sealability, cost-effective	Bakery, fresh produce, liquids
Metallized Films	Enhanced oxygen& light barrier	Chips, nuts, long-shelf-life products
Biodegradable/Compostable Films	Eco-friendly, meets sustainability goals	Organis snacks, eco-conscious brands

Common Combinations:

 

 

Unwinding Direction: 

The roll film unwinding direction affects machine compatibility and efficiency:

Inside Wound (IW) Rolls – The printed side faces inward; commonly used in vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines.

Outside Wound (OW) Rolls – The printed side faces outward; preferred for horizontal flow wrappers.

Why It Matters:

• Ensures smooth feeding into the packaging machine
• Prevents misalignment and film jams
• Optimizes printing orientation for branding

 

How to Choose the Right Food Roll Film

When selecting roll film, consider:

• Barrier Requirements (Moisture, oxygen, UV protection)
• Machine Compatibility (VFFS, horizontal, flow wrap)
• Printing & Branding Needs (High-resolution graphics, matte/gloss finish)
• Sustainability (Recyclable, compostable options)
• Regulatory Compliance (FDA, EU food-grade standards)

 

Conclusion

Food roll film is a cost-effective, high-performance packaging solution for food manufacturers. By understanding materials, unwinding directions, and applications, businesses can optimize their packaging process for better efficiency, product protection, and branding impact.

 

Looking for high-quality food roll film? Contact us today for samples and customized solutions!