orfix NJB Vacuum and Barrier Bags
orfix NJB Packaging vacuum and barrier bags are produced at our Maynooth facility in Ireland and supplied to food manufacturers across Europe. The range covers PA/PE multilayer pouches, shrink barrier bags and a fully recyclable LDPE vacuum pouch for meat, fish, cheese and extended shelf-life products. Bag formats include side-seal, round-bottom and straight-bottom configurations. Production is subject to strict quality tests, with conversion and slitting carried out in-house.
Overview of orfix Vacuum and Barrier Bags
Below is a quick overview of our core vacuum and barrier bag products, including typical applications, materials, barrier properties, customization and key features.
| Product | Application | Material | Barrier Properties | Customization | Sustainability | Key Features |
| Recyclable Vacuum Pouches | Vacuum packing, gas flushing of food | 95% LDPE (mono material) | High oxygen barrier | Print up to 8 colours | Fully recyclable, eliminates polyamide | Excellent tear resistance, mono LDPE alternative to PA composite |
| Recyclable Lidding Films | Sealing trays and containers (e.g. meat, ready meals) | Mono PET, PE or PP; mono rPET option | High barrier | 25, 30 or 40 micron, peel seal or weld seal | Fully recyclable, rPET with min. 30% food-contact approved recycled plastic | Anti-fog versions available |
| Flow Wrap Films | Flow wrap (horizontal form-fill-seal) for snacks, bakery, fresh produce | Mono BOPP; cellulose; PLA | High barrier mono solution available | Custom width and roll length | Recyclable, compostable or biodegradable options; 30% Post-Industrial Recycled content; renewable BOPP from used cooking oil | Biodegradable BOPP degrades in under 2 years |
Key Features of Vacuum & Barrier Bags
- PA/PE multilayer construction for high oxygen barrier and mechanical strength
- EVOH layer available where the highest oxygen barrier is required
- Strong heat-seal integrity on PE (LDPE/LLDPE) seal layer
- Excellent moisture barrier and puncture resistance
- Suitable for vacuum packing and gas flushing
- Fully recyclable LDPE option available (95% LDPE construction, high oxygen barrier, excellent tear resistance)
- Printing up to 8 colours on recyclable LDPE pouch
- Side-seal, round-bottom, straight-bottom, tapered and perforated-on-rolls formats
- Compatible with chamber vacuum machines and thermoformers
- Barrier level adaptable to product requirements and shelf-life target
Technical Specifications of our Vacuum & Shrink Barrier Bags
Standard formats for vacuum packing, shrink packaging and automated food lines. Bag dimensions: 80–650 mm width and 200–1,300 mm length. Barrier levels are tailored to product needs.
| Format | Applications | Construction | Material / Barrier | Size / Use | Benefits |
| Side Seal Bags | Salami, sausage, cold cuts, fresh meat | Side-seal vacuum / shrink bag | PA/PE; EVOH option | 80–650 × 200–1,300 mm | O₂ barrier, strong seal, freshness |
| Round Bottom Seal Bags | Fresh meat, processed meat, export cuts | Round-bottom vacuum / shrink bag | PA/PE; EVOH option | 80–650 × 200–1,300 mm | Shelf-life, moisture barrier, transport protection |
| Straight Bottom Seal Bags | Block cheese and block-shaped foods | Straight-bottom vacuum / shrink bag | PA/PE; PE seal layer | 80–650 × 200–1,300 mm | Moisture barrier; reduces drying |
| Perforated on Rolls | Fast production-line dispensing | Pre-made bags on rolls | PA/PE barrier | Roll format; 80–650 × 200–1,300 mm | Space-saving, easy dispensing |
| Tapered Bags | Auto / semi-auto filling | Tapered vacuum / shrink bag | PA/PE barrier | 80–650 × 200–1,300 mm | Easier filling, fewer jams |
| Shrink Film | Meat, chicken, cheese, fish | Form, vacuum, seal and shrink film | PA, EVOH, PET, PE; PP/CPP option | Flow Pack / Thermoforming machines | High speed, short cycle times |
H2: Are our Vacuum and Barrier Bags Right for You?
Vacuum and barrier bag selection follows four questions, consistent with the way we specify every food-packaging material.
- Product Type & Shelf-Life: High-barrier multilayer pouches deliver the longest shelf-life in the range. PA-based laminates suit fresh and processed meat, cheese and fish; an EVOH layer is added where a higher oxygen barrier is needed, such as for long-shelf-life cheese or export meat cuts. A recyclable LDPE pouch is the option when recyclability is a priority and shelf-life targets can be met with a simpler structure.
- Production Efficiency: The range is compatible with chamber vacuum machines and thermoformers. Bag formats are matched to the line setup and to how the operator loads and seals the pack.
- Convenience: Tight, product-hugging seals present a clean pack and make tampering evident on shelf. Gas-flush variants are available where modified atmosphere is required.
- Presentation: High-clarity pouches keep products visible on the retail shelf. Print options include pre-printed laminates and the recyclable LDPE pouch, which supports printing up to 8 colours.
Applications for Vacuum and Barrier Bags from orfix NJB
- Fresh meat: beef, pork, poultry, lamb (round-bottom bags for large cuts, side-seal for primal and portioned cuts)
- Processed meat: ham, sausages, salami, cold cuts (side-seal bags)
- Fish and seafood: whole, filleted, portioned
- Cheese: block cheese (straight-bottom bags), wedges, portioned cheese
- Export and transport packs: large primal cuts, bulk shipments requiring extended shelf-life
- Extended shelf-life products: cured meats, aroma-sensitive dry goods
- Semi-finished and finished products: portioned protein and cook-chill formats
Sustainability: Multilayer Barrier and the Route to Mono-Material
Multilayer vacuum and barrier bags deliver the longest shelf-life in the food-packaging range, and multilayer structures are harder to recycle than mono-material films. We are honest about that trade-off and offer two practical steps forward.
The first is a fully recyclable LDPE vacuum pouch, manufactured with 95% LDPE, with a high oxygen barrier and excellent tear resistance. It is suitable for vacuum packing and gas flushing and can be printed in up to 8 colours. It removes the polyamide from the construction, which is the change that opens the route to recycling.
The second is post-consumer recycled (PCR) content, which can be integrated into selected structures where the application allows. Mono-material alternatives that match the full barrier performance of PA/EVOH laminates are still limited at market level, and we track the available grades as suppliers release them.
In-House Conversion, Slitting & Rework
Slitting and conversion take place at the Maynooth facility, with almost 40 years of packaging experience behind the process. The slitter rewinder handles films from 10 µm to 400 µm, slitting up to 1600 mm wide across PE, OPP, PVC, cellulose, PLA and laminates. This covers the barrier-laminate stock used for vacuum and shrink barrier bags.
Rework solutions repair crushed cores, correct tension issues, remove damaged edges and convert obsolete SKUs into usable stock. For food manufacturers this shortens lead times and keeps existing roll inventory in production rather than in waste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Start a Packaging Consultation
Vacuum and barrier bag selection is not a catalogue decision. It starts with the four questions above: product and shelf-life, machinery, convenience features and on-shelf presentation. We respond with a material specification, a sample pack where useful, and a barrier level that matches the product you are actually packing.
We would be pleased to advise you individually!
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