Banding Material: Paper and Film Bands
What is a band?
A band is a (narrow) strip of paper or film that is placed around one or more products with the use of a banding machine. The choice for paper or film always depends on your wishes and product specifications.
Choosing the right banding material
Banding material comes down to two decisions: paper or film, and printed or plain. Everything else — width, thickness, core size, roll length — follows from what the machine and the product need.
Paper is the default where sustainability matters and where the pack does not need a moisture barrier. It prints edge to edge, it goes into paper recycling, and grades are available for direct food contact. Film is the choice where the band has to hold at low temperature, resist damp, or stay transparent so the product shows through.
Printed bands carry fixed artwork applied in advance. Plain bands stay blank and take variable data from an integrated printer during banding. Most operations run both: branding printed ahead, batch and date printed inline.
Standard widths run from 28 to 150 mm, so one machine covers a range of pack sizes without new tooling. Changing pack size means changing a roll.
Not sure which one your product needs? Compare paper and film side by side, or see what a printed band can carry.
Why choose a band?
A band often serves as an alternative for labels, shrink film, bags or outer boxes. The main reason for this, is the reduction in materials and plastics. Saving 80 per cent or more on packaging material is no exception. The whole world experiences the shortage of raw materials. A band represents minimalism and efficiency.
Bands in all types and forms
Bandall supplies bands of various thicknesses, widths, types, and sizes. From wafer-thin and very strong to sustainable and fully recyclable. Optional (luxury) printing technologies and ‘Die Cuts’ ensure that your product stands out on the shelf. The choice of the right material is always the result of an extensive consultation about your applications and product specifications.
Standard sizes
You can choose from the standard widths of 28, 40, 48, 60, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm. The rolls themselves are available up to a length of 2,500 metres. The unique Bandall vacuum band feed-through system makes it possible to process extremely thin material of as little as 35 mµ.
The materials at a glance
Banding supplies in the UAE and the Middle East
Banding material is a recurring purchase, so supply matters as much as the band itself. Bandall Middle East supplies paper and film rolls for Bandall machines from Dubai to customers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. Printed rolls are produced to your artwork; plain rolls can be combined with inline printing for changing data.
Compare the two families in detail: paper bands and film bands. To test a band on your own product, book a free banding demo.
Unprinted bands for plain bundling
Plain bands come in white or kraft (brown) paper and clear film. They are the low-cost option where the pack needs holding, not branding: internal bundles, transit packs, work-in-progress stacks, and labels or cardboard that must be bundled without damage. Because there is no artwork, there is no print run to wait for: you simply order a roll.
An unprinted roll is also the starting point for inline printing. The roll stays blank and the printer built into the machine adds dates, batch numbers or barcodes at the moment of banding, which suits lines where the data changes every batch. For customer-facing packs, a printed band does more in the same pass through the machine.
Banding material specifications
The figures below cover standard Bandall rolls. Every Bandall machine runs both paper and film, so you can switch between them by changing the roll.
| Specification | Paper band | Film band |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Paper, 70 to 125 gsm (80 gsm standard), white or kraft | OPP film from 35 micron, clear or printed |
| Standard widths | 28, 40, 48, 60, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm | 28, 40, 48, 60, 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm |
| Roll length | Typically 800 to 1,000 m per roll | Typically 1,500 to 2,000 m per roll (rolls up to 2,500 m available) |
| Printing | Pre-printed to your artwork, plus dates, batch numbers and barcodes printed inline during banding | Pre-printed to your artwork, plus dates, batch numbers and barcodes printed inline during banding |
| Best for | Dry products, cartons, sleeves and food packs where recyclability matters | Chilled, frozen or damp products, and packs where the band should stay transparent |
| Lead time for printed rolls | 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval | 3 to 4 weeks after artwork approval |
Frequently asked questions
What banding materials does Bandall supply?
Two families: paper bands (white or kraft) and film bands (clear or printed OPP). Both come plain or printed with your own artwork, on rolls made for Bandall machines.
Paper or film band: which should I choose?
Paper suits dry, ambient and chilled products that do not need a moisture barrier, and it is recyclable with paper. Film is the choice for frozen or damp products, or when the band has to stay transparent so the product shows through.
How thick are Bandall bands?
Paper bands are 80 gsm and OPP film bands start from 35 micron. Thin enough to keep material use low, strong enough to hold a tight bundle.
Can I print on the band?
Yes, in two ways. Pre-printed bands carry your fixed artwork. Plain bands can take variable data such as batch numbers, dates, barcodes and data matrix codes from a thermal transfer printer on the machine, during banding.
Is paper banding suitable for food?
Yes. Paper grades are available for direct food contact, and paper bands are widely used on fresh produce, bakery and chilled packs.
Where can I buy banding supplies in the UAE and the Middle East?
Bandall Middle East supplies paper and film rolls from Dubai to customers across the UAE, Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, alongside the machines, installation and service.
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Free demo banding now available in middle east
Two options are available:
You can either send us samples of your products or come to our office by making an appointment in advance to attend for the trial.
In case of sending samples, result would be shared with you within two working days after receiving samples (Photos, videos and even we can send packed samples if requested)
For more info, please contact us:
email: sales@bandallmiddleeast.com | WhatsApp number: +971 50 547 7231