TUTCO's Role in the Latest Innovations in Trash Bag Manufacturing

TUTCO's band, cartridge, and strip heaters, as well as hot runner components, play a pivotal role in various plastic manufacturing processes such as injection molding, extruding, plastic welding, and blow molding. TUTCO recently designed and manufactured a custom heater that is being used in a new, innovative process for trash bag manufacturing. 

Today’s trash bags are crafted in large-scale manufacturing plants using heavy-duty machinery to handle the intricate process of converting molten plastic into durable bags. Trash bags are made primarily from polyethylene, a strong, lightweight, and flexible plastic that offers high resistance to chemicals, moisture, and punctures. Polyethylene starts out in the form of resin pellets, which are poured into large hoppers before entering an extruder. This machine melts the pellets at high temperatures, typically between 365º and 465º Fahrenheit. Once melted and mixed, the plastic is pushed through a die that shapes the material into a ring. From there, the plastic is blown into a large bubble, flattened, sealed, and perforated. Many of these steps require process heat. 

The latest in trash bag design features a diamond-shaped, quilted pattern embossed onto the bags. This pattern allows the plastic to stretch, providing extra durability to prevent tears or punctures from sharp or heavy objects. This innovative design that emphasizes flexibility and resilience required a custom heater. TUTCO developed a new heater that plays a key role in the production process, specifically when the raw plastic mixture is pushed through the die. This stage is critical in shaping and forming the bags, ensuring the embossed pattern is applied with precision and consistency. 

In today’s manufacturing landscape, where customer expectations are high and product life cycles are short, it is vital for companies to work with reliable manufacturing partners who can deliver high-quality solutions on time and within budget. TUTCO’s vast experience, paired with our cutting-edge facilities, allows us to turn ideas into reality in record time. This agility and expertise are driving the success of our custom-engineered heating solutions, which span across industrial, commercial, and residential applications. By working hand-in-hand with manufacturers, TUTCO continues to lead the way in heating solutions that improve the efficiency, reliability, and quality of the products our heaters help create.