How to find the right Packaging Air Bags AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Packaging Air Bags
- Which kind of air bag
- Air pillows and air cushion film fill voids inside cartons. Air column bags wrap individual items. Inflatable dunnage bags brace pallets inside trucks and containers. The three share the name but serve different purposes, so buying the wrong one is the most common mistake here.
- Dunnage bag rating
- For load securing in road, rail or container transport, use bags rated to the AAR level that matches the mode and load weight. An underrated bag can burst under braking forces and let the load shift.
- Gap fit for dunnage bags
- Size the bag to the manufacturer's stated gap range. Use a void filler instead of overinflating when the gap is too wide. An overstretched or overinflated bag loses holding force and is more likely to fail.
- Air retention
- Choose cushion film made for multi-day transit, not light display film. Avoid pillows that soften after a short time. Pillows that leak lose their protection partway through transit, and the item hits the carton wall.
- Air column bag fit
- Match the bag's column length and opening to the item's dimensions, such as a wine bottle or a toner cartridge. A loose column bag lets the item slide out of the protected zone.
Brands that matter
- Sealed Air: Makes Fill-Air inflatable void-fill systems and is the originator of Bubble Wrap.
- Pregis: Makes AirSpeed air cushion systems and films.
- Storopack: Makes AIRplus air cushion systems.
- Cordstrap: Makes load-securing dunnage bags for containers and trucks.
- Stopak: Makes inflatable dunnage bags for transport bracing.
What to avoid
- Using air pillows to brace pallets, or dunnage bags as carton void fill
- Unbranded cushion film with no stated film thickness, which often leaks quickly
- Placing dunnage bags against sharp corners or protrusions without a protective sheet
- Air pillows as the only protection for heavy, dense items that will crush them
Questions
Do I need a machine for air pillows?
Yes, for roll-stock film, which an inflator seals into pillows. Pre-inflated pillows and hand-inflated column bags need no machine but cost more per use.