Wicket bags are one of the most efficient and widely used packaging formats in food, retail, and industrial applications. Known for their speed, consistency, and automation compatibility, they’re a core product for blown film manufacturers like M Plastics. Despite how common they are, many buyers don’t know what “wicketed” really means — or how these bags are made.
What Is a Wicket Bag?
A wicket bag is a stack of plastic bags held together by two metal wires (wickets) that run through punched holes near the top of each bag. The holes sit in a reinforced lip, or header, above the bag opening to support fast dispensing and clean separation.
The wicketed stack mounts on an automatic or semi-automatic packaging machine, which pulls bags off the wicket one at a time to be filled and sealed. The format speeds up packing, reduces labor, and delivers more consistent performance than loose bags.
What Are Wicket Bags Used For?
Wicketed bags shine in environments where volume, speed, and hygiene matter. Common applications include:
- Bakery items — bread, tortillas, rolls
- Produce and fruit packing
- Ice bags
- Hardware and small parts
- Frozen food lines
Because wicket bags are easy to load and dispense, they work well on automated and manual lines alike — especially where cleanliness and consistency are critical.
How M Plastics Makes Wicket Bags
Our wicket bags start on our own blown film extrusion lines. The film is printed on our flexographic press when a job calls for it, then converted — cut, sealed, hole-punched, and stacked onto wickets — before being packed into boxes ready for your packing line.
The most common wicket format we produce is gusseted with a bottom seal, though we also make layflat wicket bags depending on the application. We reprocess our own internal scrap as regrind to reduce waste and maintain material consistency — we never use post-consumer waste.
Customizing Wicket Bags for Your Operation
Wicket bags look simple, but they can be tailored in many ways to match your packing line and product:
- Bag size — width, length, gusset depth
- Lip size above the wicket holes
- Number of wicket holes and spacing
- Printing up to 6 colors
- Film thickness in mil
Knowing the packing equipment you run helps us adjust bag orientation and wicket spacing so the stack fits your machine exactly.
Final Thoughts
Wicket bags are a behind-the-scenes packaging hero — fast, clean, and scalable. Whether they’re feeding a bakery’s packing line or supporting a frozen food operation, they help products move faster from plant to shelf.
Ready to spec wicket bags for your line? Request a quote with your bag dimensions and machine details and we’ll take it from there.
Have a Packaging Question?
M Plastics manufactures LDPE bags and film in Los Angeles with in-house extrusion and printing. Tell us what you're packaging and we'll help you spec the right bag.
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