What Are Wicket Bags? A Staple of High-Speed Packing

Wicketed bags are among the most efficient and versatile packaging options for food, retail, and industrial use. Valued for their speed, consistency, and compatibility with automated systems, they’re a staple product for blown-film manufacturers such as Mingyi Packaging.

Despite how common they are, many buyers and users don’t know what “wicketed” really means — or how these bags are made.

Defining a Wicketed Bag

A wicketed bag is a stack of plastic bags secured by two metal wires (wickets) threaded through punched holes near the top. These holes are reinforced with a lip or header for quick dispensing and easy separation.

The stacked bags are placed on an automatic or semi-automatic packaging machine, which pulls each bag off the wicket for filling and sealing. This design streamlines the packing process, cuts labor costs, and delivers consistent results.

How Wicketed Bags Are Used

Wicketed bags are ideal in settings where high volume, speed, and hygiene are essential. Typical applications include:

• Bakery items such as bread, tortillas, and rolls

• Fresh produce and fruit

• Ice packaging

• Hardware and small components

• Medical devices

• Frozen foods

Their easy loading and quick dispensing make them suitable for both automated and manual operations, especially in environments where cleanliness and consistency are key.

How Mingyi Packaging Produces Wicketed Bags

At Mingyi Packaging, wicketed bags are manufactured off-line: the film moves directly from extrusion to roll, then to printing (if required), and finally to converting. This process offers key benefits:

• Reduced risk of contamination

• Faster production speeds

• Lower material waste

• Cleaner, well-stacked bags ready for boxing

The most common style we produce is a gusseted bag with a bottom seal, though custom layflat wicketed bags are also available for specialized applications. We further reduce waste and maintain material consistency by reprocessing our own internal scrap as regrind.

Customizing Wicketed Bags for Your Operation

Though plastic wicketed bags appear simple, they can be tailored to meet specific packing-line and product requirements. Custom options include:

• Bag dimensions (width, length, gusset depth)

• Lip size above the wicket holes

• Number of perforations

• Printing or labeling preferences

• Film gauge (thickness)

Understanding the packing equipment allows us to fine-tune bag orientation and wicket spacing for a seamless fit with your production line.

Final Thoughts

Wicketed bags are an unsung hero of packaging—fast, hygienic, and highly scalable. From bakery production lines to frozen food facilities, they keep operations moving smoothly and help products reach store shelves more efficiently.