Polyester (PET) films power modern flexible packaging—from coffee pouches and tray lidding to protective labels and protective laminations. This guide explains how to choose the right PET grade, how converting services shorten lead times, and how PHC’s 120+ years of know‑how and inventory help you move from spec to shipment—fast.
What Is Polyester Packaging Film?
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film is a biaxially oriented, dimensionally stable substrate prized for clarity, strength‑to‑thickness ratio, barrier potential, and process versatility. Whether you need a printable face web, a sealable lidding layer, or a high‑barrier laminate, PET’s consistency and thermal resistance make it a go‑to for food, pharma, personal care, household, industrial, and graphics applications.
The PHC Portfolio: From Clear to Coated to High‑Barrier
PHC supplies a broad spectrum of performance PET grades so you can dial in aesthetics and functionality:
- Clear & Ultra‑Clear for product visibility and premium shelf appeal.
- Hazy / Translucent for diffusion, light scatter, and privacy effects.
- Colored & Polymer‑Pigmented for brand tones and light‑blocking.
- Soft Matte for a premium, low‑glare, touchable finish.
- Anti‑Fog / Anti‑Static for cold‑chain clarity and ESD‑sensitive packs.
- Corona‑Treated for improved ink, adhesive, and coating anchorage.
- Heat‑Sealable for tray lidding and flow‑wrap closures.
- Metallized PET for elevated oxygen and moisture barrier.
- PVDC‑Coated & Specialty Coated for tailored barrier and surface properties.
- PCR (Post‑Consumer Recycled) Content to support sustainability goals.
- Twistable & Shrinkable for confectionery wraps and tight decorative forms.
Match PET Grade to the Job
Food & Beverage: Clarity, seal integrity, aroma protection, and machinability often lead the spec. Consider metallized or PVDC‑coated structures for barrier; choose heat‑sealable PET for top lidding and horizontal form‑fill‑seal (HFFS) applications.
Pharma & Nutraceuticals: Dimensional stability and barrier consistency help protect actives and maintain shelf life; anti‑static options reduce particulate attraction.
Personal Care & Household: Soft matte and colored films elevate aesthetics while corona‑treated grades secure ink and adhesive performance.
Industrial & Electronics: Anti‑static for ESD control; high‑clarity base films for precise graphic components and labels.
Converting Services that Reduce Lead Time
PHC’s services are designed to snap into your process:
- Slitting: Precision widths and clean edges to minimize dust and maximize run speed. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/slitting/
- Sheeting: Print‑ready sheets for graphics and industrial die‑cutting. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/sheeting/
- Die‑Cutting: Accurate profiles for liners, labels, and formed parts. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/die-cutting/
- Printing (6‑Color): Brand‑ready web printing to compress your supply chain. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/printing-6-color/
- Corona Treating: In‑house surface treatment for adhesion consistency. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/corona-treating/
- Coating & Specialty Coats: Ink‑receptive, PVDC, and tailored surfaces. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/coating/
- Winding, Toll Converting & Custom Services: Flexible capacity, quick turnarounds. → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/winding/ • https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/toll-converting/ • https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/custom-services/
Logistics Advantage: Inventory + Location
PHC can inventory over 10,000,000 pounds of film and is uniquely positioned in Greer, SC, enabling service to most customers within 48 hours and rapid order fulfillment—often within 24 hours for stocked items. That means fewer line stoppages, quicker scale‑ups, and more resilient launches.
Quality You Can Measure
From incoming inspection through finished rolls, PHC prioritizes consistency and clarity in communication. You’ll get grade documentation and test data appropriate to your application, plus a team that can help translate performance needs into practical specs.
Building Your Specification: A Checklist
- Barrier Needs: Oxygen, moisture, aroma—metallized vs PVDC‑coated vs clear high‑barrier.
- Sealing Method: Heat‑sealable PET vs seal through other layers; tray lidding vs flow‑wrap.
- Surface Energy: Corona treatment level for print, adhesive, or coating.
- Aesthetics: Ultra‑clear vs soft matte vs pigmented.
- Regulatory & End‑Use: Food contact, pharma, or industrial standards.
- Sustainability: PCR content, down‑gauging opportunities.
- Converting Path: Slit widths, core sizes, OD targets, and sheet dimensions.
When to Consider Metallized or PVDC‑Coated PET
If you’re chasing extended shelf life, aroma lock‑in, or grease resistance, high‑barrier solutions often pay back in product quality and reduced waste. Metallized PET provides an excellent barrier‑to‑weight ratio; PVDC‑coated PET offers tunable barrier and seal performance in demanding environments.
From RFQ to First Shipment—Fast
- Consultation & Customization
- Precision Engineering & Production
- Quality Assurance & Testing
- Rapid Fulfillment & Delivery. With 120+ years of converting experience, PHC backs each step with responsive service and clear communication.
Call to Action: Ready to spec the right PET film?
Request a Quote → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/request-quote/
Contact PHC → https://www.pilcherhamilton.com/contact-us/
FAQs
Q1: Can PHC customize PET film to specific widths and cores?
Yes—PHC provides precision slitting and winding to your width, core size, and OD targets, with clean‑edge quality for high‑speed runs.
Q2: Which PET grade should I choose for coffee or snack packs?
Most brands choose a metallized or PVDC‑coated PET layer within a laminate for elevated oxygen and moisture barrier, paired with print and seal layers.
Q3: Do you support food‑contact and pharma requirements?
PHC works with converters serving food and pharma; our team can align product documentation and testing to your compliance needs.Q4: How quickly can orders ship?
With strategic inventory in Greer, SC, many orders ship within 24–48 hours when the grade is in stock.