Copol | Frequently Asked Quetions

Frequently Asked Questions

Business Questions

Is there any minimum quantity I have to order?

For standard film gauges and products, there is typically no minimum order quantity. However, incremental costs associated with logistics may be applied. For instance, on order quantities of less than 500 lbs, a freight charge is applied. Other incremental costs may also be applied depending upon where the delivery location is and whether it needs to be transferred to a 3rd party carrier and shipped LTL.

How quickly can I receive my order?

Generally, orders will ship within two weeks of placement. The exception would be for customized materials that might require specialty additives or tints that are not normally carried in inventory.

Will my order ship when ready?

Our film pricing structure is based on full truckloads leaving our plant and heading directly to the customer. Depending upon the final destination, orders will ship on the next available truck scheduled for that region. If a customer requires the material earlier than indicated on the order confirmation, every effort will be made to accommodate within the context of our normal truck scheduling. However, if the customer agrees to pay any incremental shipping costs, the order can ship when ready. At the customer's request, an order will be assigned a Have Ready date for pickup arranged by the customer. Under that circumstance, FOB plant pricing will be applied.

If I need a different gauge, can I get it?

Copol International Ltd. offers the broadest range of standard film gauges of any producer in the industry, from 0.0008" to 0.008" (20 μm to 200 μm). If a customer requires a non-standard film gauge, we will custom extrude to meet that requirement. In these instances, minimum order quantities and limits on web width may have to be applied. However, every effort will be made to meet the customer's need.

Can I get an update on my order status at any time?

Certainly. A customer inquiry can be made at any time during normal business hours on the status of an in-house order. In addition, orders can be tracked while in transit so up-to-date delivery information can be provided to the customer when requested.

What if I place an order but only want a partial shipment?

Our philosophy towards customers is to always attempt to meet their requirements. We will accept orders with scheduled partial release dates and/or orders placed as Make & Hold. We will make every effort to accommodate a customer's logistics needs.

Technical Questions

Are Copol CPP Film materials FDA compliant for food contact?

All of our clear CPP film materials are compliant with FDA 21 CFR 177.1520 (c) 3.2a and conditions B through H described in Table 2 of 21 CFR 176.170 for food contact applications. Most of our material is compatible under conditions A as well, for holding food while cooking.

What are the main differences between a Virgin Resin grade and a Standard grade CPP?

Virgin Resin (VR) grade CPP film materials contain no regrind or repro other than edge trim directly produced in the extrusion process. Standard grade (S) CPP film materials contain varying levels of regrind and repro depending upon the specific film product. A VR grade CPP will tend to have a lower gel count than a S grade CPP and for that reason may be more suitable for gel sensitive lamination applications. The regrind and repro materials used in Copol S grade CPP film products are only generated internally within the manufacturing process and are fully compatible with the prime resin materials used to produce the film. Apart from a somewhat higher natural gel count, S grade CPP film materials have similar mechanical and optical properties to those of VR grade CPP films. Both VR and S grade CPP film materials are FDA compliant for food packaging applications.

Can I use water based inks and adhesives with CPP?

Generally, surface energy levels achievable with conventional corona discharge surface treatment are limited to less than 38 dyne. Water based inks and adhesives more typically require surface energy levels of greater than 42 dyne to meet performance expectations. If attempting to utilize water based inks and adhesions with a CPP, in-line post treatment will be required. Even under this condition, proper wetting and curing of inks and adhesives may not be achievable. It is always recommended to use solvent based inks and adhesives with a CPP.

Can I use CPP in low temperature packaging applications?

In technical terms, the Glass Transition Temperature (the temperature at which a material's mechanical properties start to behave like glass) for standard polypropylene based film materials is approximately 38 degrees F (3 C). Below this temperature, polypropylene films lose their impact strength and may mechanically fail if subjected to excessive handling. Therefore, generally speaking, CPP in a monofilm structure is not recommended for packaging applications where the normal exposed ambient temperature could drop below 38 degrees F.

However, specialized films can handle lower temperatures and we do have Freezer friendly films either the RP423B or RP423BX.

Will a CPP process on my bag machine, press, laminator or packaging machine similar to other film materials?

Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question. Each type of film material will have characteristics unique to itself. Seal Initiation Temperature (S.I.T.), ΔT (difference between S.I.T. and Melting Temperature), modulus (stiffness), elasticity to name a few are characteristics that can impact performance on converting and packaging machinery. In general, both monolayer and multi-layer coextruded CPP film materials perform well on a wide variety of converting and packaging machines. However, adjustments may need to be made in seal bar configuration and operating temperature, dwell, pressure, tension control, etc to achieve optimal performance.

Does a CPP offer high barrier properties?

Compared with most PE based film materials, CPP has significantly better barrier properties for gases and moisture. Depending upon the product being packaged and factors impacting freshness and shelf life, CPP may offer improvements. However, compared with Oriented Polypropylenes (BOPP) and polyesters (PET) for instance, the barrier properties of CPP are significantly lower.

Can a CPP be metallized for barrier or aesthetic applications?

Specific monolayer and coextruded CPP film materials can be metallized quite effectively. It is essential that the film surface to receive the metal does not contain any migratory additives that might interfere with metal adhesion. Typically, the barrier properties of a metallized CPP are 50 to 100 times that of a clear CPP.

Can I use CPP in mailer packaging applications where automated postal sorting machines might be used?

Specific Copol International Ltd CPP film products have been tested for compliance with US Postal Service Standard, USPS-T-3204 and are compliant with that standard. These materials can be utilized as an overwrap packaging material for mailers intended to be processed on automated postal sorting machines. The customer can derive significant benefit from lower postal rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Business Questions

Technical Questions

Call us today to order your Free sample package or place your Custom order

Call us today to order your Free sample package
or place your Custom order