Quick answer: Fine powders and retail products like flour, bakery mixes, powdered dairy and pet food are usually best in pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags sealed on a pinch closer like the PBC 6000. The closure has no needle holes, so powder stays in and the bag looks clean on the shelf. Coarser products like animal feed, seed and fertilizer are often sewn with a bag closer like the Model 100, especially in woven polypropylene or jute bags, but can move to pinch bottom paper bags when sealing or retail looks matter. Chemicals in paper bags benefit from a sealed pinch closure.
How you close a bag depends on what's inside it. Flour behaves nothing like cattle feed, and a retail pet food bag has different jobs than a 50 lb sack of fertilizer headed to a farm. Here's how to choose the right bag closure for each product, and which Cleveland Equipment machine fits.
Bag closing recommendations by product
| Product | Typical bag and closure | Cleveland Equipment machine | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flour and bakery mixes | Pinch bottom paper | PBC 6000 | Fine powder sifts through needle holes; sealed closure keeps it in |
| Powdered dairy products | Pinch bottom paper | PBC 6000 | Fine food powder that needs a sealed, sift-resistant closure |
| Pet food (retail) | Pinch bottom paper | PBC 6000 | Clean, sealed, shelf-ready bag |
| Animal feed and feed additives | Sewn or pinch bottom | Model 100 / Empress 101, or PBC 6000 | Sewn is common and economical; pinch adds sealing |
| Agricultural seed | Sewn or pinch bottom | Model 100, handheld closers, or PBC 6000 | Depends on bag material and where it's sold |
| Lawn fertilizer | Sewn or pinch bottom | Model 100 / Empress 101, or PBC 6000 | Sewn for bulk and farm; pinch for retail bags |
| Industrial and agricultural chemicals | Pinch bottom paper | PBC 6000 | Sealed closure helps keep product in and contaminants out |
| Woven poly, jute or burlap bags (any product) | Sewn | Model 100, Empress 101, Model F, Model S, NP-7A | Pinch closers only close pre-glued paper bags |
Flour and bakery mixes
Recommended: pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags closed on a PBC 6000
Flour is about as fine as a product gets. Needle holes in a sewn closure give it an easy way out, which means dusty bags, dusty trucks and product loss. A pinch closure is sealed with the bag's own pre-applied hot melt, so there are no needle holes, and bag makers describe heat-sealed pinch bottom bags as sift-proof.
Tip: flour dust can land on the bag flap during filling. The PBC 6000's air scrubber helps clear dust and debris from the seal area before bonding.
Powdered dairy products
Recommended: pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags closed on a PBC 6000
Powdered milk, whey and other dairy powders are fine, food-grade products where a sealed closure matters. Powdered dairy is a listed application for the PBC 6000. Bag suppliers also offer pinch bottom bags with film liners or coated plies for extra moisture protection, so ask yours what fits your product.
Pet food
Recommended: pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags closed on a PBC 6000
Pet food on a retail shelf has to protect the product and look good doing it. Pinch bottom bags have a clean, square profile that displays well and stacks neatly on a pallet, and the sealed closure has no stitch line. Pet food is a listed application for the PBC 6000.
Tip: kibble and treats often contain fats and oils. Bag suppliers offer greaseproof paper and barrier liners for pinch bottom bags, so ask about grease resistance when you spec your bags.
Animal feed and feed additives
Recommended: sewn open mouth bags with a Model 100 or Empress Model 101, or pinch bottom bags with a PBC 6000
Feed is commonly packed in sewn open mouth bags. Sewing is economical and works on paper, woven polypropylene and jute bags. Pedestal sewing heads like the Model 100 run 35–55 ft/min (up to 80) and work with conveyor systems. The Empress Model 101 sews crepe tape over the top for a cleaner, more durable closure.
If you sell feed or feed additives through retail stores, or your additives are fine powders, pinch bottom paper bags on a PBC 6000 give you a sealed closure and a cleaner look. Animal feed and feed additives are both listed applications.
Agricultural seed
Recommended: depends on your bag
- Woven polypropylene or jute seed bags: use a sewing closer. The Model 100 handles production lines, and handheld closers like the Model F (12 lb, 38 ft/min) work for smaller runs or closing bags where they're filled.
- Multi-wall paper pinch bottom seed bags: use the PBC 6000. Agricultural seed is a listed application.
Lawn fertilizer
Recommended: sewn for bulk and farm bags; pinch bottom for retail bags
Fertilizer is commonly packed in sewn open mouth bags, and a sewing head like the Model 100 or Empress Model 101 keeps costs down. For lawn fertilizer headed to retail shelves, pinch bottom paper bags on a PBC 6000 give a sealed closure and a cleaner look. Lawn fertilizer is a listed PBC 6000 application.
Industrial and agricultural chemicals
Recommended: pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags closed on a PBC 6000
Powdered and granular chemicals shouldn't sift out of the bag, and outside contaminants shouldn't get in. A heat-sealed pinch closure has no needle holes, and bag makers point to pinch bottom bags as a strong choice for contamination-sensitive products like chemicals. Industrial and agricultural chemicals, and absorptive materials, are listed applications for the PBC 6000.
What about woven polypropylene, jute and burlap bags?
The PBC 6000 closes pre-glued multi-wall paper bags only. If your product ships in woven polypropylene, jute or burlap, you'll use a sewing closer. Cleveland Equipment carries:
- Model 100 plain sewing head: pedestal-mount, 35–55 ft/min (up to 80), for paper, woven polypropylene and jute bags
- Fischbein Empress Model 101 tape sewing head: pedestal-mount crepe tape closure, 35–55 ft/min, for paper, woven polypropylene and jute bags
- Model F portable bag closer: handheld, 12 lb, 38 ft/min; sews plastic, woven polypropylene, multi-wall paper, composite and jute bags
- Model S portable bag closer: handheld, 4–8 bags per minute; multi-wall paper, polypropylene, burlap and jute
- NP-7A portable bag closer: handheld, single-thread chain stitch; kraft paper, woven PP/PE, cotton, hessian and jute
Choosing a closer: 4 questions for any product
- Is your product a fine powder? If it sifts through stitching, go pinch bottom.
- What is your bag made of? Pre-glued multi-wall paper can go pinch. Woven polypropylene, jute and burlap get sewn.
- Where is it sold? Retail shelves favor the clean look of a pinch bottom bag. Bulk and farm buyers usually care more about cost.
- How many bags do you close a day? The PBC 6000 is a production-line machine that runs 30–75 ft/min in its standard range. For lower volumes, a pedestal or handheld sewing closer is usually more economical.
Frequently asked questions
How are pet food bags sealed?
Many retail pet food bags are multi-wall paper pinch bottom bags sealed on a pinch bag closer. The closer creases and folds the pre-glued top, reactivates the adhesive with hot air, and presses it shut. The PBC 6000 is built for this, and pet food is one of its listed applications.
How are flour bags sealed?
Flour is commonly packed in multi-wall paper bags. Pinch bottom bags sealed on a pinch closer like the PBC 6000 give a closure with no needle holes, which helps keep fine flour from sifting out. Flour and bakery mixes are listed applications for the PBC 6000.
What machine closes animal feed bags?
Animal feed bags are often sewn with a pedestal sewing head like the Model 100 or the Fischbein Empress Model 101 tape sewing head, which work with paper, woven polypropylene and jute bags. If you pack feed in pinch bottom paper bags, the PBC 6000 pinch closer lists animal feed and feed additives as applications.
What is the best way to close seed bags?
It depends on the bag. Seed in woven polypropylene or jute bags is closed with a sewing closer like the Model 100 or a handheld Model F. Seed in pinch bottom multi-wall paper bags is closed with a pinch closer like the PBC 6000, which lists agricultural seed as an application.
How are fertilizer bags closed?
Lawn fertilizer in multi-wall paper pinch bottom bags can be sealed on a PBC 6000 pinch closer. Fertilizer in sewn open mouth paper or woven polypropylene bags is closed with a sewing head such as the Model 100 or Empress Model 101.
Does dust affect a pinch bag seal?
Dust on the flap can get in the way of a good bond. The PBC 6000 has an air scrubber that helps clear dust and debris from the seal area before bonding, which matters for dusty products like flour and feed.
Can one bag closer handle several products?
Yes, as long as the bags are the same type. The PBC 6000 closes pre-glued multi-wall paper bags with variable widths up to 56 inches long, and its temperature and speed are adjustable, so one machine can close pinch bottom bags for several products. If some of your products are in woven or jute bags, you'll also need a sewing closer.
Should I use a pinch closer or a sewing closer for chemicals?
For powdered or granular chemicals in multi-wall paper bags, a pinch closure gives a sealed, sift-resistant closure with no needle holes. Industrial and agricultural chemicals are listed applications for the PBC 6000. If your chemical bags are woven polypropylene, use a sewing closer.
Tell us what you're bagging
Send us your product, bag type and size, and daily bag count, and we'll recommend the right closer for your line. Call 866-888-6327 (Mon–Fri, 8am–5pm CST), email sales@clevelandequipment.com, or see the PBC 6000 pinch bag closer.