I am looking for online sources for plastic closures, similar to a ziploc
bag, but different in the following respects: 1) there is a raised
plastic piece that acts as a "zipper", 2) it is much sturdier than a
simple ziploc bag -- strong enough to be sewn. I do not know how they
are packaged, if they come in specific lengths or on a huge roll. If
they come in lengths, I am looking for like a 10" to 11" length. I am
looking to buy about 50 to 100 feet.

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Request for Question Clarification by bobbie7-ga on 21 Oct 2003 20:31 PDT

Hi jude1!

Please take a look at the following products:

ZIP-PAKŪ SLIDER
“Consumers simply use the sliding device to open and close the zipper,
instead of pressing their fingers along the zipper to close it.”
http://www.ami-recpro.com/products/slider.php

Here are other plastic closure systems
http://www.ami-recpro.com/products/index.php

Am I on the right track?

Thanks,
Bobbie7

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Clarification of Question by jude1-ga on 22 Oct 2003 16:39 PDT

Sort of! The only thing different is that it will be applied to a
product where the customer only has access to one side. (The other
side will be on the inside of the product.) I am looking for a product
to seal the Reusable Wipes Pack found on this page:
http://www.mammasmilk.com/benefits.htm
Hope this helps!
-Jude

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Request for Question Clarification by hibiscus-ga on 24 Oct 2003 18:05 PDT

Hi Jude, 

I have found a supplier of a heavy duty plastic zipper of the kind you
describe.  They do not have online ordering available, though there is
contact information that I can provide for you.  Would this be
acceptable?

Also, what is your exact need?  There is another manufacturer that has
somewhat lighter duty plastic zippers that are not really suitable for
heavy loads, but more for small applications like pencil cases,
purses, etc.

Finally, do you need this form of closure because just because it is
waterproof, or is there another reason?  If it is just to be
waterproof there are more traditional zippers that are both easier to
find and, presumably, cheaper.

Hibiscus

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Clarification of Question by jude1-ga on 25 Oct 2003 03:47 PDT

I am using it for baby wipes, so it does need to be waterproof (so as
to keep the wipes from drying out). It doesn't have to really be
"heavy duty," but it MUST be able to be sewn with a sewing machine
without ripping. This is critical. I am open to other ideas, such as
you mention, that might be more cost effective; I wasn't aware that
any other options existed. Does this answer your questions?
-Jude

Hi Jude, 

After doing extensive searching I found that the item you describe is
actually pretty hard to come by.  At the very high end there are heavy
duty closure systems that get used in such things as wetsuits and
waterproof bags for electronics, etc.  The best of these are made by a
copmany called Tizip who have a web site at http://www.tizip.com/
though you can't order online.  Their contact information is on the
site, but I think this is probably overkill for you.

For some lighter duty applications like cosmetic bags and pencil
cases, which is probably more like what you need, are plastic rails
and sliders from the ubiquitous zipper manufacturer YKK.  You can see
an example the sort of thing they have to offer here:
http://www.ykkamerica.com/YKK_USA/zippers/rail/rail.htm

You can't order online from YKK, but they do have dealers all around
the world. YKK can be contacted at 1-888-YKK-INFO to get more detailed
product information about the plastic rails closures products and to
find a local dealer.

Finally, what is probably your best bet, YKK makes water repellent
zippers that are coated with polyurethane.  These are likely to be
easier to work with than rails and can take a bit more abuse.  I have
used products with rails in the past and they don't take stress very
well.  Overstuffing a bag with one of these closures results in the
rails popping open, which is obviously not a good thing.

There are are four different models listed uder 'water repellent
zippers' here: http://www.ykkfastening.com/global/search/index.html

At the bottom of the product page for each item you click on the area
of the world you're in and a page will show you contact information
for YKK dealers close to you.

There may also be other manufacturers of water repellent zippers, but
diligent searching didn't turn up anything conclusive.  Certainly YKK
has the reputation behind it that no other zipper manufacturer could
match, so I don't think you can go too wrong dealing with them.

I hope this information proves sufficient for you needs.  Feel free to
ask for clarification if you have any questions about the information
I've provided.  I wish you success with making your baby wipe bags; it
sounds like an excellent idea.

Hibiscus

Search strategy: waterproof zipper, wetsuit zipper, ykk zipper online,
pvc zipper

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Request for Answer Clarification by jude1-ga on 25 Oct 2003 17:03 PDT

Hibiscus,
The rails are two sided; I need them to be one sided, as half of it
will be inside the product. All of the pictures show the two rails
laying against each other with the slider on top. I need the rails to
lay beside each other with the slider joining the two rails in the
middle. Also, with the pvc coated zipper; it looks *very* heavy duty!
And it is not available in North America (where I am located). Perhaps
we are not talking about the same thing? The link you provided
generated a generic home page on the site, so I had to search and I
may not have found the same product you referred to. Please let me
know about these two problems.
Thanks,
Jude

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Clarification of Answer by hibiscus-ga on 25 Oct 2003 17:45 PDT

Hi Jude, 

Yes, I see what you mean about the one-sided sliders.  I somehow got
the impression that the second one from the top was two sided, but it
isn't.  In that case the Tizip product is really the only thing that
fits the bill.

As to the waterproof zippers, I see now that the link just takes you
to the main page and doesn't take you through the site to the
appropriate spot.  I can't link to that apparently, but I can tell you
how to get there.

Move your mouse over 'Products' on the menu bar at the top of the
page, then click 'Zipper and Slider' from the drop down menu.

Along the left navigation bar, click 'New Products'.  The water
repellent zippers are the first four products listed.  They are not
the very large, heavy duty water repellent zippers that YKK offers,
but are much smaller and more attractive.  The models are the 5CNT8,
CNT8OR-56, CNT8OL-56, CNT8MR-56.

Sorry about the mistake on the rails.  I should have noticed that.

If you still have any trouble getting to the site, or if you have any
other questions, please let me know.

Hibiscus