Quad seal pouches with side gussets, printed on four panels
Quad seal pouches are flexible bags with two side gussets, sealed on four vertical edges, that square up into a box shape when filled. VLM Poliplast manufactures custom quad seal pouches in the EU, printed on all four panels in 1-8 colours, for pack weights from 500 g to 10 kg.
The format is also sold as a quad seal bag, side gusset bag or block bottom bag. We make every series to order in Bucharest, with a one-way degassing valve applied in production, a 3-finger carry handle for heavy packs, Easy Open notches and gloss, matt or soft-touch finishes, and we supply a sample for validation before the series runs.
This page is not about pillow packs with a back seal, stand up doypacks with a folded base or rollstock film for VFFS and HFFS lines: quad seal pouches are finished, premade bags, shipped with a technical data sheet and, for food, a Declaration of Compliance under Regulation (EC) No 10/2011.
Specification snapshot
| Specification | What we manufacture |
| Format | Four vertical seals and two full side gussets; squares up like a box and stacks on pallets. |
| Continuous artwork across all four panels, 1-8 colours, Pantone on request. | |
| Closures and extras | One-way degassing valve, 3-finger carry handle, Easy Open notch. |
| Pack weights | From 500 g to 10 kg; dimensions and gusset width confirmed at quotation. |
| Materials | Solventless laminates: monomaterial PP or PE, PET/PE, metallised BOPP/PE, PA/PE. |
| Food contact | Technical data sheet and Declaration of Compliance under Regulation (EC) No 10/2011. |
| Made in | Bucharest, Romania; shipped across Europe. |
Quad seal, side gusset or block bottom: which name is right?
The trade uses the names loosely, and buyers lose time comparing quotes that describe the same bag. A side gusset bag is the family name for any bag with folded side panels. A quad seal pouch adds four sealed vertical edges, which is what creates the crisp box shape and the four clean print panels. Block bottom and box pouch usually describe the same construction seen from the shelf.
Flat bottom pouches differ: they have a separately sealed horizontal base and partial gussets. Whatever the name on the quote, compare the technical data sheet, the seal layout and the gusset width; that is what determines how the bag stands, stacks and prints. The four seals are structural, not cosmetic: they spread filling stress along the edges and hold the box shape under weight, while the gusset width sets the depth of the box, which is where the extra volume comes from.
Quad seal or stand up doypack?
| Your situation | Better fit |
| Packs under 500 g, opened and resealed often | Stand up doypack with zip lock |
| 500 g to 10 kg, box shape and pallet stacking matter | Quad seal |
| Heavy packs carried by hand | Quad seal with 3-finger handle |
| Lowest cost, no shelf display needed | Pillow pack or rollstock film |
Materials and recyclability
| Structure | Typical use | Recyclability |
| BOPP/CPP | Snacks, nuts, seeds, dry goods | Monomaterial PP, designed for compatibility with the PP stream |
| PE/PE | Pet food, dry goods | Monomaterial PE, designed for compatibility with the PE stream |
| Metallised BOPP/PE | Ground coffee, oxygen-sensitive products | Mixed structure with a very thin metallic layer |
| PA/PE | Heavy and bulk products | Mixed structure, no dedicated recycling stream |
Recyclability is assessed on the complete bag, inks, lacquers and accessories included. VLM Poliplast does not issue a certified RecyClass grade: the recommended structure is documented on its technical data sheet, and the laminates themselves are covered under the structures we laminate.
Who uses quad seal pouches
Coffee roasters choose the format for larger retail and horeca packs, where the valve vents CO₂ and the four panels carry the full brand story; the roaster-specific options sit under coffee packaging range. Pet food brands use it from 2 kg upwards, with puncture-resistant PA/PE and the 3-finger handle, detailed under heavy-duty pet food bags. Rice, grains, seeds and industrial products fill out the range: describe the product in the form and you receive the recommended configuration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a quad seal bag and a side gusset bag?
Side gusset is the family name for any bag with folded side panels. A quad seal bag adds four sealed vertical edges, which squares the bag into a box shape and creates four clean print panels. Every quad seal bag is a side gusset bag, but not every side gusset bag has the four corner seals.
Can quad seal pouches be filled on VFFS or HFFS lines?
No. They are premade bags, filled on premade pouch fillers or dosed semi-automatically and manually. VFFS and HFFS lines form their packs from rollstock film; the right product for them is film made to the machine’s parameters. If you run a premade pouch filler, send us its parameters and we validate compatibility.
What pack weights suit a quad seal pouch?
The format works from 500 g to 10 kg. Below that, a stand up doypack is usually the better fit; above 1 kg the square shape, the stable base and the optional carry handle are the advantages. Dimensions and gusset width are confirmed at quotation, for your product and filling setup.
Does a quad seal coffee bag need a degassing valve?
Yes, if the coffee is packed soon after roasting: freshly roasted beans release CO₂, and without a one-way valve the pressure inflates the bag and stresses the seals. The valve is applied during production. For coffee rested before packing, it is optional, discussed at quotation.
Request a quote for quad seal pouches
Tell us the product, the pack weight and whether you need a valve, a handle or a window. You get back the recommended structure, confirmed dimensions and a quote, with a sample for validation before the series runs.
Related resources
Stand up pouches
The resealable format for packs under 1 kg, with zip lock, valve and window options.
The pouch range
Doypack, quad-seal, zipper, vacuum, flow-wrap and retort formats in one overview.
Coffee packaging
Valve options, barrier structures and formats for roasteries, from beans to ground.
Laminate structures
The multilayer laminates behind each bag, with barrier and recyclability notes.
Does your current bag lose its shape on the shelf?
Send the product, the pack weight and the structure you use today. We assess whether four sealed edges and full side gussets solve the shelf and pallet stability, and document the recommended structure on its technical data sheet.