What is a Raschel Bag?
Raschel bags are knitted — not woven. While leno mesh bags are produced on weaving looms using interlocked warp and weft tapes, raschel bags are produced on raschel knitting machines using a looping, interlocking knit construction that creates a highly elastic, soft, and conforming mesh structure.
The difference is fundamental and determines which format is correct for the product. A woven leno bag holds a fixed, rigid mesh geometry under load — the aperture size and shape are dimensionally stable. A raschel bag stretches and conforms to the shape of the product inside it, holding irregular, round, or non-uniform items more gently and more securely than a rigid mesh.
For products that are roughly round, irregular in shape, or soft-surfaced — citrus fruit, bulb onions, root vegetables, shellfish — raschel bags grip and conform to the product in a way that woven leno bags do not. A raschel bag holds a round orange more securely than a rigid mesh bag of the same nominal size. It also presents more neatly at retail, because the elastic mesh conforms tightly to the product contour and eliminates the looseness that can make a woven bag look underfilled.
➤ Raschel Bag — Construction and Properties
Raschel bags are produced from PE or PP yarn on raschel knitting machines, typically in tubular form. The knitted structure creates a mesh with hexagonal or diamond-shaped apertures that stretch in multiple directions under load — allowing the bag to expand to fit larger products and contract to hold smaller ones, within the elastic range of the yarn.
The soft, knitted surface of a raschel bag does not abrade produce in the way that the stiffer tape edges of a woven leno bag can. For soft-skinned citrus, stone fruit, and fresh vegetables where surface abrasion causes cosmetic damage and shortens shelf life, raschel bags reduce product damage in transit — which directly reduces importer claims and waste.
Raschel bags are widely used for retail citrus, onion, garlic, stone fruit, and root vegetables across European and North American produce markets, and are increasingly specified for premium fresh produce export programmes where minimising visual damage to the product surface is a commercial priority.
Construction: Knitted mesh — hexagonal or diamond aperture Elasticity: Multi-directional stretch — conforms to product shape Surface: Soft knitted yarn — minimal abrasion on produce surface Yarn Material: PE or PP Colours: Full range Closure: Draw cord · Metal clip · Heat seal Sizes: Custom — from 500 g retail packs to 10 kg bulk packs Best For: Citrus fruit, onions, garlic, stone fruit, root vegetables, soft-skinned produce requiring minimal surface abrasion — retail fresh produce packing for European and North American supermarket supply
➤ Raschel Bag vs Leno Mesh Bag – Which to Choose
| Raschel Bag | Leno Mesh Bag | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Knitted | Woven |
| Mesh Geometry | Elastic – stretches to product shape | Fixed – dimensionally stable |
| Surface Feel | Soft – minimal abrasion | Firmer tape edges |
| Product Conformity | High – wraps product contour | Lower – fixed bag geometry |
| Structural Rigidity | Lower | Higher |
| Suitable Pack Weight | Up to 10 kg typical | Up to 50 kg |
| Best For | Citrus, stone fruit, soft produce | Onion, potato, firewood, heavy produce |
| Printing | Limited – yarn surface | Yes – up to 4 colours on tape |
| Belly Band Label | Yes | Yes |
➤ Raschel Flat Fabric — Rolls
Raschel flat fabric is supplied in roll form for packers and bag-making operations that cut and finish bags in-house. Rolls are available in standard and custom widths to match bagmaking equipment dimensions, in PE or PP yarn, in the full colour range, with custom mesh aperture specifications.
Rolls with printed labels inserted at defined intervals are available the same format as leno flat fabric rolls with labels allowing automatic labelling during in-house bag making
without a separate labelling step.
Roll Width: Custom to specified finished bag dimensions Roll Length: 500 m or 1,000 m standard, custom on request Yarn Material: PE or PP Colours: Full range Labels on Roll: Available inserted at defined interval matching bag length Best For: In-house bag-making operations, packing facilities producing bags from roll stock at the packing line