KLIPPITS: JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED

HALLIE FORCINIO

A product designed in Europe for medical handling requirements is now available to make reclosing film, paper, paperboard or foil packages easy.

Developed by a Swedish physician, Brief Klippits are hinged nylon clips that are liquid-tight and withstand repeated opening and closing. They are available in three sizes -- 65, 90 and 170 millimeters -- for sealing bags up to 5, 7 and 15 centimeters, respectively. The clips are not in use yet in the United States. However, they have been used by Kellogg Co. in Britain as a promotional tool to spur sales of corn flakes and by Japanese fishermen to seal live fish in bags of water for transport from boat to buyer. About 4 million were sold in 1992 in Germany to companies such as Melitta. Available from Weland Medical AB, Smalandsstenar, Sweden, the clips can be imprinted with logo types and other messages and are offered in white, red, yellow, blue, green and black.

A smaller clip, made of polypropylene and called Weloc, is designed to seal frozen food bags.