Methods of making flexible containers with structural support frames

A method of making disposable, flexible containers for fluent products, the method comprising:

• forming a partially completed container blank that includes a flexible inner sheet and a flexible outer sheet;
• filling a fluent product into a first space within the partially completed container blank;
• adding an expansion material into a second space, which is separate from the first space, within the partially completed container blank;
• sealing both the flexible inner sheet and the flexible outer sheet to form at least part of a flow channel for dispensing the fluent product from a product space, which is in fluid communication with the first space;
• sealing both the flexible inner sheet and the flexible outer sheet to form at least part of a structural support volume, which is in fluid communication with the second space, wherein the first space and the second space are not in fluid communication;
• sealing both the flexible inner sheet and the flexible outer sheet to form at least part of a cap seal, which hermetically seals the product volume;
• sealing both the flexible inner sheet and the flexible outer sheet to form at least part of a tab seal;
• shaping the partially completed container blank by cutting through at least part of the tab seal using laser cutting, where removal of the tab seal provides access to the flow channel and the first space;
• and
• forming the flexible containers, wherein each flexible container includes:
• the product space;
• and
• the structural support volume.