Vertical Form Fill Seal Machine

Short answer: A vertical form fill seal (VFFS) machine pulls film off a roll, shapes it around a forming tube into a bag, seals the back and bottom, receives a measured dose of product and then seals and cuts the top. The configuration is decided by the film you use, the bag style and size, the dosing device on top and how clean the seal area can be kept.

How it works

Film unwinds from a roll through tension rollers and, where needed, a coder. It passes over a forming collar that folds it into a tube around the vertical filling tube. A vertical sealer closes the back seam. Horizontal sealing jaws close the bottom of the bag; the weigher or doser above releases a portion that falls down the tube; then the jaws seal the top of this bag, which is also the bottom of the next one, and a knife cuts them apart. Optional devices add gas flushing, hole punching, gussets or bag-linking.

Which configuration fits

Form	Suits	Watch out for
Intermittent motion	Most foods, mixed products, frozen goods	Lower top speed than continuous
Continuous motion	Light snacks, high-speed lines	More sensitive to film and product flow
Pillow bag	Chips, nuts, frozen items	Less shelf presence
Gusset bag	Coffee, grains, premium packs	More forming parts and setup time

Seal contamination is the most common cause of leaking bags. Dusty powders, oily nuts and frozen products shedding ice all need attention at the jaws.

What we need from you to quote

• Product, single pack weight and bulk density
• Film type, structure and roll specifications
• Bag style and size range
• Dosing method, or whether we should supply the weigher or filler
• Target speed in finished bags per minute
• Coding, gas flushing and inspection requirements
• Power and compressed air supply

Where it sits in a line

A multihead weigher usually sits directly above the bagger on a support platform, fed by an incline hygienic conveyor. Finished bags pass to an in-line checkweigher and a food metal detector before cartoning. Products from a continuous fryer or nut roaster are typical feeds.