Automatic Vertical Packing Machine for Food: Roll Film to Pillow Bags, Pouch Filling & Sealing

Vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines are the workhorses of food packaging. They pull roll stock film into a forming tube, create a bag, dose the product, and seal—all in a compact footprint. If you package snacks, powders, frozen foods, or granular ingredients, a modern VFFS line can reduce waste, boost throughput, and standardize quality—while using lower-cost roll film compared with pre-made pouches.

Looking for a turnkey system or guidance on specs? Explore solutions and request a quote at HMD Packaging Machine.

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What a VFFS Machine Does (in Plain Terms)

An automatic vertical packing machine converts roll film into finished pillow bags or pouch styles and handles:

• Bag forming (from flat film)

• Product filling (via auger, volumetric cup, multihead/combination weigher, or pump)

• Sealing (fin, lap, or ultrasonic options)

• Date/batch coding, labels, and discharge to takeaway conveyors or case packers

You get continuous operation with tight control over film tension, temperature, sealing dwell time, and cut length.

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How Pillow Bags & Pouches Are Made: Step-by-Step

1. Film unwind & tracking – Dancer arms/servo keep tension stable; sensors align registration marks.

2. Forming – Film wraps a forming collar; vertical seal creates a tube.

3. Filling – The dosing system drops product precisely as the cross-sealing jaws close.

4. Sealing & cutting – Cross seals close, creating the top seal of one bag and the bottom of the next; integrated knife separates bags.

5. Coding/printing – Thermal transfer or inkjet prints lot/date before discharge.

6. Discharge – Finished bags exit via conveyor to inspection (checkweigher/metal detector) and case packing.

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Compatible Products & Films

Products: snacks, nuts & seeds, coffee, candies, rice & grains, spices & powders, frozen vegetables, shredded cheese, pet treats, bakery mixes, IQF items, and more.

Films: OPP/CPP, PET/PE, metallized laminates, high-barrier structures, recyclable mono-material PE, paper-laminate for a natural look. For oily or sharp products, choose tougher laminations and wider seal jaws.

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Key Technical Specs (Typical Ranges)

(Exact specs vary by model; use this as a scoping guide.)

• Output speed: ~30–120 bags/min (product-, film-, and seal-dependent)

• Bag width: ~60–300 mm; bag length: ~80–420 mm (extended for long pillows)

• Film width: ~320–720 mm (machine frame dependent)

• Dosing accuracy: solids ±0.5–1.5%, powders ±1–2% (with appropriate filler)

• Uptime: commonly 95–98% in stable production environments

• Changeover: recipe-driven; <15 minutes with tool-less forming set swaps

• Air & power: ~0.6–0.8 MPa compressed air; three-phase 380–480V (regional variants available)

• Hygiene: stainless steel frames, IP-rated panels, washdown options

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Benefits That Matter (Ops, QA, and Finance)

Operations

• Roll-to-bag automation in a small footprint

• Servo motion = smooth pulls, consistent seals, less film waste

Quality & Compliance

• Repeatable seal integrity and date coding

• Easy HACCP/FSMA documentation with event logging

Finance

• Roll film typically costs 15–35% less than pre-made pouches

• Payback often 6–18 months depending on volume and labor savings

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When to Choose VFFS vs. HFFS or Pre-Made Pouches

Choose VFFS when you need speed, lower packaging cost, and simple bag styles (pillow/flat-bottom/gusseted).
Choose HFFS for flow-wrapped items (bars, bakery) lying horizontally.
Choose pre-made pouch lines for premium stand-up pouches with zippers if volumes are lower or SKUs are very diverse.

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Integration & Options that Future-Proof Your Line

• Multihead/combination weigher for snacks & particulates

• Auger filler for powders; piston/pump for sauces/pastes

• Gas flush/MAP to extend shelf life

• Checkweigher & metal detector for QA compliance

• Zipper applicator, euro-slot, easy-tear notch

• Thermal transfer overprinter (TTO) for sharp date/batch codes

• Remote diagnostics & recipe management via touchscreen HMI

• Downstream automation: case packer, palletizer

To plan the right bundle of options, connect with HMD Packaging Machine for application-specific recommendations.

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Installation, Training & Maintenance

• Site readiness: power, air, film path layout, mezzanine (if the weigher needs elevation)

• FAT/SAT: run key SKUs on site; confirm seals, weights, and codes

• Operator training: HMI navigation, film threading, jam clearing, recipe saves

• Preventive maintenance: seal jaw inspection, belt checks, blade and Teflon replacement, encoder calibration

• Spare parts kit: belts, heaters, thermocouples, knives, seal Teflon, sensors—avoid downtime

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ROI Snapshot (Conservative Example)

• Current manual/semiauto packers: 8 operators × $20/hr

• VFFS line replaces 5 operators per shift → $100/hr saved

• 2 shifts/day, 5 days/week → ~$4,000/week labor savings

• Film savings vs. pre-made pouches: $0.02–$0.06/unit

• At 40,000 units/week, film savings $800–$2,400/week

• Combined savings $4,800–$6,400/week → potential payback in months, not years (depends on capex and mix)

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Food Safety & Regulatory Considerations

• Materials: FDA/EU food-contact compliant films & inks

• Traceability: lot/batch coding on every bag

• Allergens & sanitation: washdown design, controlled changeovers

• Validation: seal strength tests (peel tests), burst tests, and weight checks

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Buying Checklist

•  Target bag sizes (min/max width & length)

•  Throughput (bags/min now & in 12–24 months)

•  Product states (powder, granular, sticky, oily, frozen)

•  Film types (barrier needs, recyclability goals, thickness)

•  Dosing system (auger, weigher, pump)

•  Options (MAP, zipper, easy-tear, euro-slot)

•  QA (checkweigher, metal detector, vision)

•  Utilities (power, air, floor space, mezzanine)

•  Service & spares plan

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Next Steps

If you want a right-sized system—not over- or under-spec’d—share sample product, target bag sizes, and daily volumes. The team at HMD Packaging Machine can scope a VFFS configuration, film spec, and filler that match your budget and growth plan.