Vertical form, fill and seal machines

A vertical form, fill and seal machine ensures that all products can be reliably packed in bags. Fill up to 100 bags per minute with the vertical form, fill and seal machine and securely seal your food or other powdered products in one operation.

What is a vertical form, fill and sealing machine?

A vertical form,fill and seal machine, or vvvs machine or vffs machine is an automatic vertical packaging machine. This machine is mostly used in the food industry. The machine forms, in a vertical process, from a roll of film a (plastic) bag that is simultaneously filled with solids or liquids and then sealed.

A vertical form, fill and sealing machine allows virtually all different types of products to be packed into bags with high output and reliability. Forming, filling and sealing in one operation. Packaging machines are fascinating machines that can be used to package a wide variety of products in a wide variety of ways.

Vertical forming, filling and sealing machines are highly flexible machines in which the most diverse products can be efficiently and effectively packed, and attractively presented - from your daily coffee to artisan tortellini and from a variety of fresh vegetables to frozen prawns. And of course plugs, insecticides, washing powders and marbles are also packed in bags and pouches.

VFFS machines are suitable for a wide range of products, which can be divided into the following four main groups:

bulk materials ranging from nuts and cookies to bolts and screws;
powders, such as ground coffee or powdered milk;
grains or granules, such as washing powder;
liquids: usually single-use (portion) containers of, for example, ketchup, mayonnaise, salad dressing or shower foam.

How does a VFFS machine work?

Film (flat) is unwound from the film roll; either driven or pulled;
Throughout the machine, the (flat) film is held in tension by fixed and sprung idler rollers;
Through the shoulder and filling tube, the film is formed into a tube of film;
The film is sealed vertically to create a tube film (longitudinal seal);
The tube film is now transported one bag length over the filling tube;
The sealing jaws seal the bottom of the bag (cross-seal);
After sealing, this bag is filled with the product through the filling tube (by dosing weigher, MHW);
After filling, the bag is sealed at the top and immediately the bottom for the next bag.
The space between the top seal of the bag and the bottom seal of the next bag is cut.
The process begins again.

Intermittent machines versus continuous machines

Vertical form, fill and sealing machines come in two main types: intermittent machines and machines with a continuous operating principle, called continuous machines. In an intermittent machine, the packaging material stands still when the longitudinal seam is to be sealed: that is, once per machine cycle. In a continuous machine, the material is transported continuously.

Types of sealing systems for VFFS machines.

Heat-sealing systems: this system combines heat, time and pressure to create a seal through one set of sealing jaws. When the sealing jaws come together, the two layers of plastic melt together. This principle can work at high speeds and for many types of plastic.
Polyseal systems: This system combines heat, time and pressure to create a seal using two sets of sealing jaws. One set of outer jaws and one set of inner jaws. The outer jaws clamp the film in place. The inner jaws seal the bag and cut it loose from the next bag. Sealing is done (usually) by means of a heat pulse (impulse sealing). Generally, this system is used with PE (Polyethylene) film (frozen French fries and frozen vegetables).
Ultrasonic sealing systems: this sealing system is basically a "cold" welding system that works by friction. This is created by an oscillation tool, which generates excluded heat, in the area where the films touch. The vibration required for friction in ultrasonic welding operates at a frequency of 20-40 KHz. The advantage is that less energy is used compared to heat sealing systems and also the weld can be made shorter (less high), saving foil.

Parts for vertical form, fill and sealing machines at Unspi.com

We sell aftermarket parts (packaging knives, perforation knives, sealing jaws, sealing wires, film transport belts, sealing tapes, sealing rubber, Teflon, heating elements, temperature controllers (Ropex), temperature probes (PT-100), silicone strips and glass-hard fabrics) of brands such as Bosch, GEA, Rovema, inno-tech, Ilapak, Sandiacre, Hayssen, tna-robag, Kopas, Prewa, JASA. View the entire range in our webshop.