Vertical form fill & seal packaging machines: The key considerations
As one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of vertical form fill and seal packaging machines, we talk to lots of people, some very experienced, others just starting out in their careers. Irrespective of their experience, when it comes to specifying the right machine, we tend to cover the same five areas in each initial conversation.
Continuous Motion Or Intermittent?
People often think they need a Continuous Motion vertical form fill and seal packaging machine when an Intermittent model would be better suited to their needs. We’ve looked at the key differences of each type in this article: Continuous Motion And Intermittent Vertical Form Fill & Seal Machines: What’s The Difference?
Essentially, which type of machine best suits a customer’s requirements is down to their particular application: what are they packing, what is the packaging material and what is the product feed / presentation to the vertical form, fill and seal machine?
Packaging Materials
The vast majority of brands want to present their product in the best possible way. In addition, the packaging material has to perform several important roles, such as product protection, finished pack integrity and possible extended product shelf life through MAP (modified atmosphere packaging).
There are many different types of packaging materials, and each one will have its own characteristics. Understanding the attributes of the desired packaging material is key to specifying the right machine and options. The vertical form fill and seal machine must be able to receive and work with the substrate quickly and efficiently for obvious reasons!
The Forming Set
As the name suggests, the forming set is a custom piece of design work and transforms the substrate into the shape of the finished pack. It is crucial to get it right. It is not just the shape of the forming that is key. When designing the forming set, we have to consider the product being handled and the type of factory in which the vertical form, fill and seal machine will operate. The design also needs to consider the feed system, product type, particle size, and production speed required. In addition, if the product has a dust content – for example, confectionery or quarry products, this must be considered in the forming set design specification. Other applications could be in a high care, cold environment – IQF frozen foods. Then the forming set design will need to take into account these different environmental conditions.
The Factory Environment
There are many different types of factories, and each has its own unique environmental considerations. High care factories have frequent hygiene programs. When specifying a machine for a customer, we need to consider all the operational environment, as this will impact the machine specification and the optional items required.
We also look at how the product will be presented to the packaging machine. What type of feed system will be required, and how does it interface with the packaging machine? We need to ensure that the product feed is correct for the application and plant speed specified.
New Or Refurbished?
Many customers we talk to are convinced that buying a brand new machine is their only option. This isn’t always the case; when it’s right for the customer and application, we may offer one of our factory refurbished machines. We sometimes offer the option of renting a GIC vertical form fill and seal machine from us. These machines come from our stock of older GIC machines which have come back to us as a part-exchange contract; we always tend to have a good selection of factory refurbished models available. Each factory refurbished machine comes as a complete rebuild, including new electrical and pneumatic components. They come with an ‘as new’ full 12-month warranty, guaranteeing peace of mind and performance.
If you’re considering introducing a new production line or improving an existing one and unsure which type of VFFS packaging machine is right for you, we hope this brief overview is helpful. If you need more advice or information, don’t hesitate to get in touch – call us on 01427 611 885, email info@gic.uk.net or fill in our contact form.
