What are the different types of packaging machines?
Friday July-18 2025 17:34:33
Packaging machines are indispensable key equipment in modern industrial production. Depending on the characteristics of the materials, packaging machines can handle various materials such as milk powder, granular materials such as candy, liquid materials such as beverages, paste materials such as toothpaste, and solid materials such as biscuits. Structurally, packaging machines are mainly composed of feeding systems, metering devices, molding mechanisms, sealing components, and control systems. Its core functional parameters include packaging speeds of usually 20-200 packs/minute, accuracy of up to ±0.5%, applicable packaging material ranges such as PET, PE, aluminum foil, etc., and temperature control accuracy of ±1°C.
According to different classification standards, packaging machines can be divided into many types according to function, degree of automation, and product type. Common types of packaging machines include HFFS, VFFS, fully automatic packaging machines, semi-automatic packaging machines, food packaging machines, and pharmaceutical packaging machines.
Classification by function
Horizontal (HFFS) and vertical (VFFS) form-fill-seal machines have their own characteristics: HFFS is suitable for irregular and fragile products, and has strong adaptability to horizontal layout; VFFS is for fluid materials, and has high efficiency in vertical design, which is the mainstream choice for granule and powder packaging.
Horizontal form-fill-seal machines (HFFS) use horizontal movement to first horizontally unfold the packaging material into a tube, then fill the product, and finally seal and cut it horizontally. This type of machine has a compact structure and a small footprint. It is suitable for fragile, poorly fluid or special-shaped products such as biscuits, chocolate bars, etc. Its typical packaging speed can reach 120 packs/minute (depending on the specific material or function), and the packaging size adjustment range is usually between 50-300mm. The advantage of HFFS machines is that they can realize complex shape packaging and have strong adaptability to product size changes.
Vertical form-fill-seal machines (VFFS) are currently the most widely used packaging machines. They use vertical forming. The packaging material is formed vertically from the roll to form a tube. After the product is filled from the top, it is sealed in the vertical direction. VFFS machines are suitable for materials with good fluidity such as powder, granules, and liquids, such as rice, sugar, washing powder, seasonings, nuts, washing powder, etc. Its packaging speed can be as high as 200 bags/minute (depending on the material or function), and the metering accuracy can reach ±0.3%.
Classification by degree of automation
According to automation, it can be divided into fully automatic and semi-automatic. Fully automatic packaging machines realize unmanned and fast production, with high precision and fast speed; semi-automatic packaging machines require manual assistance but are highly flexible and suitable for small batches and multiple varieties. Both have their own advantages to meet different production needs.
Fully automatic packaging machines integrate advanced PLC control systems and servo drive technology, and can automatically complete the entire process from film supply, molding, metering filling, sealing to finished product output without manual intervention. Its common functional parameters include packaging speed (such as 40-120 bags per minute), error accuracy (within ±1%) and compatibility with a variety of bag types (pillow bags, stand-up bags, gusset bags, etc.).
Semi-automatic packaging machines require manual participation in some processes, such as product placement and bag alignment. Typical equipment include semi-automatic weighing packaging machines and manual filling and sealing machines. The structure of this type of equipment is relatively simple, mainly composed of a workbench, a heating and sealing mechanism, and a simple control system. The packaging speed is usually between 10-60 packs/minute, which is suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises or small batch multi-variety production. From the comparison of functional parameters, although the semi-automatic machine has low efficiency, it has the characteristics of high flexibility and convenient production change, and is particularly suitable for packaging irregular or fragile products.
Classification by product type
According to different product types, it can be divided into: food, medicine, and cosmetic packaging machines. Food machines focus on hygiene and material compatibility, pharmaceutical machines emphasize cleanliness and precision, and cosmetic machines focus on appearance and versatility.
Food packaging machines have special requirements in terms of hygiene standards and material compatibility, and usually use 304 stainless steel structures and food-grade lubricating parts. Applicable materials such as packaging equipment for biscuits, quick-frozen foods, puffed foods, and beverages are required to have moisture-proof and fresh-keeping functions and meet food safety and hygiene standards. The equipment materials are mostly 304 stainless steel, with no dead angles on the contact surface, which is easy to clean.
Pharmaceutical packaging machines have extremely high requirements for cleanliness and precision. Most of them operate in a GMP clean environment and are equipped with air purification systems and dust covers. Common equipment used for packaging capsules, tablets, granular drugs, etc. includes blister packaging machines, aluminum-plastic packaging machines, etc. Structurally, pharmaceutical packaging machines usually adopt a modular design, which is easy to clean and sterilize. Key components such as metering screws are made of special materials to prevent cross contamination.
Cosmetic packaging machines focus on appearance quality and versatility. For example, cream filling machines use piston metering and rotary filling technology, which is suitable for products with different viscosities; applicable materials such as filling and sealing machines for facial masks, lotions, and creams. The equipment must be compatible with a variety of viscosity liquids, have vacuum degassing, automatic filling and cleaning functions, and emphasize beauty and sealing.
Other special types of packaging equipment
Other types of packaging machines include: vacuum packaging machines, pre-made bag packaging machines, multi-row packaging machines, and rotary packaging machines. Vacuum packaging prolongs shelf life. Pre-made bag machines are suitable for high-end products. Multi-row/rotary machines meet the needs of small-dose packaging and adapt to different production scenarios.
Vacuum packaging machines significantly prolong the shelf life of products by extracting air from the packaging bag and sealing it. The core parameters include vacuum degree and sealing width, which are usually 8-10mm. Structurally, it consists of a vacuum chamber, an exhaust system, a heat sealing device and a control system. According to the degree of automation, it can be divided into single-chamber, double-chamber and continuous types. Food-grade equipment is also often equipped with a gas mixing device.
Pre-made bag packaging machines directly use pre-made packaging bags for packaging, such as zipper bags and self-supporting bags, which are suitable for high-end powders, liquids and solid products. Automatic bag opening, filling and sealing are performed by a robot, which is particularly suitable for special-shaped packaging and high-end products. Compared with molding packaging machines, although the material cost of pre-made bag packaging is higher, the pattern printing quality is more exquisite and complex bag structures can be achieved.
Multi-row packaging machines adopt modular multi-station synchronous design and are equipped with high-precision servo drive systems to achieve fully automated high-speed operation of bag making, metering, filling, sealing and slitting. Its core components include rotary metering screws, photoelectric positioning systems and heat sealing devices. The packaging speed can reach 100-200 bags/minute (depending on the specific function), which is particularly suitable for quantitative packaging of powdered materials such as seasoning powders and instant drinks, with a packaging accuracy of ±1%.
Rotary packaging machines adopt a circular turntable layout, integrate multiple filling stations, achieve precise positioning through a cam indexing mechanism, and cooperate with peristaltic pumps or plunger pumps to complete the quantitative filling of liquids/pastes. The equipment is equipped with a PLC control system and a touch screen human-machine interface, with a filling accuracy of ±0.5%, suitable for high-viscosity products such as cosmetics and medicines, and saves more than 30% of floor space compared to linear models.
Application fields of packaging machines
Packing machines have a wide range of applications. In the food industry, they can be used for packaging candies, biscuits, meat, beverages, etc., which can ensure food hygiene and extend shelf life; in the pharmaceutical field, they can accurately package drugs and medical devices to meet strict hygiene and safety standards; in the daily chemical industry, they can quickly complete the packaging of shampoo, skin care products, cosmetics, etc.; in the electronics industry, they can be used for anti-static and moisture-proof packaging of small electronic components and electronic products; in addition, they are also used in chemical, hardware, toys and other industries to achieve automated and standardized packaging of products, improve production efficiency, reduce labor costs, and ensure stable product quality.
The diversity of packaging machines reflects the complex needs of modern industrial production. From simple semi-automatic equipment to highly integrated intelligent packaging lines, various models have different focuses on structural design, functional parameters and application scenarios. The following key factors should be considered when selecting: product characteristics (morphology, sensitivity, etc.), production capacity requirements, packaging materials, automation requirements and investment budget, etc. For example: large-scale continuous production is suitable for VFFS fully automatic packaging machines, while small batches or diversified products may be more suitable for prefabricated bag packaging or semi-automatic equipment. In addition, parameters such as packaging speed, accuracy, compatibility, equipment material and compliance with industry standards are also important considerations in selection.
