Horizontal Pouch

Horizontal form fill and seal machines are often referred to as HFFS machines. HFFS machines come in different styles. Here, we examine HFFS pouch machines and HFFS flow wrapper machines.

HFFS Pouch Machines

Key Features of Horizontal Form Fill and Seal (HFFS) Machines

Flexibility: HFFS machines can accommodate a wide range of pouch sizes and styles, including stand-up pouches, flat pouches, and gusseted pouches. They can also handle different types of products, such as liquids, powders, and granular materials.

High Speed and Efficiency: These machines are designed for high-speed production, which makes them suitable for high-volume packaging operations. They can produce large quantities of pouches quickly and efficiently.

Consistency and Accuracy: HFFS machines provide precise control over pouch dimensions, filling volumes, and sealing. This ensures consistency and accuracy in the packaging process, which is crucial for maintaining product quality and meeting regulatory standards.

Ease of Integration: HFFS machines can be integrated with other production equipment, such as filling stations, labeling machines, and conveyors, creating a streamlined packaging line.

Customizable Options: These machines offer various customization options, including different sealing techniques, film types, and filling mechanisms, allowing manufacturers to tailor the machine to their specific needs.

Cost-Effectiveness: While the initial investment in an HFFS machine can be significant, the efficiency, high production rates, and reduced material cost compared to PMPs, make it a cost-effective choice for higher volume packaging operations.

Hygiene and Safety: Modern HFFS machines are designed with hygiene and safety in mind, featuring easy-to-clean components and safety mechanisms to protect operators.

How Horizontal Form Fill and Seal (HFFS) Machines Work

Film Unwinding: The process begins with a roll of flat film being fed into the machine. The film is typically made of materials like plastic or foil, which are selected based on the product’s requirements and the desired pouch characteristics.

Forming: The film is then drawn through a series of forming steps that shape it into a tube and then pouch. This forming process is done horizontally, meaning the film moves through the machine in a horizontal direction.

Sealing: Once the film is folded into a tube, it is sealed along its vertical seam using heat and pressure. This creates a continuous tube of film with vertical sealed seams which creates the pouch.

Filling: The product is then introduced into the open end of each pouch. This can be done using various filling mechanisms depending on the type of product (e.g., auger fillers for powders, pumps for liquids).

Sealing: After filling, the pouch is sealed at the top using heat and pressure. This process closes the open ends of the pouch, creating individual, sealed pouches.

Cutting: The machine cuts the continuous tube of pouches into individual units, each with the appropriate size and shape.

Discharge: The finished pouches are then discharged from the machine and are ready for further handling, labeling, or distribution.

Key Considerations

Product Type: The machine must be compatible with the type of product being packaged—powders, granules, or liquids. The filling system should be appropriate for the product’s characteristics (e.g., bulk density for powders or viscosity for liquids).

Package Size and Shape: Stick pack machines can be adjusted to produce various stick pack lengths and widths. Customization options may be available to meet specific requirements.

Speed and Output: Consider the required production speed and whether the machine needs to integrate with other systems in your production line.

Film Material: The choice of film material affects the package’s durability, appearance, and sealing properties. The film should be chosen based on the product’s shelf life and protection needs.

Integration Partner Selection: Finding the right integration partner is a key to success for your packaging automation project. Right Stuff Equipment will help you with the right solution. info@rightstuffequipment.com  303-327-4704.

A typical automated pouch packaging line with an HFFS pouch machine is shown below with  the additional equipment before and after the pouch machine. An experienced integrator can help you select the right packaging equipment to deliver a balanced line right for your needs.

Integrated HFFS pouch equipment will normally incorporate additional equipment to create a turn-key packaging line. RSE can provide the turnkey system for your facility. Email or call us now at 303-327-4704.

Marking and Coding: Incorporated into the filler or executed immediately after the filler to track lot numbers, batch codes and expiration dated. Also used increasingly for track and trace requirements that are becoming more popular. A variety of coding options are available. CIJ, Thermal Transfer, HP, Dot Matrix, Hot Wax, Labeling and Embossing all have their place in packaging automation to identify and code products. Right Stuff Equipment will help you identify the right identification system for your application.

Inspection: These can include metal detection, check weigh, X-ray or vision to identify products or packaging that does not meet quality standards. Many of the larger retailers are requiring X-ray inspection for food products. A letter from Costco is a prominent example.

Structures: Many flexible film automated packaging systems will require a structure of some type. Machine stands, platforms and mezzanines are common.

Feeders: There are many feeders for flexible film packaging equipment. Auger feeders, bucket elevators, incline conveyors, pneumatic conveyors are all used to deliver the product to the filler that then delivers the right amount of product to the flexible film packaging machine.

Product Fillers: There are many feeders for flexible film packaging equipment. Auger fillers, liquid fillers, scales, counters are common fillers used to deposit the product into the flexible film package.

Cartoning equipment and Case Packing equipment: Usually consists of loading the pieces into cartons or master cases.

Robotic Palletizing: Robots have taken a large part of the palletizing automation market share. The advantages include reliability, performance and competitive pricing.

Considering your options for other robotics? Contact RSE at 303.327.4704, or Email Us for more information.