Pouch packing machines are behind the packaged spices, snacks, tea and detergent you see in every store. Here is how they work.
What is a form-fill-seal machine?
An automatic pouch packing machine is a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machine. It takes a roll of packaging film, forms it into a pouch, fills it with product and seals it — in one continuous operation.
Step-by-step working
1. Film feeding
A roll of laminated film is mounted on the machine. The film passes over rollers and is pulled down by the film-pulling belts.
2. Pouch forming
The flat film is wrapped around a forming tube (collar) and its edges are joined with a vertical heat seal, creating a tube.
3. Bottom sealing
Sealing jaws close on the tube and make the bottom seal of the pouch, while also making the top seal of the previous pouch.
4. Filling
The product is dropped through the forming tube by the filling system — auger/volumetric for powders, piston for liquids, cup fillers for grains.
5. Sealing and cutting
The jaws seal the top, and a cutter separates the filled pouch. Date and batch codes are printed in-line.
Types of pouches
- Pillow pouch — flat top and bottom
- Three-side seal pouch — folded film
- Doy / zipper pouch — resealable standing pouch
- Quad-seal pouch — for premium retail products
What products can be packed?
Powders (spices, detergent, coffee), granules (rice, pulses, tea), liquids (oil, sauce, juice) and solid snacks (namkeen, candies, chips).
Choosing the right machine
Match machine speed, pouch size range and filling system to your product. For speeds up to 70 pouches per minute, an automatic pouch packing machine is ideal; for small batches a semi-automatic machine works.
