What Can You Package on a Vertical Form/Fill/Seal Machine?

Welcome back to Package This — your guide to learning all about packaging machinery and materials. After this video, click on the quiz to the right of the description to see if you’ve become an expert on today’s topic.

Today we're exploring vertical form/fill/seal equipment, also known as VFFS machines or vertical baggers. These machines are so-named because they form bags from roll stock, fill them with product while positioned vertically, and seal them immediately — all in one continuous operation.

Stick Pack

Let’s start small with stick packs. These tubular shaped bags carry small portions of products, perfect for the on-the-go lifestyle. Since these machines work with such small amounts per package, the forming, filling, and cutting of stick packs demands exceptional precision.

That's where the FC-1000 from THEM/Sanko comes in. The quintessential machine made by the inventors of the stick pack, this stick pack machine is engineered to last: some models of this machine have been running for over 30 years in North American production facilities. Variants of the FC-1000 can handle both dry and liquid applications in up to 16 lanes, with adjustable stick lengths.

A variety of film types can be accommodated. Waste is minimized by a combination of features that guarantee top-quality seals. These include moving filling nozzles, servo motors, and ultra-precise dosing cycles that work together to keep the sealing area clean and clear.

Sachets & Portion Packs

Portion pack bags, or sachets, use a similar vertical bagging technology but one that is scaled down even further for highly compact packages that hold just enough product for a single portion or use.

The FR Series from Sanko North America is designed to help brands increase shelf life for products by running zero headspace sachets, reducing the need for costly modified atmosphere packaging processes.

The FR Series takes roll stock and cuts it into small strips, before filling and sealing on four corners to form square or rectangular-shaped bags — perfect for food service items like condiments and sugar packets, or for pharmaceutical and personal care samples.

These sachet baggers can handle sachets for a wide variety of liquid products from water to paste consistency with technology that keeps particulates out of seals.

The FR Series can be configured up to 16 lanes, running 250 cycles per minute in continuous motion for increased speed and throughput.

Standard Pillow Pouch

Next up: pillow pouch machines. These baggers are used for your favorite snacks, including potato chips.

They get their name from using gas flushing to puff up the bag with nitrogen for added protection of the product inside. Displacing oxygen slows rancidity and preserves crunch, while the nitrogen cushion helps protect fragile products from crushing in shipping and handling.

Because gravity feeds product straight into the forming tube, these systems run at high speeds and low cost per pack, making them a top choice for high-volume snack production

Solid VFFS

If you think VFFS systems are just for salty snacks – think again! Vertical baggers also handle solid products like meats, frozen foods, pet foods, cheeses, and non-food items.

One common application is the chub pack: a cylindrical tube of ground meat or other proteins, sealed on both ends with metal clips as it's filled. Chub packs resist punctures better than trays and extend shelf life by limiting air and light exposure, making them a popular choice for ground beef, sausage, turkey, and pet food.

Liquid Applications

So far we have seen lots of examples of solid products going into bags, but VFFS technology doesn't shy away from liquids and semi-liquids, either.

Soups, sauces, and condiments can be filled hot into bags or pouches, while dairy products are cold-filled to stay cool, smooth, and creamy throughout the process.

Quad-Seal Bags

Finally, quad-seal bags feature four seals and a distinctive rectangular shape that stands out on shelf. They're a popular choice for coffee, nuts, snacks, cookies, and other powdery or granular products.

From popcorn bags and stand-up pouches of rice to sachets for soy sauce and stick packs for powdered sports drinks, vertical baggers cover it all — offering efficiency, speed, and versatility in a single, seamless bagging operation.

And before you go, don’t forget to click on the quiz below this video to test your knowledge.

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And if you're exploring vertical bagging machines or other equipment, check out PMMI ProSource at ProSource.org — a searchable directory of the top 1,000 packaging and processing suppliers in North America.

Thanks, and until next time — keep on packaging!