HFFS - Horizontal Form Fill and Seal

Horizontal Form Fill and Seal (HFFS) machines shape, fill, and seal packaging materials horizontally. They are used across the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and household product industries. Also known simply as a horizontal form fill seal machine, it forms each pouch from roll film in one continuous horizontal process.

How it works

1. Film feeding: packaging film is fed from a roll.
2. Forming: the film is shaped into the desired bag or pouch configuration.
3. Dosing: product is dispensed into the pouches using one of the dosing methods below.
4. Sealing: the packaging is sealed using methods such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or pressure sealing.
5. Cutting: individual packages are cut from the continuous film into separate units.

Pouch styles

• 3 side-seal: sealed on three sides, suited to products from snacks to confectionery.
• 4 side-seal: sealed on all four sides for added stability, suited to pharmaceuticals and personal care products.
• Twin pouch: two separate compartments in a single pouch for packaging distinct products together, often used for household cleaning products.
• Zip lock bag: a resealable zipper closure, suited to frozen foods and bakery items.
• Euro hole: a hole for hanging on retail hooks, optimising visibility and shelf space.
• Customised shape: tailored pouch shapes for specialty food products and cosmetics.
• Stand up bag / pouch: shelf visibility for snacks, pet treats, and other retail items.
• Stand up bag / pouch with zip lock: suited to products like baby food and dried fruits.
• Stand up bag / pouch with zip lock and punch hole: display options suited to hardware items and craft supplies.
• Spouted stand up pouch: for liquids or pourable products such as beverages and sauces.
• Corner spout bag: corner-positioned spouts for liquid and granular products such as cooking oils and detergents.

Dosing methods

• Servo auger powder filler: a servo-driven auger measures and dispenses powders.
• Servo piston liquid filler: a servo-driven piston measures and dispenses liquids.
• Servo solid volumetric cup filler: servo-driven volumetric cups measure and dispense solid products.
• Multi-head weighing system: high-speed, high-accuracy weighing using multiple heads.
• Vibratory solid feeder: vibration feeds solid products for consistent, controlled flow.
• Capsule/tablet counting system: counts and dispenses capsules or tablets, suited to pharmaceuticals and small items.

Features and benefits

• High efficiency: operates at speeds from 40 to 200 packs per minute.
• Versatility: accommodates diverse packaging formats, sizes, and types.
• Accuracy and consistency: consistent dosing, filling, and sealing for product quality and weight.
• Labour cost reduction: automation reduces manual labour.
• Hygienic design: easy-to-clean surfaces that meet food safety and hygiene standards.
• Customisation options: additional features such as printing for branding and labelling.

Applications

• Snack foods
• Bakery products
• Frozen foods
• Confectionery
• Pharmaceuticals
• Personal care products
• Household items

Output

Operates at 40 to 200 packs per minute.