Packaging machinery question guide
Direct answer: Flow wrapping forms film horizontally around an oriented product and makes longitudinal and cross seals; shrink wrapping encloses or sleeves a product or collation in film that is then shrunk with heat; VFFS forms a bag vertically and receives a measured product dose. The correct process is determined by the required finished pack and product presentation.
These processes are not interchangeable versions of one wrapper. They create different pack structures and rely on different loading, film and sealing conditions.
| Factor or method | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Horizontal flow wrapping | A continuous film web is formed around an oriented product and sealed. | Product pitch, orientation, fin seal and cross-seal clearance are central. |
| Shrink wrapping | Film is placed around a product or collation and shrunk in a controlled heat process. | Film selection, enclosure, ventilation and heat exposure matter. |
| VFFS | Rollstock film is formed vertically into a bag that receives a dose. | Dosing, forming tube, product drop and seal cleanliness matter. |
| Pre-made pouch filling | A supplied pouch is opened, filled and closed. | Useful comparison when a formed pouch feature is required. |
Horizontal flow wrapping is appropriate when products can be presented in a repeatable orientation and pitch and the required pack is a sealed film envelope around each product or group. The infeed and product-to-seal relationship are critical.
Use representative products, including variation in length, height, surface friction and fragility. Confirm whether loading is manual, from a feeder or from an upstream process.
Shrink wrapping is appropriate when film should conform around a product or collation after heat exposure, often for multipacks, protection or presentation rather than a precisely formed pillow bag. The product and packaging must tolerate the process.
Review film type, opening or sleeve method, required ventilation, tunnel conditions, product heat sensitivity and the finished appearance. A competent risk assessment is required for the installed heat process.
VFFS is appropriate when loose product can be dosed vertically into a bag made from rollstock film. The dosing system, forming set, film and sealing cycle must operate as one timed process.
Powders, granules, pieces, liquids and pastes require different dosing and cut-off arrangements. The product must clear the seal area before each cross seal is made.
Provide the actual product, target finished-pack examples, intended film or pouch and the smallest, largest and most difficult formats. Identify barrier, print, seal and appearance requirements that cannot be judged from dimensions alone.
A fair comparison uses the same product condition and acceptance criteria for each process. If the required pack architecture changes, record that as a commercial and presentation trade-off rather than treating the machines as direct equivalents.
The final machine configuration and any compliance or performance claim must be confirmed against the actual application, samples, site conditions and agreed test method.
Provide the product, target pack sample, film information and loading method so Lancing can compare the packaging processes on a common brief.
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