Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Form-fill-seal machine
Also known as: FFS machine, Form, fill and seal machine
German: Form-Fill-Seal-Maschine
In packaging, a form-fill-seal machine is a packaging machine that forms packages from flat film or web material, fills them with product and seals them in one continuous process.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A form-fill-seal machine forms packages from film or web, fills them with product and seals them in one continuous process.
Example
A form-fill-seal machine turns printed film from the reel into sealed coffee bags and fills 250 g into each bag.
How it applies
- Engineering: Form-fill-seal machines combine film unwinding, forming, dosing, sealing and cutting. Sealing temperature, pressure and time must suit the film; dosing equipment depends on the product.
- Quality: Seal integrity and fill quantity are key quality characteristics, checked with leak tests, checkweighers and inspection systems.
- Safety: Sealing jaws, knives and film drives create thermal, cutting and crushing hazards. Form, fill and seal machines are covered by EN 415-3 in addition to ISO 12100.
- Documentation: Include film specifications, film threading as an illustrated task, sealing parameters per product and cleaning procedures. Hygiene requirements in food and pharma make cleaning instructions especially important.
Vertical vs. horizontal form-fill-seal
Vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines form bags around a vertical tube and fill by gravity, suited to free-flowing products. Horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS) machines work horizontally and suit solid items such as bars.