Glossary · Packaging and intralogistics
Horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS)
Also known as: HFFS machine, Flow wrapper
German: Horizontale Schlauchbeutelmaschine (HFFS)
In packaging, a horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS) machine forms film into a horizontal tube or pouch around products moving along a horizontal path, then seals and cuts the individual packages.
- Intralogistics
In one sentence
A horizontal form-fill-seal (HFFS) machine wraps products moving horizontally in film, then seals and cuts each package.
Example
Chocolate bars are fed one by one into the HFFS flow wrapper, which seals them in printed film at 600 packs per minute.
How it applies
- Engineering: Flow wrappers form a film tube with a longitudinal seal under the product and cut and seal the ends with rotating jaws. Other HFFS machines make standing pouches or sachets. Product feeding and spacing are critical at high speeds.
- Quality: Print registration, seal integrity and correct product position are monitored; missing or misplaced products create empty or damaged packs.
- Safety: Rotating cross-seal jaws combine cutting, crushing and thermal hazards. EN 415-3 addresses form, fill and seal machines; jaws are typically behind interlocking guards.
- Documentation: Describe film threading, format change, jaw temperature settings and cleaning. Provide troubleshooting for seal defects with photos of typical failure patterns.
HFFS vs. VFFS
Vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) suits free-flowing products filled by gravity. HFFS suits individual solid products that can be fed horizontally.