Packaging Equipment Manufacturers

Packaging Equipment Industry Information

Packaging Equipment

Packaging equipment refers to the different machines used to enclose and safeguard products and materials for storage, sale, distribution, and use. Also called packaging machinery, this equipment automates the packaging process, helping companies reduce labor costs, increase productivity, and improve packaging consistency and efficiency.

The History of Packaging Equipment

Early History of Packaging Equipment: Packaging has existed in various forms for thousands of years, but in ancient times, it was done by hand. Early packaging materials included nuts, gourds, leaves, animal hides, and wood. As communities grew, people made pouches, baskets, and containers from ceramics. With the rise of cities like Rome, glass-blown containers became common, and the invention of the wooden barrel, likely shaped by heating wood, marked a significant advancement in packaging history.; The 19th and 20th centuries saw the introduction of packaging machinery, spurred by the Industrial Revolution and the need for new packaging types, such as bags, food packaging, storage bins, primary and retail packaging. Many products initially used paper, and the need for faster processes led to innovations in printing and assembly. In 1861, German inventors Otto Geiger and Friedrich Hesser created the first envelope folding machines. Hesser advanced the field again in 1894 with the first pouch machine for goods like detergent. In 1890, Michael Owens in North America invented the first automatic rotary bottle-making machine, boosting the popularity of glass packaging until the 1960s.
Packaging in the 1900s: The early 1900s brought significant growth to packaging technology with the introduction of plastics. To meet the needs of this new material, engineers developed better ways to package products. One early innovation was a packaging machine developed in 1906 by The Schweizerische Industrie-Gesellschaft (SIG).; After World War I, packaging like cardboard boxes and metal cans became widely used, driving manufacturers to automate with assembly lines. In the late 1920s, aniline printing was invented, using rubber blocks and dye to print images on materials such as milk cartons, paper bags, metallic films, folding cartons, and corrugated boards. This technique, now called flexography, enabled faster and more precise printing on packaging.; In 1936, Walter Zwoyer patented the vertical form/fill/seal (VFFS) machine while working as an engineer at Henry Heide Candy Company in New York. He later founded the Transparent Wrap Machine Co. to produce and sell Transwrap VFFS machines and licensed production to Stokes & Smith in Philadelphia after World War II.; By the 1950s, packaging technology had advanced enough that Michigan State University became the first to offer a Packaging Engineering degree in 1952. In 1951, Höfliger & Karg of Germany introduced a packaging machine for antibiotics, and in 1958, they created an automatic capsule filling machine. Throughout the late 20th century, engineers continued to develop more advanced and efficient packaging solutions.
Modern Packaging Equipment: Today, most packaging equipment is fully automated and managed by CAD and CNC systems, allowing products to be packaged more quickly, precisely, and in greater quantities than ever before. The packaging industry now focuses on developing more sustainable materials and equipment to support eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Benefits of Packaging Equipment

Packaging equipment provides numerous advantages. It increases productivity, enabling manufacturers to package products and goods faster, more consistently, and with better precision. The integration of CAD and CNC controls gives greater process control and accuracy. Automated packaging machinery ensures correct product counts, which is essential for applications like small fastener kits, reducing errors and minimizing losses due to miscounts. This also helps ensure customers receive complete shipments. Additionally, packaging equipment improves workplace safety by reducing manual handling and associated risks.

Packaging Equipment Design

When designing or choosing a packaging system, manufacturers evaluate important factors such as technical requirements, labor needs, compatibility with existing operations, available floor space, energy consumption, packaging quality standards (for industries like food and pharmaceuticals), efficiency, and operational run-times.

Manufacturers can build systems using a single machine, multiple types of packaging equipment, or several units of the same machine type. Most systems include primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging machines. Primary packaging machines handle the first layer of packaging, secondary machines group individual packages into larger bundles, and tertiary packaging equipment prepares bulk packages for distribution.

Manufacturers can customize systems to fit specific applications, or customers can choose standard, off-the-shelf models or modified used equipment to meet their needs.

Types of Packaging Equipment

To meet diverse packaging requirements, there are many types of packaging equipment. These are commonly categorized by their packaging method, with main types including filling machines, sealing machines, and vacuum packaging machines.

Filling Machine: Filling machines take pre-made packages and fill them with a specified number of parts, whether it is one large item or many smaller ones. A bagging machine is a specific type of filling machine designed for bags made from flexible materials like paper or plastic. Bagging machines are ideal for liquid packaging and are commonly used for chemicals such as solvents and acids, as well as beverages like soft drinks.
Sealing Machine: Sealing machines close and seal packaging after products are placed inside, making the packaging airtight. Heat sealers are a common type, using heat and pressure to seal thermoplastic materials like shrink wrap. They are widely used in food packaging for bakery goods and produce, as well as for pharmaceutical packaging. Other variants include bag sealers.
Vacuum Packaging Machine: Vacuum packaging machines are widely used for industrial and food applications. They remove atmospheric oxygen from the package and then seal it, creating an airtight environment. This method is also commonly used to seal electronics, like cameras, into waterproof packaging.
Strapping Machine: Strapping machines secure items with straps—long, narrow strips of strong material, typically plastic—to bundle or contain products. They address packaging needs similar to other types of equipment by holding items together for storage or transport.
Laminating Machine: Laminating machines apply a thin plastic film to items like credit cards, ID badges, papers, brochures, and presentation documents to protect them and provide a professional finish. They use a heating element to bond lamination on both sides and are available for both bulk and individual use.
Labeling Equipment: Labeling equipment adds labels to packaging for product identification, pricing, usage instructions, barcodes, shipping details, or tamper evidence. This equipment ranges from large industrial machines for high-volume labeling to handheld applicators for small business use.
Fill Machine: Fillers are designed to dispense precise amounts of materials into containers. They can handle finished products like glass bottles, liquids, or industrial materials such as palletized plastics. Fillers are often used in conveyor systems and vary in design for liquid or solid filling applications.; The "form fill seal" (FFS) process is popular, where the machine forms a container or bag from flat material, fills it, and seals it. Another method, filling capping sealing, involves filling bottles, capping, and sealing them in one process.
Case Packing: Case packing machines are specialized for handling cases of various sizes and volumes, enabling manufacturers to pack products efficiently and uniformly. After packing, a case sealer ensures the contents are secure. Common types include top load, side load, and robotic case packers, which can be integrated with palletizers for high-volume operations.
Shrink Packaging Machinery: Shrink packaging, or shrink wrap, uses heat to shrink plastic film tightly around products. This method can be applied to a wide range of products, utilizing either large machines or handheld heat guns.
Air Packers: Air packers use air pressure to blow bulk materials into bags via a fill spout. They are ideal for quickly and efficiently filling fine powders such as sand, cement, charcoal, and toner.
Auger Packers: Auger packers use a screw-type mechanism to feed materials into bags through a fill spout. They are suitable for packaging fine, non-abrasive powders like flour, powdered sugar, and dried milk.
Bagging Machines: Bagging machines place objects into bags, which are then sealed and prepared for shipment.
Food Packaging Equipment: This type of packaging machinery is designed specifically for the packaging of food products rather than by the method of packaging.
Form, Fill and Sealers (FFS): These machines shape flat or v-folded materials into a container or bag, fill it with product, and then seal it.
Heat Sealers: Equipment that uses heat to seal packaging materials.
Hot Air Sealers: Continuous motion bag sealers that use heated air to seal containers or packaging.
Impulse Sealers: Small, often manual devices with a heating element that generates heat to seal packaging materials when pressed together.
Packaging Machinery: General term for equipment used to wrap, seal, and pack goods for shipping and distribution.
Packaging Systems: Integrated systems consisting of two or more packaging machines working together as a unit.
Pharmaceutical Packaging: Packaging equipment designed for the unique requirements of the pharmaceutical industry, including filling and sealing medication containers.
Rotary Sealers: Machines that seal packages using continuous rotary motion.
Used Packaging Equipment: Previously owned machinery that has been used for protecting or enclosing products and materials.

Packaging Equipment Applications

Products and parts require packaging for several reasons, including physical protection, containment, easier handling, and portion control. Packaging protects fragile items such as glass or porcelain from extreme temperatures, vibration, and pressure. Food products also need packaging to create a barrier against contaminants like dust and moisture.

Containment packaging is often used for storage and to improve the efficiency of handling products in retail. For example, packaging machinery is essential for packaging items like sugar, which must be contained to manage its granules effectively and to make handling simpler.

Beyond physical protection, automated packaging equipment enables packaging methods, like tamper-evident seals, that cannot be achieved manually. By installing packaging systems, industries can streamline both small-scale and bulk packaging processes. Sectors that benefit include pharmaceuticals, food technology, electronics, chemical processing, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Packaging Equipment Safety and Compliance Standards

Your region, industry, and shipping requirements will determine which safety and compliance standards your packaging machinery and processes must meet. International standards, such as ISO’s guidelines for packing machinery (ISO 55.200), cover areas like labeling, branding, filling, marking, sealing, and more. In the United States, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) provides voluntary standards for non-retail packaging equipment. If your business operates in or exports to the European Union, compliance with EN standards is necessary. For detailed guidance on applicable standards, consult your equipment supplier or an industry expert.

Things to Consider When Purchasing Packaging Equipment

Used Equipment: Because packaging machinery can be a major investment, many companies offer used packaging equipment as a cost-effective alternative to buying new machines. While used machines may be tailored to previous applications and not always fit as precisely as custom-built equipment, high-quality used options from reputable suppliers are often in excellent condition and ready for use. Suppliers can also assist in making necessary adjustments to meet your requirements.
Choosing the Right Supplier: With so much information available online, it can be challenging to evaluate quality. Directories like this one help by showcasing reputable contract packaging equipment companies. To begin, review our recommended companies listed near the top of this page. Explore their profiles and visit their websites. After narrowing your choices to a few companies, contact them with your questions and concerns. Pay attention to their responsiveness and willingness to address your needs. Consider factors such as pricing, lead times, and certifications. Choose the supplier that best meets your requirements and start developing your packaging solution.

Packaging Equipment Terms

Automatic (Fully-Automatic): Packaging equipment that operates independently, without operator intervention, except for replenishing packaging materials or containers as needed.
Bags Per Minute (BPM): The quantity of bags, boxes, cartons, or other packages a machine can produce in one minute.
Bead Seal: A seal formed by welding two material edges together without overlap, creating a narrow strip along the join.
Casters: Wheels that can be attached to conveyors and sealers, allowing machines to be moved easily for cleaning or reconfiguration.
Closure: A device or method used to close a package or container securely.
Consumable/Wear Parts: Components of packaging equipment that require regular replacement due to normal wear during operation.
Crimping: A process of mechanically deforming material, most commonly used on metals, to create a secure seal or connection.
Critical Sealing Parameters: Key factors affecting seal quality during heat sealing: temperature, pressure, and dwell time.
Dwell Time: The length of time a package being sealed is subjected to heat and pressure.
Emboss Coder: A tool that marks a date or lot code on packaging by pressing metal characters into the surface, creating a raised or indented code without using ink.
Footprint: The amount of floor space occupied by a piece of equipment.
Gross Weight: The combined weight of a product and its packaging or container.
Gross Weight Scale: An industrial scale that measures the total weight of a packaged product before shipping.
Group Package: A set of products grouped together, ready to be bundled or multi-packed by packaging machinery.
Ink Coder: A device that marks bags or containers by pressing inked characters onto the material.
Load Cell: A sensor that measures pressure or force and provides a digital reading of the applied load.
Magazine: A component in packaging systems that stores cartons, blanks, leaflets, labels, lids, or stackable containers for use during the packaging process.
Mandrel: A mechanical tool used to shape or form bags or cartons during packaging.
Net Weight: The product’s weight excluding the weight of its packaging or container.
Shrinkwrapping: A process that creates five-sided protection by forming a bag from thermoplastic film, placing it over a load, and applying heat to shrink the film tightly around the product.
Stretch-Hooding: A process that provides five-sided protection by stretching a bag made from thermoplastic film over a load and pallet, unitizing the package for enhanced stability.
Stretchwrapping: The method of tightly wrapping thermoplastic film around a product for protection and containment.
Supported Materials: Packaging materials that cannot be melted but can still be sealed using heat.
Tare Weight: The weight of the packaging or container without any product inside.
Trimmer: A device used to remove excess material after the packaging process is finished.

Packaging Equipment Informational Video

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