5 Major Types of Sealing Machines

Acquaint yourself with the different types of sealing machines, their specific functions or applications and more.

Different manufacturer use different types of sealing machines to close and package products. That includes sealing the top of cans or bottles, the ends of bags or pouches, and so on. Different sealing machine types meet different packaging needs. If you’re searching for a sealer, you most probably want to know more about the types or available choices. That’s what this article will do. Continue reading.

Types of Sealing Machine

A sealing machine can be many different sizes, designs, and other variations such as working principle. The types of sealing machines today are specifically grouped by their working mechanisms. Here are the four major types of sealers explained in an in-depth manner, including their use in the packaging industry.

1. Heat Press Sealing Machine

The heat press sealing machine is one of the most commonly used types of sealers. As the name suggests, it uses both heat and pressure to cause two sides of a material to join and form a seal. This type of sealing machine is often with thermoplastic materials, such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP).

The sealing machine heating element can be many designs including roller, heating plate, heating belt, etc. The heat press sealer on the market is also manual or automatic options, and selected based on the scale of packaging operations. The types of heat press sealers include the following: impulse, constant heating sealer, band, and roll sealer.

The impulse sealer uses pulsed current, thereby saving energy while also keeping the working environment cooler. Constant heating sealers heat the sealing element continuously, while roller sealers use a rolling sealing head to heat packaging material. On the other hand, a band sealing machine uses a moving band/belt to seal and advance packaging along the machine while also sealing it.

2. Fusion Weld Sealing Machine

These types of sealing machines work by melting the specific part to be sealed. Fusion welding is often used on seals that are difficult to produce using other methods such as those inside bottle caps. It’s also commonly used to seal aluminum foils to container openings among other materials.

A fusion weld is often a non-contact sealer. Most use remote heating methods such as hot plate, radiation, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic heating systems. In a heating plate fusion weld sealer, a heated plate is brought toward the part to be sealed. The heat then melts and fuses the material.

In an ultrasonic sealing machine, a high-frequency sound wave is used to melt the material and create the seal. The electromagnetic induction sealer, on the other hand, uses a high-frequency field produced by a coil to heat the material, while infrared sealers use heating infrared rays to produce the same effect.

3. Tape Sealing Machine

The tape sealing machine works by using a pressure sensitive adhesive material, such as tape, to join two surfaces or sides together. It’s mostly used to seal cartons and other boxes and commonly called carton or box sealing machine.

A tape sealer can be either manual or automatic. In a semi-automatic machine, an operator has to first place the tape on the box before it can be sealed. The automatic tape sealing machine does not require an operator. It automatically places and seals the tape on the box. Sealing methods also vary.

A carton sealing machine, for example, can be designed to only tape the upper or both upper and lower surfaces of the carton. Some machines can also tape the sides, mostly automatically, while others have the ability to handle boxes of different sizes.

4. Vacuum Sealing Machine

The vacuum sealing machine, as its name indicates, works by removing air from a package and creating a partial vacuum before sealing it. This type of sealer is often used in the food industry since it can help produce a packaging that prolongs the shelf life of different kinds of food.

A vacuum sealer can also be manual or automatic. With a manual vacuum sealer, an operator has to place the product in the chamber or sealing head and then start the vacuum cycle. The semi-automatic and automatic vacuum sealing machine can automatically do most of these steps.

There are also different types of vacuum sealers, such as the external vacuum sealer and the chamber vacuum sealer. The former works by removing air via the sealing head, while the latter has a chamber where the package is placed before the air is removed.

5. Crimp Sealing Machine

The crimp sealing machine is commonly used in various industries, such as food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Just like the other types of sealing machines, the crimping machine is a manual, semi-automatic, or automatic device.

This type of sealing machine involves joining two materials by first folding or pleating one side over the other and then pressing them together using a serrated sealing head. The result is a hermetic seal that can be either temporary or permanent, depending on the application needs.

One advantage of using a crimp sealing machine is that it can be used on various materials, such as plastics, laminates, and even metals. The crimping seal can also be made on different containers such as tubes and cans.

Conclusion

There are many different types of sealing machines, each with its own advantages. Sometimes, a machine will be suitable for sealing a particular product than others. The type of machine that you need will depend on the products that you want to seal. It also depends on your application’s industry that you are in. Choose the right machine for your needs to ensure that your products are properly sealed.