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Packaging Machinery & Systems

Vertical Form Fill Seal Machines

Updated November 2026

Form bags from roll film, dose by multihead weigher, auger or cup, and seal them vertically for snacks, coffee, frozen food, grains and powders.

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Discuss your application with LINEVO.

Stainless VFFS bagger with Z-bucket elevator, 14-head weigher and platform for nuts, dried fruit and snack pouches

LINEVO supplies vertical form fill seal machines that make bags from roll film and fill them from above. Choose the dosing unit for your product, then confirm the bag tooling, film and required good output together. Start with a route below, or send your product and finished pack for a recommendation.

Find a VFFS configuration

Product, dosing and bag route; tooling and options are configuration-specific
ProductDosing routeBag route to confirmConfiguration
Nuts and dried fruitMultihead weigherRoll-film bag; former matched to finished sizeNuts and dried fruit system
Chips and puffed snacksMultihead weigherRoll-film bag; nitrogen optionChips with nitrogen
Seasoning and fine powdersAuger fillerRoll-film bag; review dust at the sealSeasoning powder configuration
Detergent powder or granulesAuger or volumetric cups, according to flowPillow or gusseted bagCup or auger detergent configuration
Coffee beansMultihead weigherQuad-seal bag; valve requirements to confirmQuad-seal coffee configuration

For loose chips, puffed snacks and nuts, the snack packaging selection guide covers product handling and finished-pack checks. Rice vacuum packing and premade stand-up pouches are covered under related routes below.

How the vertical process works

Each bag passes through the same sequence of stations; see how a VFFS machine works for the station-by-station cycle. The dosing unit releases a portion in time with film movement and cross-sealing; the timing depends on the selected machine.

Vertical form-fill-seal sequence from film unwind, forming collar and back seal to dosing, cross-seal and discharge
Main stations of a vertical form fill seal machine. Options such as gas flushing or coding are added per configuration. Open full-size image
  • Unwind the roll film.
  • Form the film around the tube and make the back seal.
  • Release the measured product through the tube.
  • Cross-seal, cut and discharge the bag.
  • Film unwinding and tension control, with a registration sensor when the film is printed
  • Forming shoulder and forming tube, which set the bag width
  • Longitudinal back seal made as a fin or lap seal
  • Film pulling by belts, with servo drives on selected configurations
  • Product discharge from the weigher or filler into the forming tube
  • Transverse jaws that seal the top of one bag and the bottom of the next, with a knife to separate them
  • Optional devices such as gas flushing, date coding, hole punching, gusseting or a degassing valve applicator
  • Discharge conveyor to checkweighing, metal detection or secondary packaging

Choose the dosing system for the product

The dosing unit usually decides whether a VFFS project works. It is chosen from the product's flow, piece size, stickiness and the fill tolerance you need, and it must be matched to the bagger's tube size, drop height and cycle timing.

For weighed pieces, the multihead weigher selection guide explains combination weighing, compares 10 and 14 heads, and shows how product release, cleaning and the VFFS filling window belong in the same configuration review.

For powder projects, the auger filler guide explains how screw tooling, powder flow and bulk-density changes affect dosing, and provides a sample-testing checklist before the head is matched to the bagger.

For liquids, gels and sauces in single-serve packs, compare the stick pack and sachet families to select the pump-dosed route.

Review the failure risk with the dosing choice
Product conditionDominant failure mode & prevention
Fragile chipsBreakage during transfer: review drop height and low-drop handling with the representative product.
Fine seasoning powderPowder in the seal: review dust extraction and the timing of filling and jaw closure.
Granules with changing bulk densityA fixed cup volume gives a changing fill weight: check representative batches before selecting volumetric dosing.
VFFS dosing selection tree routing pieces to a multihead weigher, fine powders to an auger and granules to cups
The product's flow and piece size decide the dosing unit; the unit is then matched to the bagger. Open full-size image
  • Pieces: multihead weigher.
  • Fine powders: auger filler.
  • Uniform free-flowing granules: volumetric cups; check bulk-density variation.
  • Multihead (combination) weigher: irregular pieces such as chips, nuts, candy, frozen food, kibble and coffee beans. Configurations for sticky dates and gummies use dimpled or coated contact surfaces, selected for the product.
  • Auger filler: fine or poorly flowing powders such as coffee powder, seasonings, baking mixes, soy products and detergent powder. Screw tooling and dust control depend on the powder.
  • Volumetric cup filler: free-flowing, uniform granules where volume tracks weight closely. It is simpler than a weigher but sensitive to changes in bulk density.
VFFS system with multihead weigher for nuts Auger-fed VFFS for seasoning powders Cup or auger dosing for detergent powder

Bag styles and film

The bag style fixes the forming set and the jaw design. Film structure then decides the sealing temperature, pressure and dwell time the jaws must deliver, so send the film specification together with a reel sample.

For bags supplied ready-made, compare the premade pouch route below. A stand-up appearance alone does not identify how a bag is made.

  • Pillow bag: back seal plus top and bottom seals, the most common VFFS format
  • Gusseted bag: side gussets for more volume and a squarer shape
  • Quad-seal (stabilo) bag: four corner seals for coffee beans; confirm the finished base geometry with the bag drawing
  • Vacuum brick-pack routes for rice and grains require a separately confirmed vacuum and forming scope
  • Block-bottom and hole-punch bag options on the frozen prepared-dishes configuration
  • Film structure, sealing layer and any paper-based or recyclable laminate matched to the jaw temperature and dwell settings
Quad-seal coffee bean configuration Rice and grain vacuum packing configuration Compare premade pouch filling

Gas flushing, vacuum, washdown and difficult products

Nitrogen flushing is available on selected configurations for chips, coffee, nuts and pet food. The residual oxygen you achieve depends on the film barrier, bag volume, seal integrity and flushing arrangement, so it has to be measured on a trial rather than assumed.

Cleaning requirements must be reviewed for the quoted configuration. State whether you dry-clean, wipe or wash the equipment, identify the cleaning agents and describe the room temperature and moisture. Confirm product-contact materials, enclosure protection and access for cleaning in the quotation.

Some products need design choices beyond the dosing unit. State these at the start, because they change materials, extraction and cleaning access.

For storage conditions and the role of oxygen protection, read why nuts go bad and how nitrogen-flushed bags protect them.

For a flushing project, use the nitrogen flushing packaging setup guide to compare vertical bags with stick packs and premade pouches, define residual-oxygen sampling, and prepare the film, output and gas-use checklist.

  • Roasted coffee: degassing valve placement and aroma protection; see coffee packaging machines for bean, ground and instant formats
  • Fine powders: dust extraction near the jaws, since powder in the seal area causes leaking bags
  • Sticky or frozen products: anti-stick contact surfaces, condensation and low room temperatures
  • Detergents and other chemicals: corrosion-resistant construction on selected detergent configurations
  • Fragile snacks: drop height and product breakage between weigher and bag
Chips weighing and packing with nitrogen Frozen seafood weighing and vacuum packing

What determines the configuration

Output depends on bag length, fill weight, how quickly the product settles, the film and the seal time. Use each configuration’s speed at its stated conditions; we confirm the output for your product and film in the quotation.

For motion selection, the continuous motion VFFS machines page shows how to tell a servo description from film that keeps moving during cross-sealing, and which product, film and output conditions to confirm.

  • Product name, physical form, bulk density and piece size
  • Target fill weights and the acceptable tolerance for each
  • Bag style, width and length for every format you plan to run
  • Film structure and reel specification
  • Required output in good bags per minute, and hours per day
  • Number of products and how often you change over
  • Gas flushing, vacuum, valve, coding or inspection requirements
  • Room conditions such as humidity, temperature, dust and washdown
  • Utilities available on site, including power, compressed air and nitrogen

Upstream and downstream equipment

A VFFS system usually includes a product elevator or feeder, the weigher or filler on a support platform, the bagger and a take-away conveyor. Checkweighers, metal detectors, cartoners and case packers may follow. Agree which of these units are in the quotation and who is responsible for each interface.

For single-serve portions in narrow packs, a multi-lane stick pack machine is usually a better fit than a vertical bagger. Retail pouches with zippers or spouts belong to the premade pouch route.

Vertical form-fill-seal line showing product elevator, multihead weigher on platform, VFFS bagger and takeoff belt
A typical VFFS system, with the feeder, support platform, bagger and discharge interfaces defined together in the project layout. Open full-size image
  • Product elevator or feeder supplies the dosing unit.
  • Weigher and support platform sit above the bagger.
  • Take-away conveyor transfers bags to the next agreed unit.
Stick pack machines Cartoning after bagging Plan the complete system

Related packaging routes

For oatmeal and pet food in ready-made stand-up pouches, choose a premade pouch configuration with bag-picking and opening modules. The linked seafood vacuum configuration also uses premade bags and a separate vacuum chamber. Match these routes to your supplied pouch and required vacuum process.

Rice vacuum brick packs need the vacuum and forming scope confirmed as a complete route. For narrow single-serve portions, compare stick packs; for individual solid items carried flat on an infeed, compare flow wrapping.

Premade pouch filling machines Oatmeal stand-up pouch configuration Pet food premade pouch configuration Seafood vacuum packing with premade bags Rice vacuum brick-pack route Multi-lane stick pack machines Horizontal flow wrapping machines

What LINEVO supplies as a VFFS manufacturer

LINEVO quotes VFFS equipment directly, with the dosing unit, bag tooling and auxiliary equipment specified for the project. Use the configuration pages to identify a starting route, then send the product, pack, film and required good output. The reply identifies the routes worth comparing or the details still needed.

Where material behavior is uncertain, agree whether a sample test is needed and which questions it should answer. Confirm sample quantity and shipping instructions before sending anything. Record the product, film, settings and observations with the result.

For a United States project or another export destination, our engineering team reviews plant voltage, phase and frequency, line interfaces and start-up needs. We define pre-shipment checks, documentation, installation and training arrangements, remote or on-site support, and spare parts in the project quotation.

About LINEVO Project brief and quotation checklist Prepare for sample testing Installation and training planning Spare and change parts

Vertical Form Fill Seal Machines by application

Each application page compares packaging routes, equipment arrangements and product-specific engineering considerations.

Snack, chips & nuts vertical packing machines Coffee Packaging Machines Pet Food Packaging Machines for Kibble and Treats Hookah and Shisha Packaging Machines Multi-Lane Powder Stick Pack and Sachet Machines Health Supplement Packaging Machines

Questions buyers ask about VFFS machines

Is a collar-type pouch packing machine the same as a VFFS machine?

Yes, for roll-film VFFS machines. Collar type refers to the forming collar, or shoulder, that turns flat film into a tube around the forming tube. Premade pouch configurations fill ready-made bags through a separate picking and opening process.

Can I buy a VFFS machine directly from LINEVO?

Yes. LINEVO is the manufacturer and quotes directly. Send the project brief; the team replies with questions and the routes worth comparing, and says whether a sample test is needed before the quotation.

Can one machine pack both powders and pieces?

Only if a second dosing unit is included or swapped in. An auger filler and a multihead weigher are different machines, so running both is a project decision rather than a setting.

How many bag widths can one machine make?

Each forming set makes one bag width, while bag length is adjusted within the machine's range. Extra widths need extra forming sets, which should be listed in the quotation.

Is nitrogen flushing standard?

Nitrogen flushing is an option on selected configurations, including the chips configuration linked below. Define the nitrogen supply, target residual oxygen and measurement method for the project.

Should I choose VFFS or premade pouches?

Choose VFFS when the proposed pack is to be formed from a film reel. Compare premade pouch filling when bags arrive ready-made, particularly for specified zipper or spout features. Compare the actual pack, format changes and quotation scope before deciding.

Specific chips configuration with nitrogen flushing

Engineering basis and selection references

Updated 21 October 2026. The linked LINEVO configurations define the bag routes, dosing systems and options in our VFFS portfolio. Use their published values with the stated conditions, then send your product, bag and film requirements for the application-specific output, tooling, accuracy and utilities specification.

The dosing references below explain volumetric cup and auger operation. We select the dosing unit around your product’s flow, density and fill tolerance and agree sample checks where needed. Use the project-brief and sample-testing pages above to prepare the material details. Primary OEM reference: dosing principles. Primary OEM reference: volumetric cup operation.

61 models and configurations

Open a model to review its machine configuration, specifications and engineering options.

Browse and search all 61 configurations

61 / 61 configurations

What to send us

Send what you have and mark what is still undecided. Discuss your application with LINEVO.

ItemWhy we need itExample format
Product, particle size and bulk densitySelects the dosing route and identifies dust, sticking, breakage or flow questions.Product photos; largest piece in mm; measured bulk density in g/L, or weight of a known volume; mark unknowns.
Bag style and finished dimensionsSets the forming set and sealing tooling; list every format.Pillow, gusseted or quad-seal; width × length × gusset in mm; drawing or finished bag.
Fill weight and toleranceDefines the dose to assess with the actual product.Target g per bag and acceptable deviation in g for each product/format.
Film specificationDefines forming, seal evaluation and printed-film registration.Supplier data sheet: laminate, thickness, reel width, core/roll diameter in mm; reel sample if agreed.
Required good output and changeoversDistinguishes saleable bags from machine cycles and defines the operating pattern.Good bags/min or good bags/shift; hours/shift; products and format changes per day; target or measured result.
Site, utilities and cleaningDefines layout, electrical requirements, access and the cleaning scope to quote.Destination; floor plan and ceiling height in mm; V/phase/Hz; compressed-air and nitrogen availability; room and cleaning conditions.
Upstream, downstream and purposeAssigns feeding, discharge, inspection and secondary-packing responsibilities.Layout or process video; product from hopper or conveyor; bags to inspection or cartoner; units required, existing or still open.
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