The first thing to consider is how many bags per day do you want to seal? Heat sealers come in different sizes, robustness and speeds. If you are a high production factory you would use a mini sealer with a conveyor belt to speed up your processes. If you a small company or home-based business, there are hand or foot operated impulse or constant heat sealers more suited to your budget.
Stand up pouches are barrier bags made up of several layers of laminated materials that include thermoplastic. They can be made of coated Kraft paper, foil, cellophane, Mylar and other thermoplastics to prevent spoilage and tampering. Stand up pouches are appearing more and more in food packaging as they are flexible and lightweight, yet their hold strength is higher than a cardboard carton. Stand up pouches preserve the integrity of their contents and are a readymade product that can be easily branded and displayed. This makes them attractive to smaller operations who can package and label their products for market readiness as fast as their production allows.
To lock in the barrier protection of the pouches and retain seal strength during shipment, you will need to use a heat sealer that is suitable for your packaging. The most commonly used sealer is the impulse heat sealer. This type of heat sealer only engages the electric current needed to heat up the sealing bar when the jaw is pressed down. It is the most economical to use as its power usage is intermittent.
The heat sealer you need should have a minimum thickness of 8mm of sealing capacity – 4mm each side. If you have thicker bag material to seal, then a double impulse sealer would be ideal. A double impulse sealer has both top and bottom heating bars with a capacity of melding 10 to 20mm of laminated packaging.
If your production output is higher or you have thicker material to seal, a constant heat sealer is more suitable. Both sealing jaws maintain a constant temperature for heat penetration and are used for more heavy-duty sealing jobs.
A foot operated heat sealer may be suitable for your operations if you need your hands free to handle the products and pouches. Foot sealers either come on a pedestal or a bench top model and both types have a foot pedal.
Heat Sealers also come in different widths. As a general rule your heat sealer jaws should be at least 20 to 50mm wider than your bag opening. One seal is all you need and if your sealer is smaller than the bag opening, you will be wasting time with double sealing and the risk of inaccurate seals.
To work out the temperature and heat time to seal your bags, have a look at the bag manufacturer’s guide. You can then adjust the temperature of your heat sealer if it has a thermostat.
For a finishing touch you can purchase a heat sealer with embossing accessories and the more expensive sealers will even print on your seal.
In conclusion, you need to know the thickness of your pouch seal so you can choose either an impulse, double impulse or constant heat sealer. You need to choose a sealer with jaws wider than your bag opening by 20 to 50mm and consider whether you need a hands-free operation with a foot operated sealer. Most companies that sell heat sealers have consultants who have expert knowledge and will guide you through the selection process, so you have the appliance best suited to your needs.
