How to Choose a Packaging Machine Based on Product Characteristics

Powders such as milk powder, protein powder, flour, coffee, spices, seasoning, and detergent require accurate and consistent dosing.

An auger filler is commonly used because it controls powder delivery through a rotating screw.

A typical configuration is:

Important factors include:

• Bulk density
• Particle size
• Flowability
• Moisture
• Target filling weight
• Required accuracy

Two powders with the same target weight can behave very differently, so product testing is important before final machine selection.

Products such as potato chips, nuts, seeds, rice, candy, pasta, and pet food utilize a wide variety of packaging formats, including stand-up pouches, flat pouches, and back-seal bags. Equipment ranging from VFFS and HFFS systems to pre-made pouch machines is widely used for these applications.

A common system combines:

Beyond differences in packaging positioning, we must also consider the specific characteristics of the products; for instance, the choice of filler device differs between sugar and gummy products. Standard solutions typically employ equipment such as volumetric cups, multi-head weighers, linear weighers, vibratory bowls, and counting machines to meet requirements for high-speed, high-precision packaging.

Important factors include:

• High production speed
• Accurate weighing
• Pouch types
• Flexible bag sizes
• Particle size, uniformity, viscosity, etc.

The liquid system employs quantitative control, distinguishing it from dry-product dosing.

Typical applications include:

• Sauces
• Juice
• Yogurt
• Detergent
• Shampoo
• Liquid seasoning
• Edible oil
• Cosmetic liquids

Important characteristics include viscosity, foaming, temperature, particle content, and filling volume.

Depending on the product, filling may use piston pumps, gear pumps, flow meters, or other specialized systems.

For viscous products such as honey, jam, peanut butter, and thick sauces, the filling system must also handle sticking and changing flow behavior.

The complete solution should therefore consider:

Fragile products such as biscuits, bakery products, cakes, chocolate, and delicate snacks may be damaged by excessive dropping.

For these applications, Horizontan Wrapping Machine can be advantageous because products can remain on a conveyor while the packaging film is formed and sealed around them.

A typical process is:

Horizontal Wrapping Machine may also be suitable for products that require controlled positioning or cannot be easily dropped vertically.

When the target fill weight is very small, sachet or stick packing machines can provide an efficient solution.

Typical applications include:

• Sugar
• Salt
• Coffee
• Seasoning
• Sauce
• Powder samples
• Pharmaceutical products
• Cosmetic products

Multi-lane sachet and stick machines can produce multiple packages simultaneously, making them suitable for high-output single-dose applications.

Target weight alone does not determine the required machine.

For example, 500 g of powder and 500 g of nuts may require completely different package volumes because their bulk densities are different.

Density affects:

• Hopper capacity
• Filling volume
• Bag dimensions
• Dosing system
• Machine configuration

When requesting a packaging machine quotation, provide both the target weight and product density whenever possible.

Some products are sensitive to oxygen, moisture, light, or humidity.

For these applications, the packaging system may require:

• High-barrier film
• Nitrogen flushing
• Vacuum packaging
• Airtight sealing
• Moisture-resistant packaging structures

For example, nitrogen flushing can help reduce oxygen exposure for suitable products such as snacks, coffee, and nuts.

Packaging performance therefore depends on both the machine and the packaging material.