Vertical form fill seal machines are better for products that are loose, granulated, doughy, or difficult to handle manually. VFFS machines are better suited for things like sugar, liquids, snacks and chips. Depending on the type of product a company is trying to package, one of these machines will typically make more sense.
HFFS machines can package some food items, but have a vast potential for being used to package items from other industries.
-HFFS machines crease a bag away from the fill opening, eliminating interaction of product to the bag forming process
-HFFS machines run large bags 30%+ faster than VFFS machines
-HFFS machines have fewer critical moving parts in the fill area, improving up time and longevity with dirty, dusty, and corrosive products
The type of product being packaged will typically determine what machine a company will use. Many food industry applications will be better off using vertical form filling and sealing machines, while HFFS machines are a little more practical. Vertical FFS machines can be used for a number of things such as fast-food restaurant ketchup packets, and more, but the loading mechanisms are not usually ideal for heavier single items. In that case, a conveyer belt will better handle the product.