Author: Ron Crews

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How Can You Improve Packaging Line Performance?

Boosting your profit margins can be as simple as improving the efficiency of your packaging line. If that statement seems vastly oversimplified, it’s because improving your packaging line’s efficiency may not be as easy as it seems.  Even if all it means for your particular business is getting new machinery, that alone has its own stipulations—things like finding room in the budget to do so, training employees on the new machinery, waiting for things to be delivered. Those aspects of purchasing new machinery are a big part of the entire process, and can’t be ignored. That being said, there are a couple other obvious ways to improve the efficiency of your packaging line.

Analyze Your Line

In order to make sure you’re getting the most out of your packaging line, you’ll want to perform an analysis of both the machines and the people working on them. What that means is you should monitor the line carefully for a period of time and take notes of where the slow spots are. Are there problems with packaging materials? Do the employees look like they’re handling the machines with ease? If not, more training should be administered so that your staff is as efficient as they can be.  If it’s the machinery itself, you’ll need to either troubleshoot your existing hardware or work on creating a plan to replace it sometime soon. If money is tight, you can find used and refurbished equipment that is in your price range that is still high quality.

Know When to Replace Machines

Figuring out which machines are the slowest can be as easy as timing them or measuring the output. Your perception of how fast it produces packages may be different than its actual output. For instance, if you think a machine is producing 120 packages per minute but it only produces 117 per minute, that’s 3 packages per minute that you aren’t getting the benefit of having produced. That’s 180 pieces per hour, or 1,440 pieces per day (based on an 8-hour day, more if your facility operates longer hours). While 3 pieces per minute may not seem like it would make much of a dent in your productivity, 1,440 per day puts your loss per week at anywhere between around 7,000 to 10,000 pieces. Over time, those loses add up both rapidly and significantly. You’ll want to weigh the cost of new machinery against the cost of missing out on that amount of productivity.

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What Is the Best VFFS Bagger?


When you’re looking for a new vertical form fill and seal machine for your packaging line, you’ve definitely got a lot of options. If you’re torn between some of the name brands you’ve seen, here is a quick rundown of just a few of the best VFFS packaging machine producers on the map today.

Hayssen

Hayssen is one of the most widely know producers of VFFS baggers. They offer both continuous motion baggers as well as intermittent motion baggers. Continuous motion baggers are designed for high-speed packaging, but intermittent baggers are also very fast, with some models producing up to 120 packages per minute. By comparison, continuous motion baggers can package up to 200 pieces per minute with machines from this maker. Depending on the product you are packaging, Hayssen may have the right kind of machine for your needs, such as models that allow for different bag shapes.

Matrix

Matrix is another well-known name in the packaging industry. Their VFFS machines are ideal for many different applications, but they do provide options that allow for bag weights of up to 110 pounds. This brand is also very fast, with some Matrix VFFS machines offering the possibility of packing up to 300 pieces per minute. Currently, the brand offers a variety of VFFS machines, and should this brand be appealing to you, you will end up with a high-quality, durable machine.

Masipack

Masipack currently offers a range of different models of VFFS machines. Some of their machines are continuous motion, others are automatic or activated by servomotors. They also offer a model that is ideal for 4-side seal packages, caklled the Ultra Sachet. If you’re trying to package heavy materials, they also have models that accommodate for that. Masipack offers machinery that is tailored to somewhat more specific products, so if you are in the business of packaging something a little bit less common than a simple bag, this may be the brand for you.

Rovema

Rovema offers machines that include options for Stabilo Seal, Zipper Reclosure, Peelable Seal, Hole Punch, and Impulse Sealing packages. They offer models that provide features such as vacuums, drawdown belts, and touchscreen integration.

One thing that is consistent about all of these brands is that used or new, their machines are high quality, long-lasting VFFS machines. Depending on the specific product you need packaged, one of these brands may be the right fit for your needs.

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What Supplies Does a Packaging Machine Need to Run Properly?


If you’re in the packaging industry, you know quite well that there are a few different things that your packaging machinery needs to run properly and efficiently. While you may be getting the packaging materials you need from different vendors, you could be simplifying your whole operation and ordering the supplies you need from the same place you get your machinery from. Having the proper materials in stock for your production line is essential for achieving maximum productivity, so it’s ideal to order from the vendor you purchased your machines from. There are several benefits to doing so, but first let’s just briefly go over the types of materials these machines need.

Materials Needed

In order to keep your packaging line moving swiftly along, you’ll need to keep on hand things like packaging film, bags, cartons, and any other packing materials that your products require to make it from one point to the next. It’s important to have enough of these in your inventory at all times, because once you’re out, it could take at least a day or two—but with many vendors, even longer—to restock. When you have to sit out of the game for that long, you lose time and money from the sacrificed productivity. Don’t let that happen—keep an accurate and updated inventory list of the products you need, the products you have, and when you’ll need to reorder. A little bit of planning can prevent big headaches down the road.

Benefits of Purchasing from Your Machinery Supplier

As mentioned, with some vendors it may take a significant amount of time to get the products you need for your packaging line delivered to you. Even if it’s just a few hours, the productivity lost can’t be easily regained. When you purchase your packaging supplies and materials from the same vendor that supplied your machinery, however, you can trust that they will not only have the exact product in stock, but they will be able to get it to you when you need it, and they may even be able to keep your business on a schedule so that you receive regular shipments of the materials you need most. When you purchase machinery from one vendor and materials from another, there’s always the risk that the materials vendor won’t have the exact product that’s compatible with your machinery. Don’t take the risk of losing productivity.

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How to Troubleshoot a Packaging Machine


In an ideal world, packaging machinery would never malfunction, jam, break, or stop working unexpectedly. We all know, though, that that isn’t the case when it comes to machines that perform tasks over and over. Parts wear out, products jam, and machinery can simply fail. This is always disappointing, especially because it means that you lose productivity and spend time fixing the machinery. One way you can minimize the time you lose is by knowing how to troubleshoot the machinery you have on your packaging line. There are a couple of different ways you can help yourself learn about the machines you have, and the more you know about the hardware you have, the easier it will be to solve problems when they arise.

Packaging Equipment Training

The first and perhaps most important way to expedite the process between noticing a problem with a machine to fix it is to be adequately trained with the machines in your packing line. Whether that means you yourself are trained with the machines or you hire someone to train your employees, the main takeaway should be that within your business, there should be some people that know how the machines work well enough to be able to tell what is malfunctioning and perhaps even how to fix it. When it comes to getting machines back up and running, knowing the problem is the first and most important step to knowing how to fix it. Some vendors offer training programs that can be helpful for teaching yourself and your staff how to troubleshoot machines. Ask the supplier for your machinery if they offer training classes, and if training is offered, take part in it.

Preventative Maintenance Programs

While not technically troubleshooting, preventative maintenance programs can also be helpful with learning how your machines work. Maintaining machinery so that it doesn’t unexpectedly malfunction or wear out can take a little bit of time, but in the long run is more beneficial than waiting for something to go wrong and hoping it doesn’t take too long to fix. The vendor for your machinery may have preventative maintenance programs offered, so you should take advantage of them to save yourself time later on.

Technical Support Services

Another way to troubleshoot your machinery is, of course, to contact technical support services. If you don’t have the time or desire to learn the machinery on your own, the service staff at the company that you purchased the machinery from will be able to help. Whether this means scheduling a service call or simply making a phone call to explain the problem, the people who are trained on the machinery can assist you with the machines and help you get back on track quickly.

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Benefits of Buying Machinery and Packing Supplies from the Same Vendor

Buying packaging machinery and packaging supplies from two different vendors has been the way a lot of companies have been doing things for a long time. While it stands to reason to do so, as you’d imagine one company would specialize in machinery while another would specialize in the supplies, some companies sell both. It’s often beneficial to purchase both from the same vendor if you can, too.

Cutting Out the Middle Man

When you rely on packing supplies like film in order to get your work done, it can cause a problem if you run out, are sent the wrong kind by accident, or need a different type to suit your needs. If the vendor who supplies the film is out of the kind you need, you’ll be out of luck until you find a vendor who has what you need. You potentially also run the risk of dealing with vendors who can’t advise you on the best supplies to use for your particular machine. When you purchase from the same vendor, they’ll not only be able to supply you with the products you need, but they’ll be able to give you tips about which products will be best for your manufacturing needs, including new products that may be applicable to your industry.

Creating Lasting Business Relationships

Another benefit to purchasing machinery and supplies from the same vendor is that you’ll be able to build a lasting relationship with the people you work with. When you work with the same vendor for multiple facets of your business, it becomes easier to keep everything organized and in one place. Additionally, you’ll have the comfort of knowing that the vendor is there to help you when you need them, versus a vendor that you work with once and done, who doesn’t know much about your business or your product needs.

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Is Buying Used Packaging Equipment Risky?

In today’s fast-paced economy, it’s never surprising that people are always looking for a less expensive way of getting things done. Manufacturers may want to expand their packaging lines in order to do more, but may be discouraged by high prices attached to packing machinery. Used options are available, but a lot of people are put off by the word “used,” writing the machines off as being rife with problems or needing mechanical work or repairs. The truth of the matter is, while some companies may sell used equipment as-is, we’re committed to only offering our clients refurbished equipment that is ready to go, running properly, and that will last your company for years to come.

Getting Top Brand Names for Less

When you’re looking at top brand names for your packaging line, you may experience a bit of sticker shock, especially if you’re buying multiple machines. Buying used machinery is a great way to get a deal on machines you both need and want, but it doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing quality—refurbished machinery is brought back to top standards before being resold, which means you’ll be getting a great machine that will serve you for years at a bargain price. What’s not to love about that? You can choose from brands you know and trust, like Triangle, Hayssen, Matrix, Bosch, and many, many more.

Continual Customer Support

Perhaps even better than getting a great price, though, is getting continued customer support from the vendor you purchase machinery from. Many used packaging equipment sellers are once-and-done sellers, meaning they will sell equipment to manufacturers, but if those buyers have questions about how to use or troubleshoot their new machinery, they’re pretty much out of luck. Purchasing used equipment shouldn’t feel like a gamble, which is why we’re proud to provide our clients with the help they need to maintain, operate, or even fix their equipment. You should not need to worry about whether you’re trading quality for price when you purchase used equipment. With HP Packaging, you won’t have to.

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Improving Your Packaging Line with More Training

When you think of the best ways to improve your packaging line, you probably think that adding new or more machinery to the line is the best way to do so. While updating your equipment surely has its benefits, it’s not necessarily the only or the best way to improve the productivity of your packaging line. Instead, you can offer your employees more training on the machines they already use, as this can speed up productivity when people have a better grasp on how things work. This can also help speed up the process of fixing things if there is a problem with a machine, since your employees will have an idea of what may need to be fixed.

Training Classes from HP Packaging

One of the things we pride ourselves on at HP Packaging is that we offer on-site training classes for our clients. Many of our competitors only offer the machinery companies need to get their packaging lines started, but when a problem arises they are of little to no help. We’d rather keep our clients happy, which is why we’re committed to teaching you and your employees how to better maintain, operate, and troubleshoot used packaging equipment. When you and your employees know how to best take care of your equipment, you can not only make it last longer by knowing when regular maintenance is needed, but you’ll also be able to get the most work out of the machines as you’ll have a firm grasp on the way they function.

Continually Foster Skill Development on Your Staff

Another way to improve your packaging line is to offer packaging equipment training on a regular basis, both to new employees as well as existing workers. Having people on your staff who can train new employees is ideal. HP’s T3, or “Training the Trainers” program is designed to help manufacturers assign training jobs within their companies so that downtime issues are solved more quickly and so that technical skills can be developed company-wide rather than relying on one person who knows the machinery.

If you’re looking for a way to improve your packaging line, offering further training to your staff should be the first step.

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Why Are Combination Weighers So Useful?

In the world of packaging, optimal efficiency is the number one goal for many companies. For that reason, it’s not surprising that there are solutions available that are continually helping these businesses churn out more product in less time. Combination weighers are one of those such machines. Companies like Yamato, Ishida, Combi, and Bilwinco all offer up their versions of the combination weigher, and with choices from those manufacturers and more, combination weighers are one of those most popular and most useful pieces of packaging equipment around. Why are they so popular and useful?

Quickly and Easily Package Goods

First and foremost, combination weighers give companies a solution for packaging small products quickly and easily. And because this type of machine weighs the product as it fills a package, the end product is uniform in weight, which saves time from having to manually make sure that each package contains the same amount of product. Further, these weighers can be used on a wide variety of products, and there are certain models that can be used with more fragile products that require a delicate hand when being packaged.

Mixing and Blending Without Mess

Perhaps more importantly, combination weighers are great for companies who package products that can either be combined for a mix or left singular for a one-note package. For example, things like a bag of assorted jelly beans can be quickly put together with a combination weigher since the fill spout can pull from all fill tubes to create an even mix. However, since those jelly beans are stored in separate fill tubes, a company can create custom blends or even just put one type of candy in each bag.

The reason combination weighers are such a popular packaging machine is because they’re useful and versatile. They offer companies an efficient, fast way to get their product from the factory into a package and on their way to a shelf.

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HFFS or VFFS Equipment? What Should You Use?

In the packaging industry, two types of form fill and seal machines are popular and widely used: the horizontal form fill and seal machine (HFFS), and the vertical form fill (VFFS) and seal machine. As you can imagine, their most striking difference is how the products these machines package are dispensed. But beyond the basic structure of the machines, there are a few differences that define the machines and make one or the other a better choice for every company out there, and even every product out there.

With these differences in mind, you can find the perfect machinery to use in your production lines. Whether you need HFFS or VFFS equipment, we can provide you with reliable used packaging machines, including used horizontal and vertical form fill and seal equipment. We’ll help you determine which type of equipment is more ideal for your systems, giving you everything you need. Here we’ll guide you through the process of choosing the right machine.

Products Being Packaged

Before considering a VFFS or HFFS packaging machine, you should first determine which type of product you’re packaging.

The key difference in which machine a company will choose mainly settles on what types of products will be packaged. While horizontal filling machines will best suit products that are solid and easily contained and handled—think things like standalone products such as small toys, candy bars, etc.—vertical filling 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, and chips. depending on the type of product a company is trying to package, one of these machines will typically make more sense.

Once you understand which category your product belongs in, you can then begin to decide on which equipment is ideal. However, there is one other main factor that can influence your buying decision when searching for the perfect packaging equipment for your production line.

Industries Using Horizontal Form Fill & Seal Machines and VFFS Equipment

As mentioned, the type of product being packaged will typically dictate 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 versatile. HFFS machines can package some food items, but have a vast potential for being used to package items from other industries. Vertical FFS machines can be used for a number of things such as fast-food restaurant ketchup packets, gumballs, 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.

Get a Reliable HFFS or VFFS Packaging Machine Today

The machine that’s ultimately best for you is dependent on what industry you’re in and, perhaps more so, what product you are trying to package. We carry many used horizontal form fill and seal machines that are ideal for a wide range of industries and products, giving your facility what it needs for a successful packaging line. You can request a quote for one of our used VFFS or HFFS machines from us at any time, and browse our full inventory here on our website. We carry many of the top brands available, including Proto-Pak, Altamat, Bosch, Bossar, HMC, and KHS Bartelt.

In addition to used HFFS and VFFS machinery, you’ll find wide range of other used packaging equipment available at High Performance Packaging. We carry used applicators, blenders, case packers, case sealers, conveyors, and much more for a variety of applications. We can help you find what you need, and our packaging machines are among the most reliable available.

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Yamato, Ishida, Combi & Bilwinco: Popular Weigher Brands

If you’re looking to purchase new or used weigher equipment for your business, you’ve probably got a few brands in mind. Whether you’re looking for a check weigher or a combination weigher, it’s always helpful to know why certain brands are more popular than others, so today we’ll take a look at some of the leading brands in the packaging equipment industry.

Yamato Weighers

Yamato builds weighers for both food and non-food industries, and for more than 80 years, they have been providing clients with unique solutions for packaging machinery. Founded in 1922, they have become a leader in the industrial weighing industry and first introduced their version of the combination weigher. They now have several locations around the globe, including Germany, Japan, Russia, France, and the UK.

Ishida Weighers

Celebrating its 120th anniversary, Ishida provides weighing and packaging equipment for the manufacturing, retail, and distribution industries. The company was started in 1893 and founded in 1948, but its first multihead weigher didn’t hit the market until 1972. Still, they have carved out a name for themselves in a few industries, and have manufacturing facilities in Korea, China, Japan, and Brazil.

Combi Weighers

What sets Combi apart from some of its competitors is that this brand focuses its energy on the food industry. In fact, the design objective for Combi was to create a food-safe machine that was not only reliable, but able to be cleaned quickly and one that required less user intervention. Their machinery is constructed to provide a cleaner way of packaging foods, allowing floor managers to increase output.

Bilwinco Weighers

Bilwinco is the company responsible for the first multihead, or combination, weigher. This machine first hit the market in the early 1960s, so it’s not surprising that the forerunner of the technology is still a major game player. This Danish company has been a market leader for over 50 years now, and has dedicated its time in business to developing and building custom packaging solutions for clients located all over the world. They provide semi- and fully-automatic units and complete packaging line machinery.
Yamato

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