CRYOVAC^® Brand Form Fill Seal Films

Form fill seal (FFS) packaging is a type of flexible packaging used for various products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. The process is highly automated and uses machines to follow three main steps:

1. Forming: Flat, thin packaging material is unwound from a roll and formed into a tube or pouch by using heat or pressure to create seams.
2. Filling: The formed package is filled with the product. This could be hot or cold liquids, powders, granules, or solids, depending on the application.
3. Sealing: After filling, the package is sealed to ensure it is airtight and tamper-proof. This is most often done through heat sealing, which creates a strong bond between the layers of the packaging material.

FFS packaging is popular because it offers versatility in package size and shape, reduces material waste, can be highly automated, and allows high-speed production.

Horizontal Form Fill Seal (HFFS) and Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) are both popular methods for packaging food products, but they differ primarily in the orientation of the packaging process and the types of products they are best suited for.

HFFS equipment fills the package horizontally and is well suited for solid products with various shapes and sizes. It is often used for larger items and packages that require a robust structure such as primal cuts of fresh meat, smoked and cooked meats, hard cheeses, and baked goods.

VFFS equipment fills the package vertically and is commonly used for packaging liquids, granules, or small pieces that fill from the bottom or can be pumped into the package, such as soups, condiments, rice, coffee, and small-piece snack foods.