VFFS stands for vertical form, fill, and seal: in Dutch, the vertical form, fill, and seal machine. It is the most commonly used machine for bagging granules, powders, snacks, and animal feed: bags are formed from a roll of film while the product is fed into the machine from above. This page explains how it works in three steps.
Step 1: Shaping
The film roll unwinds onto the draw-off unit. The film passes through a forming shoulder that bends the flat material around a filling tube to form a pouch. A longitudinal seal closes the tube at the back: a continuous seam running from top to bottom. The width of the film determines the bag circumference; each size requires a specific forming shoulder template.
Step 2: Filling
The dosing equipment is suspended above the tube. It follows the product: a multihead weigher for granules and beans, a screw feeder for powder, and a piston filler for liquids. The product falls through the tube into the bag that is already hanging below it. In practice, the line runs at a rate of 60 to 80 bags per minute with a dosing accuracy of approximately ±1%.
Step 3: Sealing
Sealing heads seal the bottom of the bag—first below the filling level, then that same seam becomes the top of the next bag. A single sealing motion thus forms the bottom and top of two consecutive bags. A blade cuts the bags apart.
The components at a glance
| Component | Position | Key figure |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic film roll + drain plug | feed film | roll width up to 800 mm |
| Form Shoulder | Bending flat film into a tube | one stitch per bag width |
| Dosing device | Weigh or measure the product | ±0.5 to 1% accuracy |
| Seal Basin | Close the bottom and top seams | 0.3 to 0.5 s shutter speed |
| Cutting blade | sort bags | one cut per cycle |
Where the VFFS Excels — and Where It Doesn't
The VFFS excels at handling bulk goods: products that fall and can withstand the fall. Examples include granules in bags weighing up to 20 kg, powders packaged under vacuum, or snacks packaged with nitrogen. If you want to compare all solid-product routes, you’ll find the overview at reliable packaging solutions.
Shaped products—cookies, bars, pralines—lose their shape when dropped. They belong on a flow packer; the full analysis can be found in VFFS or flow packer. And if you're looking for standard bag sizes with premium printing, read this first preformed bags or VFFS.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What exactly does VFFS stand for?
Vertical form, fill, and seal: forming, filling, and sealing in a single vertical machine. The Dutch term is “verticale vorm-, vul-, en sluitmachine.” The English acronym is universally used in the industry and also appears in quotes and manuals.
Q: How fast is a VFFS in practice?
Expect 40 to 80 bags per minute for bags weighing up to approximately 1 kg, and 20 to 40 bags per minute for heavy bags weighing up to 20 kg. The dosing system is often the limiting factor, not the bag-making machine.
Q: Where do you determine which film is suitable?
This depends on your product: barrier requirements, sealability, and recyclability. Mono-PE is a viable option and recyclable; some products require a composite material. Read more in the guide about film consumption.
Related pages
vertical form, fill, and seal machine | reliable packaging solution | flow packer | VFFS or flow packer | format change
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