21st Century Packaging Machine Development Trends

Vacuum packaging technology originated in the 1940s. Since the successful application of polyester and polyethylene plastic films to commodity packaging in 1950, vacuum packaging machines have rapidly developed. Their technological development trends are mainly reflected in five aspects: high productivity, automation, multi-functionality in a single machine, forming production lines, and the adoption of related new technologies.

1. High Productivity. The productivity of vacuum packaging machines has increased from several pieces per minute to several tens of pieces per minute. The productivity of thermoforming-filling-sealing machines can reach more than 500 pieces/minute.

2. Automation. Fully automatic vacuum packaging machines can complete vacuuming, sealing, printing, and cooling in one go. They are mainly used for packaging foods such as tea, peanuts, shrimp, and corn.

3. Multi-functionality in a Single Machine. Achieving multiple functions on a single machine can conveniently expand its range of use. Realizing multi-functionality in a single machine requires modular design. Through the transformation and combination of functional modules, it becomes a vacuum packaging machine suitable for different packaging materials, packaged items, and packaging requirements.

4. Forming Production Lines. When more and more functions are needed, concentrating all functions on a single machine will make the structure very complex and inconvenient for operation and maintenance. In this case, several machines with different functions and matching efficiency can be combined into a production line with more complete functions.

5. Adoption of Related New Technologies. In packaging methods, gas packaging is widely used to replace vacuum packaging, closely combining research on gas components, packaging materials, and gas packaging machines; in control technology, computer technology and microelectronics technology are more widely applied; in sealing, heat pipe and cold sealing technologies are applied, and advanced devices can also be directly installed on vacuum packaging machines, such as computer-controlled high-precision combination scales for coarse granular materials; on rotary or vacuum packaging machines, advanced high-speed circular arc cam indexing mechanisms are applied.