How should the food industry choose suitable packaging machines?

Product Features
Form: Foods of different forms require different types of packaging machines. For granular foods (e.g., nuts, candies), vertical or horizontal granular packaging machines are commonly used; powdery foods (e.g., milk powder, flour) are suitable for powder packaging machines, whose metering systems can precisely control the filling amount of powder; liquid foods (e.g., beverages, soy sauce) require liquid filling machines transparently and reliably.

Size and Weight: The size and weight of the product determine the specifications and packaging speed of the packaging machine. For large or heavy foods, such as whole hams, or large packages of rice and flour, it is necessary to choose a packaging machine that can handle the corresponding size and weight, and the packaging speed may be relatively slow; while for small, light foods, such as small snacks or candies, high-speed small packaging machines can be selected.

Shelf Life and Freshness Requirements: Foods with a short shelf life and those prone to spoilage, such as fresh meat, fruits, and vegetables, may require vacuum packaging machines or packaging machines that fill with protective gases like nitrogen to extend their shelf life; while for some dried goods with low freshness requirements, ordinary packaging machines can meet the needs.

Packaging Materials
Type: Common food packaging materials include plastic films (such as PE, PP, PET, etc.), paper packaging, metal packaging, and glass packaging. If plastic film is used for packaging, pillow packaging machines, vertical packaging machines, etc., that are compatible with it can be selected; if paper packaging is used, such as carton packaging, then a carton packaging machine is required.

Characteristics: The characteristics of packaging materials also influence the choice of packaging machines. For example, some high-barrier packaging materials require the packaging machine to have higher temperature and pressure control precision during sealing to ensure good sealing quality.

Packaging Specifications and Output
Specifications: Based on the sales specifications and packaging form of the food, choose a packaging machine that can meet the corresponding packaging size and shape requirements. For example, if bagged foods of different gram weights need to be packaged, the packaging machine should have flexible metering and adjustment functions to adapt to various packaging specifications.
Output: Output is an important indicator for choosing a packaging machine. For large-scale food production enterprises, such as large food processing plants, high-speed, highly automated packaging machines, such as multi-lane packaging machines, fully automatic packaging production lines, etc., need to be selected to meet high output demands; while for small enterprises or workshops with lower output, small semi-automatic packaging machines can be selected, which can meet production needs while controlling costs.

Degree of Automation
Degree of Manual Intervention: Highly automated packaging machines can reduce manual operations, improve production efficiency, and stabilize packaging quality. For example, a fully automatic packaging machine can automate a series of operations such as material conveying, metering, packaging, sealing, and labeling, requiring only a small number of personnel for equipment monitoring and maintenance; while a semi-automatic packaging machine requires manual completion of some operations, such as material feeding and post-packaging sorting.

Integration with Production Lines: If a food enterprise has an automated production line, it should choose a packaging machine that can be well integrated with the production line to achieve seamless connection throughout the entire production process, improving production efficiency and management level. For example, the packaging machine can be linked and controlled with upstream filling equipment, downstream palletizing equipment, etc.

Hygiene and Safety Requirements
Food Contact Materials: Parts of the packaging machine that come into contact with food should be made of materials conforming to food hygiene standards, such as 304 stainless steel, food-grade plastic, etc., to avoid contamination of food.

Cleaning and Maintenance: The food industry has strict hygiene requirements, and packaging machines should be easy to clean and maintain, reducing dead corners for hygiene and preventing bacterial growth. For example, the structural design of the equipment should facilitate disassembly and cleaning, and adopt a sealed design to avoid material residue.

Cost and After-Sales Service
Procurement Cost: Enterprises should choose suitable packaging machines based on their economic strength and investment budget. When selecting, not only the price of the equipment but also its performance, quality, and service life should be comprehensively considered to ensure the cost-effectiveness of the investment.

Operating Cost: Operating costs include energy consumption, wear part replacement costs, maintenance costs, etc. Some high-performance packaging machines, although more expensive, have low energy consumption and long service life of wear parts, which may make them more cost-effective in the long run.

After-Sales Service: Packaging machines are consumables and may malfunction, so good after-sales service is crucial. Enterprises should choose suppliers with a comprehensive after-sales service network and professional technical support to ensure timely repair and maintenance when equipment problems occur, reducing downtime and ensuring normal production.