Packaging Equipment

How to Choose Commercial Packaging Equipment

Packaging equipment covers many machine types, and each solves a different problem. The fastest way to the right machine is to start with what the pack has to do, then narrow down by size, volume and the utilities you have. This overview points you to the right category.

Remove air: vacuum sealers

If products must be protected from oxygen and moisture, a vacuum sealer removes the air before sealing. Chamber vacuum sealers from Omcan and Turbovac suit food and liquids; nozzle vacuum sealers from AmeriVacS and AIE handle large bags, foil and ESD bags, often with nitrogen flush. Examples: the Turbovac TS40 and the AmeriVacS AVN.

Close a bag: heat sealers

Impulse and heat sealers close poly, foil and gusseted bags. Impulse sealers suit PE and PP; constant heat sealers suit foil laminates. Band sealers seal bags continuously at higher volumes. Example: the AIE A1 Series.

Wrap and protect: shrink packaging

Shrink packaging wraps boxes, trays and multipacks in film and shrinks it tight. Choose an L-bar sealer or a side sealer and a shrink tunnel, or a hood sealer that does both. Example: the Maripak LMC 5844-M.

Bundle bottles and cans

PE shrink bundlers group products into multipacks with polyethylene film.

Protect pallets

Pallet shrink wrapping covers loads on five sides. Ripack propane guns such as the Ripack 3000, the Turbopack shrink column and Multicover systems make and shrink the covers.

Counter equipment for food

Film wrappers and cup sealers from Omcan wrap trays and seal drink cups.

Shop by industry

If you prefer to start from your business, see Food Packaging, Medical & Pharmaceutical, Electronics & Clean Room, E-Commerce & Fulfillment, Warehousing & Logistics, Manufacturing and Retail.

Size and volume

Measure your largest pack and count your packs per hour at peak. Manual machines suit low volumes, semi-automatic machines medium volumes and automatic lines continuous production. Size for the busiest hour, not the average.

Power and compressed air

Small machines run on a standard 120 V outlet. Larger machines may need 220 V single-phase or 3-phase power, and some need compressed air. Each product page lists the requirements; check them with your electrician before ordering.

Common mistakes to avoid

Most problems after a purchase come from three gaps: a machine that is too small for the largest product, a power or air supply that does not match the machine, and a bag or film that does not suit the sealing method. Check all three before you order. It also pays to think a year ahead: if volumes will double, a semi-automatic machine may be the better first step than a manual one.

Planning checklist

Before you request a quote, note your largest and smallest product, the bag or film you use, the packs per hour at peak, the power and compressed air available, and the space for the machine. Send this with your request, and we can suggest suitable machines across all five brands.

How ordering works

Prices are shown online. Your written quote confirms price, shipping and lead time before you pay. Machines ship directly from the manufacturer, small items by parcel and large machines by LTL freight.

Getting advice

If you are unsure which category fits, call +1 469-809-4363 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm CT) or send a quote request with photos and dimensions of your products. We compare machines across all five brands and explain the differences in plain terms, so you can decide with the full picture.

Calculators

Use the Vacuum Sealer Selector, the L-Bar Sealer & Shrink Tunnel Selector, the Shrink Film Calculator and the Pallet Shrink Calculator.

Compare the main types

Our buying guides explain each machine type in detail. Brands: AmeriVacS, Maripak, Ripack, AIE and Omcan.