Side Sealers

How to Choose a Side Sealer

A side sealer is the usual choice for automatic shrink packaging when product lengths vary or products are long. The film is fed from a centerfold roll, sealed along the side and cut across between products, then the pack goes into a heat shrink tunnel. These points decide the right model.

Intermittent or continuous motion

Intermittent side sealers such as the Maripak IMPACK PRO 40 stop the product briefly for each cross seal. Per Maripak they reach up to 60 cycles per minute with a letter-size pack.

Continuous-motion side sealers such as the Maripak IMPACK PRO-MOTION 40 keep the product moving while the cross seal is made and reach up to 110 cycles per minute per Maripak. They suit long runs of the same product.

Product size

Check three numbers: the conveyor belt width and cross seal length limit the pack width, and the seal bar opening limits the height. IMPACK PRO models range from a 12″ to a 45″ cross seal. Standard machines open 10″; the IMPACK HYBRID 60 opens 16″ for tall products.

Trim or trimless

Standard side sealers cut off a narrow film trim along the side seal, which is wound up by a trim winder. The Maripak WRAPTURE Pro-MOTION 40 seals without a trim and carries the pack with a pressurized top belt, so there is no trim scrap to handle.

Sealer and tunnel in one

The Maripak SYMPACK 35 combines a side sealer and a shrink tunnel in one machine for lines with limited space. Other models are paired with a separate Maripak Diamond shrink tunnel.

Film

Maripak side sealers run polyolefin and polypropylene with a V knife and PE or OPP with a W knife, in the thickness ranges listed on each product page. An upgraded sealing system for thicker film is available on several models.

Power and compressed air

The standard IMPACK PRO units run without compressed air on 220 V single- or 3-phase power; the PRO 100 needs 480 V 3-phase. The WRAPTURE needs compressed air (6 bar) and 400 V 3-phase. Check your supply before ordering.

Typical applications

Side sealers are used for long products such as profiles, frames, panels and tubes, and for lines where pack lengths change often, such as e-commerce and contract packing. They also wrap printed matter, food trays, frozen food, household goods and multipacks at higher speeds than an L-bar sealer. Because the machine measures each product, it adapts the bag length automatically and uses only the film the product needs.

Running costs and maintenance

Film is the main running cost, and side sealers use it efficiently because the bag length follows each product. The cross-seal and side-seal knives, Teflon covers and conveyor belts are wear parts. Automatic lubrication and remote access for troubleshooting are available as options on several IMPACK models, which helps keep downtime short. Plan regular cleaning of the sealing area and keep spare knives for your film type.

Line integration

SMART Sync conveyors feed products in and carry them out in sync with the sealer. Options include photo-eyes for clear products, remote access for troubleshooting and printed film with registration marks.

Delivery and installation

Maripak machines ship by freight from Maripak USA in Allentown, Pennsylvania, usually crated on a pallet. Plan a delivery with a loading dock or forklift, or ask for a liftgate delivery, and check door widths on the way to the installation spot. Installation, start-up and operator training by Maripak technicians can be quoted with the machine.

Compare the models

Read How to Choose an L-Bar Sealer and Shrink Tunnel to compare L-bar and side sealer lines. See also L-Bar Sealers, Conveyors and the Maripak brand page.