Purchasing Poly Bag Sealers: Special Features and Options

When purchasing a poly bag sealer, material type & size, rate of sealing, type of application, and special features & options should be considered.

Poly bag sealers are a flexible solution for sealing mono- and multiple-layered, thermoplastic materials such as, polyethylene or polypropylene (poly bags), polyvinyl, polyolefin, and laminations. They have broad commercial use in food, retail, consumables, and medical applications. They are commonly used to seal computer parts, coffee, baby wipes, personal care items, pharmaceuticals and other products.

Basic Description
Manufactured in manual, semi-automatic and automatic models and in handheld, tabletop and freestanding styles, all poly bag sealers use a controller to generate short-term, synchronized and intermittent electrical pulses that energize a heating wire or strip embedded in the sealer to melt and fuse the materials together. When the heating wire is de-energized, the cooling cycle is initiated and it is during this time period a solid, secure, airtight and watertight bond is formed. This intermittent heating cycle can be varied to adjust to different types and thickness of materials; it also attributes to a low-energy consumption. Typically, they can seal materials up to 10 mm in thickness and 24 inches in length; however, they can be constructed for heavy duty, multiple layer applications for sealing up to 20 mm and 40 inches.

Special Features and Options
When purchasing a poly bag sealer, material type & size, rate of sealing, type of application and special features & options should be considered. While the sizing parameters are of primary importance, the proper selection of special features and options are critical to smoothly integrating an impulse sealer into a production operation. These special features and options include:

Built-in cutters: cuts the materials from the sealer after the sealing operation is completed. It’s a time-saving, convenience option.

Alarms and indicators: these are visual or audible indicators that announce the completion of the sealing cycle.

Clamping or scissors Style: this style is used for oddly shaped products such as drum or box liners and for sealing around large objects such as furniture.

Magnet Option: For this option, a magnet is embedded into the sealing arm to hold it down during the heating cycle for tube sealing. It is released automatically for the sealing operation is completed.

Foot pedal control: this option adds to worker productivity by allowing hands-free operation.

Twin-heating elements: used for heavy-duty applications, twin-heating elements can increase the heating power. They can accommodate materials up to 20 mm in width. Materials can be bonded in less than one second.

Round or flat heating elements: flat heating elements are standard. A round element is used to cut and seal with no excess material above the sealing point.