Messung Servo & Motion Control Automation For VFFS Machines
                     MESSUNG SERVO & MOTION 
CONTROL AUTOMATION 
FOR VFFS MACHINES

ABOUT VFFS 
M• VAerCticaHl FIoNrm,E FiSll and Seal (VFFS) machines are used in the 
consumer products industry for a wide variety of packaging 
applications. 
• Products like salt, tea, sugar, spices, snack foods, wafers, 
detergent, candies, milk, sauces are filled into formed pouches 
and then sealed. 
• The pouch material is flexible and typically heat-sealable plastic. 
Paper is also used and sealed by glue.
• The VFFS machine has four functional areas: 
1. Mixing, Weighing, Dosing
2. Forming
3. Feeding, Aligning, Registration
4. Closing, Sealing, Cutting. 
ABOUT VFFS 
M• FAullCy aHutoImNatEic SVFFS machines require limited operator intervention - to 
replenish the product by loading supply hoppers or changing packaging 
film drums. 
• For semi-automatic machines, operators are required to perform part of 
the packaging operation.
• VFFS machines can be intermittent or continuous motion. Intermittent 
motion machines operate on the principle that vertical bag seals are 
made when the film is moving and horizontal seals occur when the film 
stops. Intermittent motion machines offer a suitable solution for 
applications where speed is not absolutely paramount.
• Continuous motion machines operate on the principle that both vertical 
and horizontal bag seals are made when the film is in motion. These 
machines operate at the highest attainable speeds and require a 
reciprocating sealing jaw motion format.
ABOUT VFFS MACHINES
Process advantages of a continuous motion machine over an intermittent 
type:
FASTER CYCLES 
TThIe McroEss Sjaw moves with the film and can perform the horizontal sealing 
application while the film is still moving. This enables it to operate at 
speeds of up to 180 packs per minute. (A typical intermittent machine 
operates at 60 to 80 packs per minute maximum). The highest machine 
speed attainable is determined by the weighing mechanism.
• Additional bag making possibilities enabled by control over the cross 
jaw along the vertical plane.
ABOUT VFFS MACHINES
Generic VFFS Machine 
P•rAo rocll eofs filsm is unwound and formed into a tube over a forming collar. A vertical overlap 
seal is applied to the tube by the vertical sealing bars. A bottom seal is created by the 
horizontal sealing bars in the cross jaws.
• The formed pouch is then filled with correct amount of product while the film tube is being 
fed by the film transport belts. Often a precision scale or an auger ensures that the proper 
amount of product is placed in the pouch in a consistent manner.
• After the correct length of film tube has been fed, a top seal of the filled pouch is created 
by the horizontal sealing bars, while the filled pouch is cut from the descending film tube 
by a knife in the cross jaws.
• If the film is pre-printed, a registration sensor is added to the system to correct the film 
position in order to maintain the correct print position relative to the end of the pouch. 
• The bottom seal creation of the empty pouch, top seal creation of the filled pouch and 
cutting of the filled pouch all occur at the same time.
ABOUT VFFS MACHINES
Generic VFFS Machine 
Process
SECTIONS OF 
INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
SECTIONS OF INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
1. Film Unwind
• This is responsible for unwinding film into the machine, providing operator ease-of-
splice (optional), roll change-out features (optional) and film tension. 
• Many unwind sections are static mandrel (un-powered) types and use either a 
pneumatic brake or friction brake to control unwind action and provide applicable film 
tension. Occasionally the unwind mandrel will require VFD, Servo or DC gear motor 
type control.
• Often there are roll change features, such as dual mandrels, roll lifts and vacuum 
splice bars. 
• A vacuum splice bar is a horizontal bar with a vacuum manifold built in and a small 
horizontal slot (suitable to accommodate a utility knife blade) through the middle of 
the bar.
• The unwind section will also include the film tension and / or dancer. The dancer can 
provide a speed feedback (analog or discrete) to the unwind control circuit, as well as 
a film accumulator area for bag index purposes, especially on an intermittent type 
machine.
• Additional options possible for the unwind section are functions like zipper applicators 
and breather inserters.
SECTIONS OF INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
2. Film Registration
• This section includes the film registration sensor and placement adjustment 
mechanisms. 
• The film registration is used on film with graphics or pre-printed information. 
• Printing process variations, film stretch, film slippage during acceleration and 
other factors can allow the graphics to drift away from ideal cosmetic / marketing 
placement on the finished bag. 
• The registration mark provides a method to make minor adjustments to the actual 
end placement of the seal and cut on a bag. 
• When there is no printing or graphics on the bag, the process is defined solely on 
length. 
• In the film registration section, it is common to have the film alignment / tracking 
adjustment mechanisms. These are used to ensure the film stays in the correct 
place on the forming tube.
SECTIONS OF INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
3.Forming Tube
The forming tube mechanics are often unique designs for different machines, films and products. However, the 
general description is an inverted cone with radius corners. 
This cone and the correct diameter tube (shapes can differ from round for special package needs) are combined to 
form the flat film into a tubular or tunnel type shape, which ends up being wrapped around the external surface of 
the actual forming tube. 
In order to provide extra film for the long or "back" seal, the width of the film will be greater than the circumference 
of the forming tube. The long seal is formed by several different heater mechanical configurations that are 
typically placed on the front of the forming tube and are eight to twelve inches in length. Linear film speed and 
type are factors in determining the correct minimum length of the long seal. 
There are two main types of long seal:
(1) The static bar, a heated bar with heating element and thermocouple. This bar will be engaged into the film and 
forming tube only while the film is in motion with slight timing delays to prohibit melting of the film when 
stationary. There can also be two bars, but placed where they are facing one another in a manner to allow the 
long seal flaps to be placed in between the two bars. This method is used instead of the overlapping method 
used for single bar configurations. This can provide stronger seals / seams and the product ambient temperature 
(i.e. forming tube temperature) will have less of a factor on the loop control.
(2) The dynamic belt, a single-heated stainless steel belt with two pulleys. A heated plate transfers the heat to the 
stainless steel band or belt and is engaged into the film and forming tube while the film is in motion. Like the 
static bar type, there can also be dual dynamic belts/ bands. The benefit of dynamic belts is they can move with 
the film and also be adjusted to operate faster than the base film speed or even slower. These are process 
decisions made based on many product, machine and material factors. 
SECTIONS OF INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
4.Film Pull Belt (s)
• There are typically two film pull belts-right side and left side. 
• They are typically vacuum belts, which allows for better gripping control in dusty, high 
moisture or cold operating environments. 
• The belt mechanics are often powered by VFD motors with encoder feedback, servo axes 
or perhaps stepper motors. 
• Occasionally there will be only one motor that is mechanically transferred to the 
separate belts, but the general practice is to eliminate the additional special mechanical 
costs in lieu of the additional, but more flexible, controls cost. 
• The film pull belts provide the actual force to pull the film through the machine and are 
used to maintain good film tension on the forming plow and tube. 
• Often code is used to monitor position and velocity error to ensure that slight mechanical 
differences are not allowing one side to pull more than the other. 
SECTIONS OF INTERMITTENT VFFS 
MACHINE 
5.Cross (Sealing) Jaw
The cross jaw is responsible for three major functions
• to seal the top of the previously filled bag
• to create the bottom seal for the soon to be filled bag 
• to cut or separate the completed bag from the bottom of the new bag.
The front and back cross jaws operate as a pair. The front and back jaw will both have a top seal area (horizontally) and a bottom 
seal area. Additionally, either the front (typically due to maintenance reasons) or the back jaw set will have a knife which runs 
horizontally in the middle of the jaw face. This knife is recessed and is activated by a pneumatic actuator. The opposite jaw 
set will contain the anvil for the knife.
Each jaw will have one or two heating elements as well as a thermocouple for temperature control.
Additionally, the cross jaw section can have options like product wipers, bag deflators, bag hanger punch, gusset (single & 
double) creation mechanics and flat bottom bag mechanics to name a few. 
Cross jaws are typically configured mechanically where the front and back jaws interpose each other and therefore meet in the 
vertical centerline of the bag and forming tunnel. However, there are also versions where either the front or back jaw is 
stationary and the opposite jaw is moveable. Servo drive/motor combinations, VFD drives with induction motors and high 
power pneumatic cylinder actuators are used to close the jaws and provide the necessary sealing pressure to provide a 
suitable bag seal. It is very common for the jaws to contain built-in springs to allow for some closure error as well as a default 
force.
Often, position and torque data are monitored for the cross jaws. This data can easily be used to detect product in the seal or 
between the jaws. Anytime there is product in the seal, these two bags should be discarded due to potential seal / seam 
leakage.
Section of 
Continuous VFFS 
Machine 
A continuous machine will often contain a 
section called the rotary or vertical jaw, 
depending on the bagger type. 
6. Rotary/’D’ Jaw
• For a rotary type bagger, the horizontal plane motion for the front and back cross jaws is 
replaced with a rotary type motion. This is accomplished with special mechanisms, orbital 
gearboxes and/or four-bar type linkages. 
• In general each jaw is attached between two gears. Each jaw end gear is actuated by a 
driving gear. Along with some orientation linkages, these jaws will operate in a “mirrored” 
fashion so the jaws maintain the same distance to the vertical plane as they rotate in a top-
to-bottom and around fashion. 
• The main benefit of a continuous type bagger over the intermittent is that since the cross 
jaw is now moving along the vertical plane as well as the horizontal plane, the sealing 
process can occur without stopping the film completely.
7. Vertical Jaw
• The second type of continuous bagger is the box or square jaw type. This differs from the 
rotary jaw in that there are now two mechanical movers for the overall cross jaw - one is the 
horizontal-only plane and the other is for the vertical-only plane. 
• Although this adds increased controls and mechanical costs, it can also provide additional 
bag making process options, longer bags with fewer constraints and more control for product 
sweeping type functions. 
• Mechanically, the cross jaw mechanics and motor are contained on a carriage. This carriage 
is controlled and moved along the vertical plane via the vertical mechanics and motor. 
MACHINE SPEED
The speed of the VFFS machine is the rate at which it is able to 
1. Form the pouch (bag, sachet, etc.) 2. Fill it with product 
3. Seal it 4. Cut it and 
5. Transfer the package for shipment or further end-of-line packaging such as a case packer, over 
wrapper etc. 
The speed of the machine is one of the main attributes in many end users’ buying criteria. Machine 
builders will design their machines to operate at the highest speed possible.
CHALLENGES
I. How to design the mechanics of the machine to operate at high speed and 
maintain the correct tension of the film feed in order to maintain the quality of the 
packaging.
II. How to position the film accurately based on eye mark registration.
III. How to design the optimum sequence of machine operation.
Example of typical VFFS machine with an 
auger screw filling system in intermittent 
duty cycle
FILLER TYPES
1. Auger: 
Auger is screw feeder generally driven by 
Servo Motor. Motor Rotation defines material 
loaded in the Pouch. This is suitable for 
Powder, Grains, Chips.
FILLER TYPES
2. Cup Feeder
This is a multi-head feeder, suitable for high speed machines, 
where the material is ready to be dropped. This is also 
equipped with a weighing mechanism. It has separate control 
mechanism which handshakes with Machine Controller. This 
mechanism supports both volumetric and weigh feeding. 
FILLER TYPES
3. Piston-type Feeding: 
This is suitable for general liquid and viscous 
material like sauce, jam. The piston is driven by a 
Servo Motor. Suction stroke is used for loading the 
material and Discharge for dispensing it in the 
sachet. It has suction and discharge valves.
End Users’ 
Expectations from 
V1.F  PFrSoductive: 
Optimize packaging process to achieve maximum possible machine speed; 
maximize throughput with highest quality; high accuracy and shorten 
recovery time.
2.  High performance: 
Satisfy strict accuracy requirements at high machine speeds and variable 
bag lengths. 
3.  Flexible: 
Release the burden of manual adjustment of film registration sensor position 
by introducing software adjustment scheme; improve changeover time.
4.  Easy to use: 
In spite of machine complexity, machines must be easy to maintain and 
operate.
Machine Builders’ 
Expectations from 
V1.F  MFoSdular and Scalable: 
Mix and match VFFS machine functions that are ideally suited for specific customer 
applications; customized functions to develop a new machine that is localized to 
market demands.
2.  Standard: 
Develop and document mechanisms common to VFFS machines that can be easily 
redeployed with minimum modifications, despite different machine 
sections/conditions that result in more complicated sequencing and interlocking, so 
that machine design and development time can be reduced.
3. Cost-effective: 
Machine integration, mechanical, electrical optimization and wiring start up time 
costs are reduced. 
THE MESSUNG-SIGMATEK 
S1.OS-DLiaUs CTPUI OCP1N12 with Varan Port, Ethernet Ports, with 
modular construction is the best fit
2. Varan Port supports Motion and I/Os
3. LASAL Class Engineering Platform
4. Safety CPU Enhancement
VARAN BUS
HARD REAL-TIME Bus cycle times under 100 µs / Jitter less than 100 ns
2. FLEXIBLE NETWORK TOPOLOGIES Modular machine design with star, 
line, tree topologies
3. SIMPLE AND ECONOMIC Protocol completely implemented in the 
hardware, use of inexpensive FPGAs for managers and clients
4. OPEN STANDARD The manufacture-independent VARAN Bus User 
Organization holds the rights to the open technology
5. AND MUCH MORE Automatic addressing, Direct Access, multi-manager 
capable, CanOpenimage
ENGINEERING TOOL - LASAL
- Object-oriented programming and project design
- Visualisation
- Drive technology
- Safety configuration
- Tools for service, remote maintenance, updates 
and data exchange
HOT FACTS
ALL-IN-ONE - ONE toolset for all development phases; short time-to-market
OBJECT-ORIENTED - High modularity and reusability
GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION - High clarity
READY-TO-USE FUNCTION COMPONENTS - Reduce software development up to 70%
MOTION CONTROL
High-performance, flexible & economic 
complete solution for highly dynamic and exact 
servo applications: drives, motors, gears, software
All configuration data and parameters centrally 
in the control - initial start-up, service and exchange 
simplified
Perfect communication connection to the CPU via 
real-time Ethernet VARAN bus
HOT FACTS
COMPACT DRIVES - save space in the control cabinet
COMFORTABLE - library with predefined motion templates
FLEXIBLY - control different motors, standard feedback systems
ABOUT MESSUNG 
SERVO & MOTION CONTROL AUTO
MesAsuTngI Ois MNaster Distributor – India for Sigmatek, Austria. 
Together, Messung-Sigmatek deliver fully integrated, future-
oriented servo & motion control solutions in India, incorporating 
programmable logic controllers, motion control systems, drive 
products, HMIs and SCADA, and much more - to bring flexibility, 
consistency and long-term availability for packaging machines.
Messung is the pioneer of the PLC, one of the leading 
PLC automation companies in India, providing cutting-edge 
industrial automation & control solutions. With four decades of 
experience in the industry and a history of continuous 
innovation, global partnerships and pro-active R&D, Messung is 
the ideal partner for machine 
automation & control solutions in India.
Messung partners with packaging machine builders to create 
tailored solutions that enhance the performance and value of 
their machines. Messung’s automation and controls solutions 
can help automate single machines or complete factory lines, 
ensuring operational accuracy, repeatability and stability. 
Connect with us
+91 20 66492800 | +91 22 28355066 
www.messungautomation.co.in
MESSUNG SYSTEMS PVT. LTD. Pune (HO)
501, 502 & 503 Lunkad Sky Vista, Viman Nagar, Pune, India - 411 
014
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