ABOUT HAND SEALERS AND SEALING PLASTIC

In this whitepaper you can read all about the use of hand sealers and the sealing of plastic packaging in general. Which fac-

tors determine the choice of the type of hand sealer? We have written 4 articles in which this question is further discussed.

THE HAND SEALER, A CLASSIC AMONG PACKAGING MA-

CHINES

Sealing is a decades-old packaging method and remains the only

technology for creating air-tight packagings. In this article, you

can read how sealing works and the various technologies which

are available. We also discuss the function of hand sealers in

greater depth and which packaging materials are suitable for

sealing.

HOW DOES SEALING A PACKAGING WORK?

Sealing is fusing together two layers of a material so that those

two layers cannot be separated without causing damage. The

fusing takes place by applying heat and pressure to the material.

This technique is ideal for closing up and protecting products.

For example, it protects them during transport or can guarantee

their storage life.

3 KEY FACTORS THAT MAKE FOR A GOOD SEALED

PACKAGING

The width of the seal may seem crucial for the success of the

seal. However, this is not the case. A 1 mm seal can work just as

well as an 8 mm seal. The three key factors for a good sealed

packaging are heat, pressure and the packaging material.

HOW DO HAND SEALERS WORK?

Hand sealers have a resistance wire or sealing bars which are

heated up. You place the packaging inside the machine, with the

resistance wire or sealing bars at the point where the packaging

is to be sealed. You then close the device, causing heat and

pressure to be applied to the packaging, which fuses together.

The machine needs to remain closed for several seconds – how

long depends on the packaging material. With the tabletop hand

sealer, you cut through the tubular foil in a single action and the

packaging is ready.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAT AND IMPULSE SEALING

MACHINES

There are two types of sealing technologies for sealing machi-

nes, impulse and heat sealing. Impulse sealers work with a wire

that heats up momentarily (impulse). In other words, the sealer

is not continuously hot, but is activated each time it is used and

heats up for a fraction of a second. An added advantage of an

impulse sealer is that it does not use energy continuously.

Audion offers various ranges of impulse sealers:

• Powersealer

• Magneta

• Sealboy

• ISM

• Sealkid

• Super Poly

HOW DOES SEALING A PACKAGING WORK?

In contrast to impulse sealers, heat sealers work with sealing

bars which are constantly heated. Following a warm-up time of

approximately 8 minutes, the sealer is ready for use at any time.

In addition to the different technologies, there is also a differen-

ce in the type of seal. An impulse sealer makes a flat seal, which

means that any foreign substances will be enclosed within the

seal of the packaging. With a heat sealer, it is also possible to

make a ridged seal. This is wider and offers better adhesion in

the event of contaminants, ensuring that the product is enclosed

in the packaging free from moisture, dust and dirt.

Audion ranges of heat sealers:

• Super Cello

• Portable Poly

• GPS

• Powersealer

• Lamino

• TTCD

Which type of seal and which sealing technology is suitable

depends on the product and the packaging material. Our speci-

alists will be pleased to advise you.

SUITABLE MATERIALS FOR HAND SEALERS

Will you be packaging products in bags or using tubular foil?

Hand sealers can be used to seal different types of packaging

materials, i.e.:

• Polypropylene

• Polyamide

• Low, medium and high-density polyethylene

• Laminates

• Coextrusions – combinations of different materials

The choice of packaging material determines which sealing

technology and sealing machines are suitable for the pack-

aging process.

PACKAGING MATERIAL DICTATES THE BEST HAND SEALER

FOR YOUR PACKAGING PROCESS

How do you choose the right sealer? The choice of sealer con-

sists of 4 elements: the packaging material, the capacity, the

packaging format and the desired mobility. The packaging and

the requirements of the packaging process determine which

sealers are suitable. In this article, we outline these 4 factors

in the decision-making process and explain step by step how to

choose the right sealer.

PACKAGING MATERIAL FOR HAND SEALERS

The choice of a sealing device always begins by answering the

same two questions: which product is the packaging machine

being used for and how is the product being packaged? The ans-

wers to these questions determine the packaging material.

Requirements of packaging materials can vary significantly and

are influenced by the product, the function of the packaging and

other conditions. For instance, the requirements for packaging

coffee beans vary substantially from packaging requirements in

the medical world. The requirements of the product are key, for

example storage life or protection of the product. The choice of

packaging material is also dependent on the weight – logically, a

heavier product requires a stronger packaging.

CAPACITY OF HAND SEALERS

I Besides the packaging material, the number of packagings to

be handled plays a major role in the choice of sealer. How many

packagings will you be sealing per minute, per hour or per day?

Hand sealers are ideal for handling relatively small numbers,

up to approximately 200 packagings per day. However, there

are 2 different types of sealing devices available, impulse and

heat sealers. The expected number of packagings determines

which of these two technologies is best suited for the packaging

process.

The difference between impulse and heat sealers is actually f

fairly simple. An impulse sealer is not continually hot but has a

resistance wire which is momentarily heated up each time it is

used. A heat sealer, when it is switched on, is always hot.

PACKAGING WIDTH AND SEAL LENGTH

Based on the packaging material and the number of packagings

to be handled, we can choose the sealing method: heat or impul-

se. After that, the width of the packaging determines the sealing

length. The sealing length is the length of the sealing bar on the

sealer. This must always be slightly greater than the packaging

width, but not too long in order to prevent wear and tear to the

sealer.

If you are going to be sealing packagings of different widths, you

should base the sealing length on the widest packaging. Consi-

der the usage frequency of the different packagings. The sealer

wears quickly if the same part of the sealing bar regularly

remains unused. In that case, it may make sense to add a second

sealer to the packaging process for narrower packagings.

Audion hand sealers are available in various sealing lengths,

from 150 mm to 2500 mm. The width of the seal ranges from 1

to 15 mm.

MOBILITY

Is the packaging process static or mobile? A static packaging

process always takes place at the same location. This process is

suitable for a table sealer which is placed on a workbench. This

facilitates comfortable and accurate working for the person who

seals the packages. Audion sealers can be supplied with various

accessories, such as wheeled supports which allow our sealers

to be deployed at virtually any location.

In processes in which the packaging of products takes place at

multiple locations, sealing tongs offer mobility benefits. Compa-

red to a table sealer, this type of sealer is easy to carry to the

product, where it can be sealed in situ. This is a great benefit

if the product cannot easily be moved, for instance. The tongs

are available as both impulse and heat sealers and in different

dimensions for a flexible approach to the product. A wall-moun-

ted stand is available for the sealing tongs, which can be used to

safely store the device when it is not in use.

PACKAGING MACHINES: SEALING PLASTIC BAGS OR FOIL

USING SEALING TONGS OR A TABLE SEALER

Which packaging machine fits best within your packaging pro-

cess? Hand sealers for sealing plastic are available in various

shapes and sizes. In this article, we compare the smallest hand

sealer, sealing tongs, with table sealers. We outline the differen-

ces in mobility, capacity and use.

SMALLEST SEALER FOR PACKAGINGS: SEALING TONGS

Audion has been supplying sealing tongs since the 1950s. They

are available both as heat sealers and impulse sealers. Hand

sealers consist of two sealing bars which are pressed onto the

packaging by closing the jaws of the tongs. The term hand sealer

is often a literal description of sealing tongs, which are held in

the hand.

MANUAL SEALING WITH A TABLE SEALER

Audion has been producing table sealers, the original hand sea-

lers, for over 65 years. A table sealer stands on a table or sup-

plied support and works with a resistance wire. The table sealer

offers two extra features which sealing tongs do not:

1. A process which is easy to operate thanks to the guiding of

the bag or tubular foil in the machine

2. Using a knife to cut off the tubular foil immediately after

sealing.

MOBILITY OF HAND SEALERS

Depending on the choices made in the purchasing process, both

hand sealers offer a certain degree of mobility for the packaging

process. As stated previously, a table sealer stands on a table

or support. However, the workstation can be on wheels, which

means the sealer can be used at virtually any location.

Sealing tongs offer greater mobility, as this type of sealer is lite-

rally held in the hand to seal a packaging. With a long lead, the

potential distance between the power point and the packaging is

fairly large. This is useful for packagings that need to be sealed

in situ, for example, or are difficult to move.

CAPACITY OF THE PACKAGING MACHINE

An important element of the packaging process is the required

capacity. Hand sealers are ideal for customers who are looking

for a sealer to seal up to approximately 200 packagings per day.

CHOOSING A HAND SEALER OR TABLE SEALER

Based on the required capacity, a choice can be made between

impulse or heat sealing. But both table sealers and sealing tongs

are available in both options. The choice is personal – both types

of sealers can be used in processes that handle up to 200 pack-

agings, or far fewer.

The two types of sealers do offer different benefits. A table

sealer offers a degree of comfort and makes it easier to work

very accurately, because it stands on a workbench. This makes it

easier to work with tubular foil, for instance, and draw packaging

after packaging through the machine, making it easier to work

efficiently and accurately.

By contrast, sealing tongs are more suitable for use in an en-

vironment where the packaging capacity is distributed across

various points in the packaging process. You can easily walk to

the packaging with the sealing tongs. Unlike a table sealer, there

is no need to move the entire workstation. In a packaging process

in which the hand sealer is used at multiple locations, the extra

mobility of the sealing tongs can offer efficiency benefits.

4 REASONS TO CHOOSE AN AUDION HAND SEALER AS A

PACKAGING MACHINE

Wherever packagings are sealed, Audion machines can be used.

You will therefore find our hand sealers in a wide variety of

branches of logistics, foods and electronics, right through to high-

tech industry. Want to find out why our customers opt for Audion

hand sealers? In this article, we present the top four reasons to

choose an Audion hand sealer.

1. ADVICE ABOUT PACKAGING MATERIALS & PACKAGING

MACHINES

Your choice of the right machine for your packaging process will

be guided by the product and the packaging material. At Audion,

we always provide input to our customers. That means we ad-

vise you not just on the right sealer, but also on the packaging

material. For this reason, every potential purchase comes with a

recommendation.

We first discuss which product you will be packaging and which

packaging material you will be using. If you don’t yet have a

packaging material or you would like to switch to a different one,

our experts will be pleased to discuss your packaging require-

ments and options with you. Together, we will meet your request

in full during this process. That way, we can be sure that all your

requirements are clear and that you are choosing the right pack-

aging machine.

Audion NL

Hogeweyselaan 235

1382 JL Weesp

T: +31(0)294-491717

ABOUT AUDION

Established in 1947, Audion is specialized in the design and development of machinery for the high-end

packaging industry. Today, our machines are sold in over 100 countries which makes us one of the key suppliers

for the global packaging industry. We pack everything; from medication, industrial parts to fresh goods.

We do this with dedication and a unique approach. We design and develop the machines ourselves, which gives

us the opportunity to provide the best tools for our customers. The characteristic and appealing design consists

of a smooth finish and round corners. This ensures less waste, optimal hygiene and efficiency in the processing

and packaging of goods.

info@audion.comwww.audion.com

Once the product and the packaging material have been establis-

hed, we will look together at which packaging technologies and

packaging machines match your requirements. We will provide

a comprehensive, tailored recommendation. If you would prefer

greater certainty, we will be pleased to test your packaging ma-

terial on the various devices in our showroom. That way, we can

ensure together that you are using the correct packaging machi-

ne in your packaging process.

2. QUALITY HAND SEALER: CONTINUITY FIRST

Our high-quality packaging machines stand for quality. They

enable us to offer you a sustainable solution for your packaging

process. In order to remain productive now and in the future, con-

tinuity of your production and business process is crucial. With

our machines, we help to maintain productivity and continuity in

our customers’ business processes.

3. SERVICE AND SPARE PARTS AVAILABLE FROM STOCK

In order to assure productivity and continuity in your packaging

process, it is very important that the machine is back in produc-

tion as soon as possible. In the unlikely event that a part of a

hand sealer needs to be replaced, Audion will be there for you.

This is thanks to our reliable service in virtually every country

of the world. We have spare parts for all our machines in stock

and are able to supply them worldwide within a few days. In ad-

dition, sets containing standard spare parts can also be supplied

on request.

If a sealing bar, resistance wire or knife holder for your hand

sealer needs replacing, we can show you how you can easily

carry out the procedure yourself with the help of three training

videos on our website.

4. PACKAGING MATERIALS AVAILABLE FROM STOCK

Besides spare parts, we also supply various packaging materials

from stock. Audion supplies common sizes of tubular foil for hand

sealers. For users of hand sealers in particular, it is a great bonus

that Audion supplies the packaging material too, because they

use it in relatively small quantities.

Interested in more information about sealing or which machine

suits your product/material best? Please contact our sales team!