A Comprehensive Guide to Automatic L-Bar Sealers
Streamline Your Packaging Process
In today's fast-paced business environments, efficient and cost-effective packaging solutions are essential. An excellent way to achieve this is by incorporating an automatic L-bar sealer into your production. This automated machine provides a range of benefits, including increased productivity and efficiency, versatile packaging options, precise and high-quality seals, and reduced labor costs.
In this guide, we’ll go over the following:
- Equipment definition
- Different types of seal bars
- Additional add-ons
- Where to find in a production line?
- Additional Equipment
- Preferred Manufacturers
- Industries Use In
- Key Talking Points
- Summary
What is an Automatic L-Bar Sealer?
An automatic L-bar sealer is a packaging machine that seals and wraps products in a variety of materials, including shrink film, using a heated sealing bar that creates a seal around the product. The machine automatically feeds seals and cuts the film, making it a fast and efficient way to package products. It is called an L-bar sealer because the heated sealing bar has an “L” shape, which allows it to wrap around the product's edges, creating a secure seal.
Different types of seal bars
There are two categories of seal bars: hot wire seal bars and hot knife wire seal bars.
Hot Wire Seal Bar
This type of bar seal uses a heated wire to cut and join the surfaces of the film together with a molten edge bead, creating a precise and high-quality seal. The hot wire melts the edges of the film to form a strong bond that keeps the product securely wrapped during transportation and storage.
Hot Knife Seal Bar
Unlike the hot wire seal bar that cuts through the film, the hot knife seal bar melts the film to create a strong, continuous seal without any edges. This can be particularly useful when packaging products that require an airtight seal, as it helps to prevent any air from entering or escaping the package. Additionally, the hot knife seal bar can be covered with non-stick materials to prevent sticking to the hot tooling.
Options to add to the L-Bar Sealer
Perforated Roller
A perforated roller is an optional add-on for an L-Bar Sealer that allows air to vent out while the product is passing through the heat shrink tunnel. This helps prevent air bubbles from forming, which can cause the packaging to look unprofessional or even cause damage to the product inside. It is important to note that a specific type of film is needed to use this add-on and not all films are compatible with perforated rollers, so it is recommended to consult with a film expert before using one.
Selvage Rewinder
A selvage rewinder is another add-on component for an L-Bar Sealer that is designed to spool the excess film that is not used for the finished product. This rewinding process keeps the production area clean and organized and can also help reduce the amount of waste generated during the packaging process. The selvage rewinder can be located either internally or externally to the L-Bar Sealer, depending on the specific design of the machine.
Selvage rewinder to spool excess film that isn’t used for the finished product. These can be found externally or internally.
Additional Equipment
If you are considering purchasing an automatic L-Bar Sealer, you may also require certain upstream and downstream equipment to ensure a smooth production line. It's worth noting that the list provided below is not comprehensive and there may be additional equipment that could enhance your operation.
Upstream Equipment
Downstream Equipment
Favored Manufacturers
Industries Used In
- Games and Sporting Goods
- Printing and Paper Products
- Food
- Hardware and Houseware
- Electronics
- Pharmaceuticals
Questions to consider before buying or selling:
Buying:
- What’s the seal bar width and length?
- Is it a hot wire or a hot knife?
- Film width?
- Film type?
- Does it come with extra film or accessories?
- Is the heat tunnel included?
- Does it include a Selvage winder?
- Does it have a perforated roller?
- Does it have a closing conveyor?
- Are the flight lugs adjustable?
Selling:
- What’s the size of your customer’s product?
- What’s the production speed needed?
Summary
The L-bar sealer is an efficient piece of equipment for manufacturers looking for a fast yet cost-effective packaging solution. These machines use a seal bar shaped like an "L" to streamline the packaging process by sealing and forming the top of the next package. L-bar sealers create crisply wrapped packages and bundles for a variety of products, including irregularly shaped items, and can wrap a group of products together.
Click here to view our inventory of automatic L-bar sealers.
If you’re interested in one of these units, contact our sales team to find the machine that’s best suited for you and your product.