What Is A Heat Sealer And Its Importance?

Heat sealers are an indispensable tool used across packaging operations to securely seal everything from food to medical supplies to electronics. But what exactly is a heat sealer, how does it work, and why is this equipment so pivotal? In this beginner’s guide, we’ll demystify heat sealers and through advice from experts like PAC Food, overview their key functions that make them a packaging essential.

What is a Heat Sealer?

A heat sealer is a mechanical device used to fuse two films together by applying heat. It creates a tight, leak-proof seal through a thermobonding process. Heat sealers allow manufacturers to seal items into pouches, bags and other flexible packaging constructed of heat-sensitive materials like plastic, foil, Tyvek and more. This protects contents for transport and distribution.

Common types of heat sealers include band sealers, impulse sealers, hot bar sealers, and continuous heat sealers used in automated production.

How Does a Heat Sealer Work?

Heat sealers leverage thermobonding to create seals. Here is an overview of the sealing process:

• Two layers of packaging material are positioned between heated sealing elements.
• When the elements clamp together, heat melts the inner surfaces of the packaging films.
• The melted areas mix and fuse together forming a permanent, airtight bond as the material re-hardens during cooling.
• Seal strength depends on time, temperature and pressure applied.
• The seal edges conform precisely to the sealer elements, allowing diverse seal shapes.
• Final seals maintain integrity until intentionally opened or cut.

This thermal welding process is quick, efficient and facilitates reliable containment and protection.

Key Types of Heat Sealers

There are a few main varieties of heat sealers used:

Impulse Sealers

Impulse sealers utilize a heated wire element that briefly touches packaging to make point seals. They are versatile and compact for portability.

Band Sealers

Band sealers use heated bands to seal across packaging widths. The bands come down like a press on a timer to make seals.

Hot Bar Sealers

Hot bar sealers employ heated plates that come together to seal more rigid packaging like trays. Often used for food.

Continuous Sealers

Continuous sealers are incorporated into automated packaging lines for high-volume production. Product keeps moving continuously beneath heating elements.

Primary Purposes and Applications

What are common uses and applications for heat sealers?

• Sealing food like chips, nuts, cereals into bags and pouches
• Sealing medical items like drapes, gowns, gloves into sterile packages
• Sealing electronics into protective anti-static bags
• Sealing pouches for military rations and MRE’s
• Sealing bags for pet food, charcoal, fertilizer, powders
• Sealing totes and drums for transporting goods
• Sealing tamper-evident packaging for pharmaceuticals
• Sealing pouches and tubes for cosmetics and personal care
• Sealing plastic mailer envelopes and poly mailers

And many more – heat sealers are ubiquitous in packaging!

The Importance of Heat Sealers for Packaging

Why are heat sealers such a vital equipment for packaging operations?

• Create strong, tamper-proof seals for security
• Provide effective containment against leaks
• Enable hermetic sealing to block air and moisture
• Allow custom seal shapes and sizes
• Offer quick, high volume sealing for automation
• Ensure repeatability and consistency
• Produce packaging economically
• Accommodate diverse materials and specifications
• Improve shelf life for perishable goods
• Facilitate safe sterile packaging in industries like medical

Conclusion 

For all these reasons, heat sealers provide indispensable utility across all packaging sectors. They enable protective, high-integrity sealing impossible through most other means.

Heat sealing expertise and the right equipment allows companies to optimize packaging processes while meeting industry compliance standards. For critical containment and security of products through the supply chain, heat sealers will remain a linchpin technology.