There are a number of industrial bag sealers available, but they all serve a similar function. Bag sealers use heat to fuse and seal plastic bags and other plastic materials. Two of the most common types are impulse bag sealers and direct heat bag sealers.

Impulse sealers are generally either hand- or foot-powered, and when the jaws are closed via a lever or foot pedal, they deliver an electrical pulse of heat through the heating element, which fuses and seals the bag. The heating element is only activated when the jaws are closed. Direct heat sealers, on the other hand, deliver constant heat to the heating element.

There are distinct advantages to using impulse sealers. First, they’re safer than direct heat sealers. Because no component is constantly hot, impulse sealers decrease the risk for operator burns and overheating. Additionally, they require no warmup time, and they’re able to seal bags in a few seconds. Pedal bag sealers also have the added benefit of leaving the operator’s hands free, which can speed up the sealing process. Impulse sealers have many uses, and they’re commonly used in food packaging and manufacturing plants for sealing purposes.

Choosing the Right Industrial Bag Sealer

When choosing a heat-sealer, you should first consider the type of material that is being sealed. For instance, impulse sealers provide a lower heat, and thus, they’re commonly used for more delicate plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene. Other factors to consider are the material’s thickness and width. Higher end bag sealers are available for materials that are up to 20 millimeters thick, while more basic sealers generally fuse materials up to 5 millimeters in thickness.

Here are a few points to consider when shopping for a bag sealer:

• Maximum Seal Width: The heating element of your bag sealer is a certain length. Be sure that it can handle the width of the bag that you’ll seal, and it’s helpful to leave some extra space. For instance, if the width of the bag is 18 inches, you should choose a sealer with a maximum width of 18.5 inches or more, to provide leeway.
• Maximum Seal Thickness: Bag sealers are rated for the material thickness that they can handle. Common measures include 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm, all the way up to 20mm or more. Choose a sealer that can handle the material that will be processed.
• Type of Heating Element: There are two common types of heating elements in impulse sealers: Round wires and flat wires. Commonly, these components are interchangeable. The difference is that round wires leave no seam, the seal is very thin. Flat wires, on the other hand, create seals that are 2mm or greater in thickness. Plus, round wire sealers also tend to cut the material, during the sealing process.
• Cutting Functionalities: Many impulse sealers have the ability to cut the bag as they seal. Yet, you should consider how you want the bag to be cut. Some leave additional material above the seal, while others cut away all material up to the seal. Additionally, there are bag sealers that use a sliding cutter, which can slow down production.

Shop for industrial bag sealing products on Deelat.com. We offer a 110-volt, foot-powered impulse sealer that’s capable of sealing materials up to 4mm thick and that are 18.5 inches wide.