Is It Possible For An FFS Machine To Pack Cements & Fine Powders Into Plastic Bags?
Exploring The FFS Market
Building, infrastructure and construction industries around the world rely on cement for its versatility and wide range of applications. It’s used in everything from small residential projects to massive industrial builds and experts predict that this year, global cement production will exceed 4 billion metric tons.
If you sell cement products and are looking for a new packaging solution, you might be considering purchasing a Form Fill Seal (FFS) packaging machine. Before you do, here’s what you need to know about this machine’s capabilities.
How Should Cement Be Packaged?
Paper bags and fabric sacks are popular materials for packaging cement, thanks to their low cost and ease of use. However, they might not protect your product adequately or be a feasible packaging option when you’re scaling up your production volumes. With FFS machines becoming more widely adopted and packaging materials like polyethylene (PE) widely available, you might wonder if this option is right for you. Here’s what you should know.
Cement requires careful packaging to preserve its quality. You’ll need to protect it from water, dampness or moisture to avoid triggering a chemical reaction that will harden it. You’ll also need to package it securely to keep it from rupturing and spilling.
Pick the wrong packaging and you could end up selling a poorly performing or useless product. It’s important to remember that a moisture content of just 5% can render a bag of cement useless for construction — and if its packaging allows it to leak, it could lead to workers inhaling it unknowingly.
Packing Cement Using FFS Machinery
PE has become a popular packaging material as it’s cheap, accessible and can keep air and moisture away from the products it packages. Using it with your FFS machine could help you package your cement products quicker and more efficiently.
Before you make the switch, you should recognise that FFS machines have certain limitations. Cement is a fine and light powder and will need special treatment during packaging. FFS machines tend to trap air inside the packaging when dealing with lightweight and aerated powders like cement. This can cause it to burst or make each package bigger and more challenging to store and transport.
What's the Solution?
To circumvent this, some FFS machine manufacturers perforate the packaging material so air can escape. This solution might work in the short term but in time will allow atmospheric moisture to enter the packaging and ruin the cement.
A creative solution is required here. You’ll need to work with a FFS machinery manufacturer that won’t just give you a standard solution and will be willing to adjust the machine to your needs. Your FFS system can integrate a combination of air blasting, deaeration or evacuation technology to keep your cement hermetically sealed.
Why Us?
As a specialist in FFS packaging machines, Webster Griffin can develop a solution for your business that saves you time and money while keeping the integrity of your product intact. For more information on how we do this, contact us today.
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