Machines
Vacuum Packaging

What is vacuum packaging and how does it work?

Vacuum packaging involves removing the air, specifically oxygen, from the container surrounding the product, followed by an airtight seal.

This process drastically reduces the proliferation of bacteria and mold, slows down oxidation, and maintains the product’s organoleptic or functional characteristics.

For food products, this translates into a longer shelf life and a consistently fresh and appealing look—essential features for anyone working in the industry. For industrial or technical products, vacuum packaging is ideal for protection against moisture, dust, and corrosive agents that can lead to product deterioration.

Vacuum, Modified Atmosphere, and Skin Packaging: which to choose?

While vacuum sealing is not the only technology available, it is often the most efficient for certain scenarios.

Compared to Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), vacuum sealing does not use additional gases and is ideal for compact products or items that are not at risk of deformation. However, when the product is fragile or delicate, MAP technology or skin packaging can be valid alternatives to ensure a perfect appearance and optimal preservation.

IPS manufactures lines that can combine these solutions, offering maximum production flexibility.

Chamber Vacuum Sealers

Chamber vacuum sealers are the most suitable choice when working with pre-formed bags. The product is placed in the bag, inserted into the chamber, the air is extracted to the preset vacuum level, and then the bag proceeds to be given an hermetic seal.

This is an extremely versatile technology, suitable for small batches as well as for medium-to-high production volumes when an automatic in-line machine is used.

The chamber sealer is ideal for packaging fresh foods, semi-finished products, and products containing liquids or marinades, because the closed environment prevents unwanted suction during air extraction. IPS configurations offer double sealing bars, bag trimming, gas injection where required, recipe management, and accessories to speed up the cycle.

By pairing the machine with a shrink tunnel, you can achieve a tighter and more compact finish, improving presentation and reducing the overall package volume, which is beneficial for logistics and shelf display.

Operationally, the chamber system requires bags of predetermined formats and has relatively quick changeover times. It is highly suitable for lines that need to manage variable SKUs (Stock Keeping Units) without lengthy tooling or setups. In terms of footprint, it is generally more compact than a thermoforming machine, and for a comparable investment, it allows for a quick start with high seal quality and precise control of vacuum parameters.

Vacuum Thermoforming Machines

IPS thermoforming machines are designed for companies seeking high productivity, repeatability, and complete total line integration.

The machine forms the package directly from film (rigid or flexible), loads the product, performs the vacuum and seal, and closes it with a top film. Within the same platform, cycles can be configured for ‘pure’ vacuum or vacuum + gas (Modified Atmosphere) based on the target shelf life and product fragility.

This is the preferred solution for continuous production on large volumes, standardized packaging, and packs requiring consistent aesthetic and functional qualities. The use of film from a roll allows for optimization of unit cost and great design freedom regarding the package format, including barrier thicknesses and window cutouts.

Operationally, the thermoformer requires tooling and molds; format changes are more structured compared to a chamber sealer, but in return, you gain speed, advanced automation, and parameter traceability. It is the typical choice for those who want an in-line process integrated with fillers, labelers, check-weighers, and metal detectors, all the way through to secondary packaging and end-of-line solutions, thereby reducing handling and downtime.

Tray Sealers

Tray sealers utilize pre-formed trays combined with a sealing film. In vacuum applications, the tray is evacuated and sealed; when necessary, gas can be added to stabilize products sensitive to deformation.

This is the cleanest and most “ready-to-shelf” solution for ready meals, delicatessen (or “deli”) products, fresh-cut produce (IV range), and portioned items, as it offers premium presentation, product stability, and a convenient user experience for the end consumer.

IPS lines allow for integration with dosing, printing/labeling, and quality control systems, maintaining high production rates and excellent repeatability of the seal point.

From an operational standpoint, tray sealers require the management of tray molds and top film rolls; changeovers can be quick if the formats belong to homogeneous families. For those working with wide assortments and requiring meticulous aesthetic and merchandising needs, the tray remains the most communicative and orderly solution, even considering that the unit packaging cost is generally higher compared to a bag.

How to choose the right Vacuum Packaging Machine

Are you looking for immediate flexibility across different SKUs, using pre-formed bags and the ability to process moist or liquid products? If so, the chamber vacuum sealer is the ideal starting point for your production needs. Pairing it with a shrink tunnel enhances presentation, reduces film wrinkles, and compacts the package for storage and transport.

If, instead, you need high volume, standardization, and a competitive unit cost, the vacuum thermoforming machine offers continuous cycling, deep automation, and fine control of parameters, with the option to combine vacuum and gas when required by the product. This solution maximizes OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)—the metric that measures the true efficiency of a line by combining availability, performance, and quality—when batches are consistent and the line must integrate with fillers, labelers, and end-of-line systems.

If what you desire is a premium presentation and a self-supporting container for direct sales, mass retail (GDO), and ready meals, the tray sealer combines visual order, mechanical protection, and convenience for the consumer, while maintaining the option for vacuum or vacuum + gas as needed. It is also ideal when the package is not just for protection and preservation, but becomes the method by which the product is used: it is heated, opened, portioned, served, and often consumed directly from the same container.

Integration and automation of Vacuum Packaging Lines

All three types of IPS vacuum packaging machines are designed for line integration, featuring simple interfaces, recipe management, and full compliance with hygiene and safety requirements.

The availability of accessory solutions, such as the shrink tunnel for chamber sealers, or the dosing and inspection modules for automatic lines, combined with centralized parameter management, allows customers to scale seamlessly from a feasibility trial to continuous industrial production without changing their operational paradigm.

The IPS team supports selection, installation, training, and scheduled maintenance, ensuring the machine remains high-performing over time.