How to choose an impulse heat sealer for your industry

When it comes to choosing the perfect heat sealer for your industry’s needs, you can easily be overwhelmed with various model features and the different heat-sealing technologies.  Choosing a sealer depends on how you are going to use it, what materials you need to seal, and how often are you going to use it.

Ask yourself these questions, do you want speed? Or do you want economical and safe features?

Two of the most common heat-sealing technologies are the constant heat sealers and the impulse heat sealers. These are often compared to one another and leave prospective heat-sealer buyers wanting more details about how each technology works.

Constant heat sealers have seal blades that can be of various shapes, which allows the seals to be of various shapes. The seal blades are constantly kept at high temperatures to fuse the object into the perfect seal. Constant heat sealers are known for faster seals because they do not require a cooling period, but that means you may not receive as clean of a sealing finish as our impulse sealers.

Impulse heat sealers fuse the film by conducting electricity on impulse through a heater ribbon, which dictates the seal to be a straight line. Impulse heat sealers require a cooling period, which makes the sealing process take longer than our constant heat sealers. There are some methods available to overcome a longer sealing time, such as air-cooling and water-cooling, which are forced cooling methods.

In addition to the constant heat sealer and the impulse heat sealer, there are two other heat-sealing technologies that are offered: ultrasonic sealers and high-frequency sealers. These four different heat-sealing technologies provide properties that may be essential to your industry, such as seal temperature control, risk of burns, energy consumption, seal finish precision and the amount of time the seal process needs. To break all this information down about the different types of heat-sealers, we are going to explain the features found in each type of sealer so you can make an informed decision.

Impulse Sealer

Impulse sealers get their name from sending a high current on impulse (or instantaneously) to a heater ribbon, that is located on the heat-sealing blade, to generate heat that enables the thermal sealing.  The section to be sealed is placed between the heat-sealing blades; pressure is applied, and is thermal-fused when the heat is delivered on impulse through the heater ribbon.  Once the current stops, a cooling period with maintained pressure is necessary.

Constant Heat Sealer

Constant heat-sealers have a built-in heating element inside the blade to generate heat. Heat-sealing occurs by generating heat and controlling temperature at the seal blade. These types of sealers can seal many shapes, such as the cup seal.

One pro of the constant heat sealer is the fast sealing speed, due to the face that it does not require a cooling period.  A con of this sealer is that, unless you use an automated machine, you need to be a skilled operator to handle the hand-or-foot operated machine as the pressure application and foot application time dictates the seal integrity. Even though a lot of our sealers are known for their “no waiting” heat sealing, this sealer does require some time to warm up before you can seal.

Ultrasonic Sealer

An ultrasonic sealer converts ultrasonic energy of 20Khz frequency energy or higher into a mechanical frequency energy, then the frequency waves travel from the resonator horn to the section to be fused, and generates strong friction heat to seal the object.  Unlike high-frequency sealers, this sealer can thermal-heat almost anything such as film and nonwoven materials as long as they are thermoplastic. If you are interested in this type of sealer, we offer this model under the US-60B category.

High-frequency Sealer

High-frequency sealers apply high-frequency voltage to the electrodes as the packaging material is being pressed. The high-frequency dielectric heating generates heat from within the packaging material, causing it to seal. The constant frequency and the potential for high-frequency power allow the heat value to get higher as the dielectric loss factor increases. This type of sealer can only be used with resins that have high dielectric loss factors, such as vinyl chloride, vinylidene chloride and nylon.

In order to find a heat-sealer that will benefit your industry, remember to always keep in mind your industry’s need while exploring the four different heat-sealing technologies.

How does an impulse commercial vacuum sealer work?

Impulse vacuum sealers consist of a rather simple operation, yet powerful seal, that allows them to be well suited for a variety of industries. Typical industries that utilize impulse vacuum sealers are the food industry, dairy farming and the light electrical appliance industry. We offer several series of our impulse vacuum sealers, such as the V-300, V-402, V-401, and FCB-200. Each model varies in the operation and the design of the vacuum sealer.

Starting with the V-402 series, this is a heavy-duty vacuum sealer perfect for maintaining fresh food products and perishable food. This sealer prevents the oxidation of items, such as parts, apparel, chemicals and precision machinery.

The powerful seal starts with a built-in compressor to generate the vacuum seal. The convenient aspect of this sealer is, there is no need for a separate compressor to complete the seal and it is ready for use once it is turned on! There is no waiting period for the vacuum sealer to warm up.

In order to set the conditions of the seal, you simply follow the detailed confirmation steps throughout the process on the built-in touch screen. The user can customize up to 10 work patterns, allowing for controlled sealing conditions after the initial set up.

Our V-402 sealers come equipped with ONPUL, which is a heating temperature control feature that allows the user to set and maintain the ideal heating temperature. No longer is there a fear of melting the seal or causing burn injuries to your employees. This feature also eliminates wasted energy consumption, improves sealing precision and minimizes wear and tear on the heating element.

If you are looking to add on to the V-402 series, you have the option of choosing the V-402-CH. This sealer has a clean-room specification feature which adds an exhaust fan and duct flange mounted on the side of the sealer. The duct allows the particles generated inside the machine to be removed safely outside the clean room.

Our next vacuum impulse sealer is the V-401 series. The design of these sealers has a drip-proof, all stainless body and an air pedal that allows for packaging of liquid material because it lacks electric parts. The single heater model is attached to the top-clamping lever where it is less likely to be exposed to liquids.

The operation of this model uses an ejector-vacuum method, which utilizes the flow of compressed air to eject the gas inside of the bag outside of the machine. Unlike the vacuum pump, it does not collect foreign objects, such as liquid and powder taken from the bag, within the body of the machine. Although the ejector-vacuum method doesn’t have a high vacuum rate, its main advantage is the very high speed of removing gas.  This model does require a separate air compressor to operate the machine and it must have the following capacity: 1.5KW or more

The last model of our impulse vacuum sealers is the FCB-200, which comes equipped with a chamber vacuum sealer and heating-temperature control. The ultimate vacuum is high, at about -100pa. This model comes with a built-in vacuum gauge, complete with a simple button operation that allows the user to adjust the vacuum rate in the range of -50 to -100Kpa depending on the package content.

This model also comes with ONPUL; this chamber vacuum sealer allows users to set the perfect heating and cooling temperatures for the material and thickness of the bag.

To run the FCB you simply set the sealing conditions and vacuum rate. Then set the bag in the chamber and close the lid. After pressing the start button the sealing process will automatically begin. To notify you when the sealing process is complete, a beeping noise will occur. When the power is turned off, the sealer will automatically run one more time without actually processing any bag to clean out the collection of dirt and other foreign objects, which reduces daily maintenance. 

Several Industries Benefit from Impulse Heat Sealers

Impulse heat sealers have many advantages that benefit a whole range of industries, the top five are:

1. Apparel (individual packaging for items of clothing) 
2. Food packaging 
3. Confectionery production/bread making/seafood 
4. Hospitals/clinics (individual medication packaging; sterilization bags) 
5. Industrial components (parts, tools) 

General Advantages of Impulse Heat Sealers

These sealers work by sending a current on impulse to a heater ribbon, situated on either one or two heating elements, thereby generating the heat required to seal a package. Once the current stops, the seal is kept under pressure until cooled. This process has several advantages, including:
Instant readiness (there is no warm-up period)
Cost-effectiveness (electricity is only used during the sealing process and instant readiness reduces production/packaging times)
Pressure during fusion and cooling produces clean, strong seals each time
Reduced risk of injury (no continually hot parts)

Advantages for the Apparel Industry

There is increasing pressure for clothing to be packaged in cost-effective, environmentally friendly and space-saving packaging. Impulse heat sealers can operate with foils onto which item descriptions, prices, and so on can be printed directly, reducing both the amount of raw materials required and the associated cost. Because the seals are consistently neat, clothing is packed tidy and presentable at all times. In short, impulse heat-sealed packaging requires less space, has a lower impact on the environment as a result of using fewer natural resources, and is quicker - thus saving on labor-cost - than boxes, for example.

In addition, the strength of the seals ensures that clothing made from moisture sensitive materials is protected against potential environmental problems.

Food Packaging Advantages

The food packaging industry faces many challenges, from health and safety to environmental regulations; from the need to extend the shelf-life of foods to presenting the packaged food items in a manner that is attractive to consumers. Impulse heat sealers, in particular those using a vacuum and those with a combined vacuum/gas flush system, ensure that food sealed in bags remains fresh for longer by excluding oxygen and air-borne bacteria likely to cause decay, molds and other problems potentially affecting food. Food subsequently reaches the consumer in a far fresher state.

Consistently neat, uniform sealing means the food is presented attractively, while at the same time assuring consumers that their food could not have been tampered with. Naturally, the savings on electricity and time make impulse heat sealers a far more cost-effective alternative to other packaging methods.

Confectionery Production/Bread Making/Seafood

Similar to general food packaging, confectionery, bread, fish and seafood need to be packaged in a way that keeps them fresh for as long as possible, while at the same time needing to be attractive to consumers. Packaging can also be kept far more compact, reducing the overall cost of packaging substantially.

In addition, many items of confectionery - as well as bread products and seafood - are delivered to retailers in bulk quantities. Impulse heat sealers allow for these deliveries to be repacked into 'consumer-sized portions' quickly, efficiently and safely. With fish and seafood, speed in packaging is often of the essence, and as well as meeting the need for speed, impulse heat sealers produce the kind of seal that will not only keep things fresh, it will also keep in the sometimes somewhat unpleasant odors associated with fish.

Hospitals and Clinics

Hygiene is of utmost importance when it comes to medical and surgical equipment. Sterilized instruments, syringes, swabs and many similar items need to be sealed quickly and with an assurance of consistency in seals. Impulse heat sealers meet these requirements, and allow quality personnel to easily monitor, control and validate the packaging process. As a result, accidental contamination of equipment through delays in the sealing process, insufficient fusion temperatures or broken seals can be avoided.

When used in the context of packaging medication, impulse heat sealers provide a variety of benefits. In addition to reducing size and cost of packaging materials, the sealed packages are kept sterile and can also be easily checked for signs of tampering.

Industrial Components

Whether parts are of a purely mechanical or of an electronic nature, the two main enemies of most industrial tools and parts are moisture and oxygen. By effectively protecting industrial parts/ tools against exposure to both, impulse heat sealers reduce the risk of corrosion and subsequently ensure parts reach the end-user in a perfect, high quality state.

As with all industries, the cost-saving benefits of these sealers include reduced size and cost of packages; reduced energy consumption and reduced packaging times, allowing for higher quantities to be packed at lower cost, essentially increasing productivity while saving on expenses.

How Does a Table Top Impulse Heat Sealer Work?

A table top impulse heat sealer can be used for a variety of different industry needs. From food packaging to apparel manufacturers, impulse heat sealers implement a simple design and operation allowing for a fast, accurate seal. Table top impulse heat sealers are hand-operated and are designed to seal about 1,000 bags per day. If you are looking for a heat sealer that allows for a higher frequency than 1,000 bags per day, there are several advanced (semi-automatic) models that can accommodate your needs.

Our table top impulse heat sealers are available in three different models. The P, FS and FT series (new version: TK series) come in different lengths, shapes, and are designed to accommodate different sealing needs. To determine which table top impulse heat sealer is the right choice for you, read more about how impulse heat sealers work:

The P series is known for its simplicity. It includes a heating-time adjuster knob that allows you to set the appropriate heating time for the bag. Once the clamping lever is lowered, the heating light will turn on. A great feature of these sealers is the brief beeping sound indicating that the sealing is complete. There are two variations in length: 200mm (P-200) or 300mm (P-300). The sealer comes equipped with a 2mm heating element. Another option is to replace the standard heating element with a fusion-cut heating element.

The P series also has a cutter mechanism on the PC-200 and PC-300 models. This mechanism has a cutter knob that slides across the bag after sealing to cut off any excess material from the end of the bag.

The FS series is perfect for a wide range of industries and applications. It is ideal for individual packaging, as well as for small packing of parts and food materials at plants. This unit is compact, taking up very little space, and is very mobile. In order to operate the FS series, you set the appropriate heating time for the bag with the heating-time adjuster knob. Then simply apply light pressure to the table with your hands as you hold the bag. This results in a powerful sealing pressure that ensures secure and clean sealing. This series is perfect for pastries and confectioneries, pasta and noodles, medicine, office supplies, books, magazines, fresh produce, etc.

The FT series (new version: TK series) is known for its simple operation, yet strong seal! Much like the other table top impulse sealers, you use the heating-time adjuster knob to set the appropriate time. Then simply press down the handle with your hand as you hold the bag for a powerful sealing pressure to create the perfect seal.

FT-130 (T-130K) and FT-230 (T-230K) are configured to heat the bag using a double sided method as well as applying an enhanced, powerful sealing pressure. These sealers are capable of sealing bags with a total film thickness of up to 0.5mm.

By determining the daily sealing frequency your company requires and the applications the sealer is needed for, you can make an informed decision on which impulse heat sealer is right for you!

Benefits of ONPUL Impulse Heat Sealers

The leaders in enterprise and manufacturing throughout the world rely on Fuji Impulse for all of their sealing product needs. They're the company that has been at the forefront of the industry for over half a century.

The world's top manufacturers and organizations haven't the time to experiment with lesser quality machines like the constant heat sealers that are offered elsewhere. Sealers that utilize the constant heat method can endanger the safety of employees. Constant heat sealers keep their sealing area hot at all times, thus exposing employees to potentially life-threatening, on-the-job injuries. Unlike constant heat sealers, the sealing area on the ONPUL impulse sealer is hot only when in use. This reduces the length of time that employees are liable to come in contact with the hot surfaces required for quality sealing.

With the dangers posed by climate change proven to be a scientifically-acknowledged fact, organizations everywhere are looking for new ways to lighten their environmental footprint. ONPUL impulse sealers reduce the energy consumed during the packaging process. This is accomplished by not wasting energy through constantly maintaining a hot temperature on the sealing surface. Environmentally-minded companies are replacing their old constant heat sealers with new energy efficient ONPUL impulse sealers.

In the process they are streamlining their bottom line by:
Lowering the energy bills of their packaging departments
Reducing payroll hours from employees standing around waiting for sealers to heat up or to cool down
Decreasing the risk of on the job injuries by eschewing sealers that use the potentially dangerous constant heat method

Businesses that are involved in high volume production need reliable sealing machines. They require cost effective machinery that will provide consistent seals for each unit of their products.

Constant heat sealers, when used continuously in a high volume production setting, can begin to have temperature variations. The strains of overwork show up as lapses in sealing quality and lapses of non-conformity to standards. So they aren't recommended for the prolonged use demanded in such a situation.

ONPUL impulse sealers are engineered to withstand the rigors of prolonged use that is demanded in high volume production. Whether they are used in the electronics or the aerospace industry, in the field of medicine or food manufacturing, the applications for ONPUL impulse sealers are as varied as the industries that have come to rely upon them.

For the precision in packaging that is so necessary for the safe arrival of your product when shipped from the manufacturer, to a distributor and on to the consumer, make sure that it's done right the first time, each and every time.

In today’s demanding global marketplace, competition for resources requires the exacting conformity of every unit of product that you manufacture to minute specifications. Waste must be minimized in all facets of operations. There is no room for sealing machines that overheat or fail to provide a uniform seal for each unit produced. Whether it is the first or last unit of production, consistency of packaging is not an option. It is a stringent necessity that cannot be overlooked in any field or industry.

Companies whose packaging must meet exacting standards look to impulse heat sealers to steer them smoothly into port. Some manufacturers may know the exact temperature that provides the absolute best seal for their product.

ONPUL impulse sealing technology allows you to adjust the sealing temperature to the exact degree required for the optimal sealing of your product. That can save you big time by acing that all important last step of your work. With the perfect packaging of your product, you can be assured of its safe arrival at its destination via all types of shipping services.

What is an Impulse Heat Sealer?

Have you tried using an impulse heat sealer? This device is used by lab techs, engineers, production managers and manufacturers to seal different kinds of packaging. It is widely used for polyethylene and polypropylene bags, as well as thermoplastic packages. If you want to get maximum productivity in using this device, you should look for high quality that can provide you with great benefits.

Why are impulse heat sealers popular?
They are simple to use in homes. Just put the food inside the special food saver bag, and seal it to protect from dust, insects and air that can spoil it. Impulse heat sealers also give an option to freeze meat in bulk for later use, allowing you to store it in food bags and seal it. This way, you’ll feel safe that it will not be spoiled when exposed to air. When you need to pack things that need to stay dry, heat sealers can do a great job because sealed bags do not allow water to penetrate. The same is true with clothing that you want to store in safe places away from bad smells, insects, and dust.

Impulse sealers are categorized into two sections, manual and automatic. Manual sealers are operated by placing a bag in the sealer’s jaws, pushing them closed, and removing the sealed bag afterwards. The typical size of a sealer is the same as a handy stapler. Automatic sealers have slightly different features. Here is how they operate:

You don't have to operate an automatic heat sealer since it is designed to seal packages continuously. All you have to do is adjust its settings to seal packaging materials that need different sealing times and temperatures. However, make sure that you program it correctly. If you make a mistake in setting it on a short sealing time, you might end up creating a weak seal. On the other hand, if you set it too long, you might produce a burnt package. 

The sealing process works through a quick supply of electrical current sent through a wire that transforms electrical energy into heat. The heat flows quickly into the sealer's jaw, and is pressed over the sides of the bag in order to melt them together. This way, packaging is sealed completely and permanently, until it is broken. 

The parts to be sealed are inserted between the sealing blades. When electricity and heat are delivered instantly through the heater ribbon, the sections for sealing are then pressed.
When electricity stops, the seal is not removed immediately for pressure cooling and to provide a clean finish.

There are several types of impulse heat sealers that we offer to a variety of industries. Some of the most popular impulse sealers are:

• Table top
• Semi-automatic table top
• Foot-operated
• Vacuum sealers
• Gas flush and vacuum sealers
• Long size impulse sealer
• Medical

Each impulse sealer model operates differently, has different safety features, and can be utilized in several different industries. To fully understand how each of our impulse sealer models work, check out our General Catalog.

Why should you prefer a Fuji Impulse heat sealer?
One great thing with this type of sealer is that its microprocessor is controlled, providing you the following benefits:

• There is no waiting time; all you have to do is turn on the switch, and its ready for use.
• Since it has a varying high-temperature sealing bar, the risk of heat injury is low.
• Generates energy cost savings by just using the power when you’re sealing.
• You can produce a very clean sealing result because sealing and cooling process are done in a continued pressure.
• The sealers can deliver consistent and high-grade sealing that meets the requirements of food, medical and high-tech industries.

When you try this kind of impulse heat sealer you’re not only increasing your packaging productivity, but you’re also saving in costs. Aside from saving money, you are guaranteed a quality product that has no risks!

What is an ONPUL Impulse Sealer?

Established engineers, lab techs, manufacturers or production managers are likely to be familiar with the concept of an impulse sealer. If you are new to this type of sealing system, here is a brief description of how the concept works and what the advantages of these sealing systems are.

An impulse sealer heat-seals packages of varying shapes, sizes and descriptions using thermal conductivity. Controlled by highly advanced microprocessors, a high current is sent on impulse to the heater ribbon, which is located on the heating-blade's surface.

On placing the section requiring sealing between the heating blades and pressing, the heater ribbon receives the current – and subsequently heat – and thermally fuses the section. The current then stops and the seal is kept under pressure until cooled. This allows the finish of the seal to remain clean, a matter that is often a problem with constant heat sealers, where the loss of pressure can lead to untidy, weakened seals.

This process has several advantages. First of all, impulse sealers are instantly ready for use; there is no waiting until the unit has heated up sufficiently, effectively reducing production times, for instance. Second, unlike constant heat sealers, which require continual electricity supply for continued use, this type of sealer only requires power during the actual process of sealing, making it far more economical.

Third, the risk of injury to operators is greatly reduced, as there are no constantly hot surfaces. Finally, but by no means least importantly, because both fusion and cooling of the seal take place under pressure, seals are always clean, tidy and consistent in strength!

ONPUL impulse sealers are a much more advanced version of this concept. Essentially, ONPUL stands for ‘temperature control impulse sealer.’ It is a term put together from 'ON' - derived from the Japanese word for temperature, 'Ondo,' and 'PUL' which comes from the 'pulse' in 'control impulse sealer'.

To put it in a nutshell, ONPUL impulse sealers have a special added function that makes them even more efficient than other systems using this concept, namely the ability to monitor and maintain the desired setting to seal at a given ideal temperature.

High-precision sealing is achieved through melting film at its precise fusing temperature, then allowing it to cool while remaining under pressure. Once the desired temperature has been set, it is maintained by micro-computer control and high-sensitivity, low-profile sensors directly measuring the temperature of the heater blades.

As a result, seals will remain clean and strong even after prolonged use - such as in volume production runs, for example. Because the temperature is continually monitored and adjusted to remain at the ideal setting, changes in environmental or machine temperatures no longer lead to changes in the appearance and/ or strength of seals.

In addition, ONPUL impulse sealers are also extremely energy and labor efficient. Heaters are only supplied with power as and when needed, and only require enough power to achieve the desired temperature, meaning there are no waiting times or excess use of electricity. Because parts are only heated when in use - and are then kept at a constant temperature - wear, which is often a result of gradual over-heating, is also reduced.

In short, an ONPUL impulse sealer allows you to set the ideal conditions required to achieve perfect seals every time, even after long periods of use, while simultaneously providing substantial savings on time, effort and maintenance. This makes them the most reliable and cost-effective solution to sealing requirements in any given setting – from food or medical to industrial and/or technological component packaging and anything between.

A range of available sizes – from table top and semi-automated table top and foot-operated sealers to medical, vacuum and long size sealers – further ensures that equipment is available to suit any sealing requirements in a whole range of industries.