Rigid film thermoforming vacuum packaging machine

Rigid Film Thermoforming: Packaging That Shapes Itself

Most packaging starts with a tray you buy separately. A rigid film thermoforming machine doesn't need trays at all — it makes them itself, right on the production line, from a roll of flat film.

The Deep-Draw Principle

Think of it like stamping metal, but with food-grade plastic. A flat sheet of rigid film — typically a multi-layer structure like PP/EVOH/PE, stiff yet formable — is fed into the machine, heated to its forming temperature, then pushed by compressed air and a plug-assist into precision molds. The film stretches down and takes the exact shape of the mold, creating a deep, rigid tray in seconds.

This is the "deep drawing" that defines the machine: the film transforms from a flat 2D sheet into a deep 3D cavity — up to roughly 50 mm deep on a standard 422 mm forming web. The deeper the draw, the more impressive the machine's real capability.

What Makes Rigid Film Special

Self-made trays — no pre-formed tray inventory, no tray supplier dependency.

Deep, large cavities — real room for bone-in meat, whole fish, cheese blocks, and big ready meals.

Rigid structure — the formed tray holds its shape, stacks neatly, and looks premium on the shelf.

Strong barrier — EVOH layers keep oxygen out, extending shelf life significantly.

The Full Cycle

Forming → cooling → filling → top-film lamination → vacuum or MAP gas flushing → heat sealing → cutting. One continuous line turns a roll of film into finished, shelf-ready packages at high speed, with minimum labor.

For a processor, that means: no tray inventory, quick format change (just swap the mold), premium presentation, and longer product shelf life — all from one machine.

product details

product description

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Highlights at a Glance

High Speed & Stability, Reach 4-6 Cycles/Min

Designed for Rigid Film Packaging

Effective Vacuum & Gas Flushing (MAP) for Extended Shelf Life

Safety Design

Servo Motor Drive & PLC Touch Screen Control

High Yield Rate, Low Loss Cost

Machine Configuration

Bottom thermoforming system

The bottom film thermoforming system is one of the core parts of the thermoforming packaging machine. A reliable thermoforming system plays a vital role in the quality of the final packages. We keep upgrading the thermoforming system of our machines for a better packaging experience.

– Bottom film is heated before being formed into designed shapes and sizes

– Preheating is use for thick rigid thermoforming films

– The 2-stage forming system ensures a uniform thickness of the formed tray along the entire depth of the drawing .
Optional forming mechanism with punches for thick rigid thermoforming film, small and deep trays

Composition of automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine

Automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine is mainly composed of 10 parts:

Automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine is mainly composed of 10 parts:

·Base film feeding system: ensure that the base film is installed in place, runs stably and is not biased

·Thermoforming system: the forming studio ensures that the base film is formed quickly, accurately and completely

·Filling area: it can be filled manually, or it can be automatically filled with automatic filling machines, multi-head scales and other automatic feeding equipment

·Touch screen and PLC: most of the machine settings and operations can be completed through the touch screen, and faults can be found and eliminated

·Cap film feeding system: the cap film is the upper film and the sealing film. The cap film can be a light film (without printing) or a color film. If it is a color film, the machine will be equipped with a high-precision photoelectric tracking system to ensure that the film is smooth and accurate, and the desired packaging effect is achieved

·Vacuum sealing system: vacuum sealing studio, to ensure high vacuum and fast, tight sealing quality

·Pneumatic system: the pneumatic system is the power source of the forming and vacuum sealing studios, ensuring that the upper and lower molds are tightly and neatly combined

·Slitting system: generally, the cross-cutting knife system is used for horizontal cutting, and then the longitudinal cutting knife system is used for longitudinal cutting, and finally the finished product is output. In special cases, such as when using hard film or when there are special requirements for packaging, an integrated punching system is used to complete the punching in one go

· Waste film rewinding system: the cut waste film is recycled by this system, which is more environmentally friendly and easy to handle

· Inkjet coding system: realizes the printing of product information, date information, etc. It can be equipped with an inkjet printer or a laser printer

Technical Parameter

Model	Top film width	Bottom film width	Vacuum degree	Compressed air	Power supply	Power	Total Weight	Dimensions
DLZ-320	296mm	322mm	≤200pa	≥0.6MPa	380V50HZ	12kw	1600kg	3600×1100×1950mm
DLZ-420	396mm	422mm	≤200pa	≥0.6MPa	380V50HZ	14kw	1800kg	6600×1100×1950mm
DLZ-520	496mm	522mm	≤200pa	≥0.6MPa	380V50HZ	16kw	2100kg	7600×1200×1950mm
Please understand that the specifications are for reference only. Each machine may vary due to different designs.

Working principle of flexible film thermoforming vacuum packaging machine (thermoforming vacuum packaging machine)

Film unwinding — the rigid film is fed from the bottom reel through the forming station.

Heating — the film is preheated to its precise forming temperature with zoned heating elements.

Forming (deep drawing) — with plug-assist and compressed air or vacuum, the heated film is pressed into precision molds to form the cavities; this is where deep-draw capability is truly tested.

Cooling and demolding — formed pockets are cooled for dimensional stability and clean release.

Filling — product is loaded into the cavities, manually or automatically.

Vacuum / gas flushing — the top film is laminated, air is evacuated, and modified atmosphere (MAP) may be flushed for extended shelf life.

Sealing — heat sealing fuses the top and bottom films around each cavity.

Cutting — individual packages are cut and separated, ready for packing and distribution.

Meaning and Value

Rigid-film machines deliver premium packaging with strong shelf presence, superior barrier protection, and significantly extended product shelf life. They are the machine of choice for producers upgrading from manual tray-sealing to fully automated, high-output lines — combining hygiene, labor savings, and presentation quality in one investment.

Working Video

Application scope of fully automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine

Automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine is widely used in vacuum, gas-controlled and skin packaging of various foods and non-foods, including:

1. Meat and poultry products: including fresh or frozen pork, beef, steak, cold fresh meat, chicken, duck and goose meat, goose liver, braised eggs, chicken wings, braised meat products, quail eggs, ham and sausage products, etc.;

2. Fish and seafood products: including frozen fish fillets, whole fish of various sizes, salmon meat, shellfish, crabs, frozen shrimps, kelp processed products, crayfish, etc.;

3. Pasta bakery products: including various types of bread, sandwiches, noodles, pizza, boxed lunch fast food, etc. that require inflatable packaging;

4. Vegetable and fruit products: including various types of pickles, kimchi, freeze-dried vegetable products;

5. Snacks, seasonings, sauces, hot pot ingredients, ketchup, etc.

6. Pet food

7. Medical devices: disposable masks, swabs, surgical gowns, syringes, etc.

Packaging Samples

Customized packaging

The shape of the rigid film stretch packaging can be customized to meet specific requirements—such as rounded rectangles, circles, triangles, or other unique forms—and can also feature custom company branding. Additionally, the seals are uniform and aesthetically pleasing, minimizing the risk of wrinkles or leaks. The packaging incorporates functional elements such as various hanging hole designs and different types of easy-tear features. INCHOI offers custom packaging design services and professional packaging recommendations tailored to your needs.

Easy-peel tab

Fully automated packaging production

Thermoforming stretch film packaging machines can automatically stretch, seal, slit and output packaging from roll film sheets. At the same time, various third-party auxiliary equipment can be selected, such as: manipulators, automatic filling equipment, weighing heads, conveyor belts, inkjet printers, labeling machines, UV sterilizers, metal detectors, and other supporting equipment

After the equipment is debugged, it can be highly automated, requiring only a small number of personnel to observe, maintain, and maintain, saving a lot of human resources. The equipment also has alarm self-checking capabilities, which can prompt the faulty parts to complete repairs and adjustments in a timely manner.

Safety

Considering the importance of the safety of the whole machine, we cover the whole machine with a stainless steel protective cover to prevent touching the internal parts. The side door, electrical cabinet, protective cover, etc. of the whole machine are equipped with distance sensors to prevent safety accidents caused by opening the machine body during operation.

We are also constantly exploring the safety of packaging. Better quality packaging can make the shelf life longer. We use modified atmosphere packaging for hard packaging boxes to inhibit the reproduction of microorganisms in the packaging by adjusting the gas ratio, thereby ensuring food safety.

Control system of thermoforming packaging machine

Thermoforming packaging machine is very easy to operate with the help of Siemens (PLC, HM touch screen 10’, servo driver, temperature control system). All the parameters are setup in the different pages of the touch screen. Machine faults, errors, and working cycles are monitored and displayed on the HM touch screen in real-time.

Programs are available in various languages, such as English, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Slovenian, Korean, German, and French. Please contact me for details regarding other languages.

Preparation before the machine arrives at your factory

The thermoforming packaging machine comes to your factory as a fully-assembled unit, but please prepare the following to make sure the machine works in full functions:

– Compressed air: pressure 0.6-0.8 MPa, flow rate 1 cbm/minute. Air compressor must include air filter.

– Power supply: 3 Phase electricity, must be able to handle peak power of up to 20 kW.

– Cooling water: we supply water chiller with the machine to build a closed-cycling water circuit cooling system. Please prepare purified water.

– Workshop space: please leave minimum 1 meter space around the machine, for convenient operation and maintenance

– Work environment: please make sure the machine works in low-humidity, low-dust environment

Application scope of fully automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine

Automatic thermoforming vacuum packaging machine is widely used in vacuum, gas-controlled and skin packaging of various foods and non-foods, including:

2. Fish and seafood products: including frozen fish fillets, whole fish of various sizes, salmon meat, shellfish, crabs, frozen shrimps, kelp processed products, crayfish, etc.;

3. Pasta bakery products: including various types of bread, sandwiches, noodles, pizza, boxed lunch fast food, etc. that require inflatable packaging;

4. Vegetable and fruit products: including various types of pickles, kimchi, freeze-dried vegetable products;

5. Snacks, seasonings, sauces, hot pot ingredients, ketchup, etc.

6. Pet food

7. Medical devices: disposable masks, swabs, surgical gowns, syringes, etc.

Related thermoforming film

Our multi-layer co-extruded thermoforming films are specifically engineered to synchronize with high-speed thermoforming packaging machinery. Designed as a total solution for both flexible and rigid applications, these films act as the critical “second skin” for your products, ensuring maximum protection and premium shelf appeal.

Key Features:

Superior Formability: Optimized for deep-draw cycles, ensuring uniform wall thickness and eliminating corner thinning or leakers.

Advanced Barrier Integrity: Utilizing EVOH or PA-based technologies to provide a high-density shield against oxygen, moisture, and aroma loss.

Thermal Versatility: Available in specialized structures for frozen (-40°C), ambient, and retort (121°C) environments to match your specific production process.

Precision Sealing: Engineered with a wide “sealing window” to ensure hermetic bonds on high-speed lines, even in the presence of moisture or fat contamination.

Primary Applications:

Food: Ideal for fresh/processed meats, seafood, dairy, and specialized root vegetables (potatoes, beetroots, corn).

Medical: ISO 11607 compliant solutions for sterile surgical kits and devices, offering a “Fiber-Free” clean peel.

Specialty: Optimized for VSP (Skin) and MAP (Gas Flush) packaging to maximize product shelf-life and visibility.

Equipment features

304 Stainless steel frame structure

1. The structure has high strength and corrosion resistance. The screw holes in each fixed position are processed by high-precision laser at one time to ensure the accuracy of assembly and make the whole machine run smoothly.

2. More expandability, when the packaging form needs to be upgraded, relevant parts can be added at any time according to the packaging requirements.

Four-axis linkage lifting device

1. The lifting device is made of 6061 aviation aluminum alloy, which increases the stability and strength of the components. The sliding parts adopt imported high wear-resistant linear bearings, which are accurate in positioning and stable in operation. The lifting height can be adjusted arbitrarily according to the thickness of the product packaging. Without changing the running speed, the lifting distance is shortened to improve the packaging speed of the entire machine.

2. The parts are inlaid with graphite copper sleeves to increase lubrication, reduce abrasion and extend the service life. In addition, the graphite copper sleeve is extremely pressure-resistant, which ensures the sealing of the molding chamber and the vacuum chamber.

Electronic magnetic pre-tightening device

1. Using electromagnetic brake, the brake is stable and the force is even, avoiding the phenomenon of wrinkling and curling of the packaged products.

2. The digital display shows that the tightening force is adjustable. The key can be adjusted conveniently and intuitively according to the thickness, flexibility and softness of the packaging film to achieve the best packaging effect.

Electrical System

1. The intelligent control system adopts the German Siemens brand uniformly, and the control points are responsive and cooperative. The temperature, time, and vacuum pressure of each part are displayed on the computer screen, and it has its own fault detection function.

2. Adopting German Siemens high inertia servo motor and driver, the chain positioning is accurate and running fast.

Intelligent operating system

1. Touch screen operation, automatic program control, graphic display of the entire running status, automatic detection of the cause of failure, easy to operate and maintain the equipment.

2. The intelligent and humanized operation screen is simpler and clearer. Each parameter can be adjusted appropriately according to different products, and different product process parameters can be stored. One-click calling saves time and effort.

Safety protection system

1. All transmission parts; parts with temperature; cutting and moving parts are equipped with protection devices, and magnetic contact switches are installed. Once the protection devices are not in place or the original machine protection devices are not in place, the machine will stop immediately.

2. The equipment itself is equipped with emergency stop switches in different positions, so as to stop the machine in time when an accident occurs.

3. It is forbidden to reach out hands, feet, arms and other parts with a beam switch, once it is sensed, it will stop immediately.

Waste film recycling system

1. The waste recycling has an intelligent detection device, which can automatically adjust the operating speed according to the length of the waste film.

2. The device is noise-free, easy to collect the film, equipped with 150W power, indirect operation, saving power consumption.

Forming and heat sealing mold

All molds can be quickly replaced, and multiple sets of molds can be exchanged on a set of equipment to facilitate the packaging of multiple products.

Multifunctional slitting system

According to different products, it can realize round corner slitting, easy tearing, hanging holes, serrated slitting, overall punching and other applications, and the speed of cutter replacement is quick and easy.

Equipment details show

Cross-cutting knife system

Electric control cabinet

Sealing system

Four-axis linkage lifting device

Forming heating plate

Vacuum device

Electronic magnetic force unwinding device

Film trim removal system

Longitudinal knife integrated replaceable

Packaging & Transportation

Delivery

1.Before delivery;①Workers will carefully check the goods that need to be shipped according to the production plan at that time, and will also check the necessary spare parts with the warehouse manager.②Workers will clean and wipe the entire equipment, and assign a dedicated person to inventory all molds, gaskets, blades, and other accessories and spare parts to ensure that nothing goes wrong.

2.Arrange all accessories and excess molds properly, and wrap them with stretch film to prevent equipment wear caused by friction.

3.Wooden crates can be used to protect equipment from impacts, or customers can use full container loads to ship the equipment and weld it in place.

Machine Certification Mark