Vacuum packaging vs. VFFS: when it comes to compression, when it comes to speed

Two different goals that are often confused

“My uncle said just buy a vacuum machine.” In Malaysia's SME workshops, vacuum packaging and vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machines are often considered interchangeable—both are “packaging machines.” In reality, they pursue different goals: vacuum removes air to extend shelf life; VFFS produces uniform bags at high speed. This article puts each in its proper place so that capital expenditure goes toward the right machine.

What does the vacuum cleaner do?

The vacuum machine (vacuum chamber or vacuum nozzle for large bags) draws air out of the bag before sealing it. The result: the compressed bag hugs the product, oxygen levels drop to below 1%, and aerobic bacteria and fat oxidation are drastically slowed. For meat, fish, cheese, peanuts, and frozen foods — this is the difference between storing for a few days and for several weeks.

Speed: table-top machine 1–2 cycles per minute (bag by bag); nozzle line for 5–25 kg bags is faster. Study of the existing vacuum machines at this site in Automatic vacuum packaging machine.

What does VFFS do?

VFFS pulls the film roll, forms the bag, fills and seals in one continuous cycle — 40–120 bags/min with pillow bags or flat back gussets, sharp printing and uniform weight. It doesn't remove air; it produces sales units at speeds that vacuum cannot match. Full introduction in Automatic granule packaging machine and Automatic powder packaging machine.

Results table: product determines machine

When the two meet: VFFS with gas flush

VFFS can be equipped with a gas purge station (nitrogen or a CO₂/N₂ mixture) that replaces the air in the bag — a retail-style vacuum approach for chips, nuts, and small-portion frozen foods. It doesn't collapse the bag like a true vacuum (the bag remains cushioned to protect fragile products), but it removes oxygen at speeds of 40–120 bags per minute. For most Malaysian retail products, the answer is here: not vacuum or VFFS — VFFS with gas flush.

Similarly, a comparison with the horizontal format in Vertical form fill seal vs flow pack and premium bag inside Vertical Form Fill Seal vs Pre-formed Bag — each comparison closes on a different goal.

Costs that need to be compared (concept, not machine price)

• MovieVacuum packaging requires barrier and stretchable films (PA/PE); VFFS is more flexible, from low-cost PET/PE to barrier structures.
• Output rateVacuum chamber: 60–120 bags per hour with operator; VFFS: 2,400–7,200 bags per hour. 40× gap — don't compare machine prices without comparing output.
• Worker: semi-automatic vacuum with patterned operator; VFFS: one operator monitors the line.
• Space and utilitiesLarge vacuum machines require a pump and a heat generator; VFFS require compressed air. List both in the RFQ.

Common mistakes

• Buying a vacuum for retail dry goods — Coffee and beans in small portions faster and cheaper with VFFS + nitrogen.
• Buying VFFS for fresh meat — without a vacuum or special modifications, the shelf life remains unchanged; high-speed machines that package perishable foods only accelerate spoilage.
• Continuously comparing machine prices without output — vacuum machine RM X vs. VFFS RM Y does not mean bagless per hour.

Both of them sit in the family. automatic packaging machine — and for dry solid products, the starting point in solid packaging solution. SME full upgrade count in How to choose a packing machine for an SME.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to have just one machine—vacuum and VFFS?

J: Not in the same cycle; two different technologies. Plants that require both run separate vacuum (manufacturing/freezing) and VFFS (retail) zones—or use a gas-flush VFFS as a bridge.

Does vacuum damage soft products?

J: Yes — cakes, breads, and fragile products are crushed by compression. That's the domain of nitrogen flush or flow pack; vacuum for crush-resistant products.

Can vacuum bags be used in VFFS?

J: No — pre-made vacuum bags mean a bag-filling-and-sealing machine (heavy-duty pre-formed bags), a completely separate line. Three technologies, three lines.

For which ikan singkil (keropok)?

J: Brittle crackers = crushing kills. VFFS or flow pack with nitrogen; vacuum only for crackers in rigid containers.

Related pages

Vertical form fill seal vs flow pack | Vertical Form Fill Seal vs Pre-formed Bag | Automatic granule packaging machine | How to choose a packing machine for an SME

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