What a VFFS Quote Actually Covers
A vertical form fill seal machine forms film into a bag, fills it and seals it. On its own, it does not weigh anything. So the first thing to check in any quote is where the bagger ends and the rest of the line begins.
A quote can cover three different scopes:
- The bagger only. You supply the dosing system, or you already have one.
- Bagger plus dosing. A multihead weigher, cup filler, auger filler or linear weigher matched to your product. Some machines combine the two: our VP-YT has the multihead weigher built onto the bagger.
- A complete line. Feeding, dosing, bagging, inspection, case packing and palletizing, planned to run as one.
Two quotes for "a VFFS machine" can differ a lot simply because they cover different scopes. Put them side by side before you compare prices.
Eight Decisions That Set the Price of a VFFS Machine
1. Machine type and sealing motion
An intermittent bagger stops the film for each seal. A continuous-motion bagger keeps the film moving while the jaws travel with it, which suits higher outputs but needs more servo axes and a more complex jaw system. Our SVC260 is continuous motion, with six-axis servo control and a machine maximum of 160 bags/min. The VP Series is a compact bagger at 20–90 bags/min. The right choice depends on the output you actually need, not the top speed in a brochure. Our VFFS machines page compares the three series side by side.
2. Bag format
A pillow bag is the simplest format. Side gusset, quad-seal and flat-bottom bags need extra forming parts and sealing units. The VGT, for example, is a dedicated quad-seal bagger with its own forming assembly and vertical edge sealing. If you need more than one format, ask which parts change between them and whether they are included. See how pillow, side gusset and quad-seal bags compare.
3. Bag size range
The film width and bag length the machine has to handle decide its size. On the VP Series, the maximum film width is 320 mm on the VP320 and 520 mm on the VP520. A machine sized for your largest bag can usually run smaller ones with a different forming set, but every extra forming set is a line item.
4. Dosing system
The dosing system is often the largest variable after the bagger itself. A multihead weigher costs more than a volumetric cup filler, and the number of heads changes the price again. The VP-YT, for instance, comes with 10 or 12 heads on the VP320-YT and 14 heads on the VP420-YT. The dosing choice should follow your product: see Multihead Weigher vs Cup Filler vs Auger Filler.
5. Options
Options are where quotes for "the same machine" often drift apart. On the VGT, they include gas flush, zipper and degassing valve applicators, ultrasonic sealing jaws, static elimination and remote diagnostics. On the SVC260, they include laser or thermal-transfer coders and a gusset assembly. Each one adds cost, and each one should be there because your product or your customer needs it.
6. Materials, controls and hygiene
Stainless steel contact parts are standard on food machines, but the extent of stainless steel, the closed-frame design and the cleaning features vary. The brand of controls matters too: the VGT can be built with Siemens or Allen-Bradley controls, and a plant standard that requires one brand can change the quote.
7. Power supply and destination
Machines are built for a standard supply, such as 380 V, 50 Hz on the SVC260 or 220 V, 50 Hz on the VP Series. The SVC260 can be built for other voltages on request; for other machines, ask. Region-specific electrics, documentation and packing for sea freight are part of the price, so tell the supplier where the machine will run.
8. Line scope and integration
Once a bagger joins a line, the interfaces cost time and parts: infeed and outfeed heights, signals between machines, guarding and controls. A planned line costs more than a standalone machine, but it is the only way to know what the line will deliver. Our line planning gives you a layout drawing, an equipment list and a capacity calculation, free of charge, before you compare offers.
Cost of Ownership: What Comes After the Machine
The purchase price is only part of what the bagger costs you. Ask about these before you decide:
- Film. Roll stock is the main running cost. Film width, structure and how well the machine runs your film all matter.
- Weight giveaway and rejects. A cheaper dosing system that overfills every pack can cost more over a year than a better weigher.
- Changeover time. If you run several products or bag sizes, the time spent changing forming sets and settings is lost output.
- Spare parts and support. Ask what ships with the machine and how fast parts arrive. Our machines ship with a wear-parts kit, and common spare parts usually ship from stock within 3 working days.
- Installation and training. Ask whether on-site installation is in the price. With us, it is agreed before you sign: our engineers can install on site at your cost, or guide your team by video call free of charge.
How to Get Quotes You Can Compare
Send every supplier the same information:
- Product name, condition and bulk density
- Target fill weight and bag dimensions
- Film structure, or a film sample
- Required good output, in packs per minute or kg/h
- What the quote should cover: bagger only, bagger and dosing, or the complete line
Then ask each supplier to state the machine maximum and the output they expect with your product, separately. A quote based only on the machine maximum is not a quote for your line. The most reliable way to close that gap is a packaging test with your own product and film before you order. What Determines Actual VFFS Packaging Speed? explains why the two numbers differ.
Questions to Ask Any Supplier
- What exactly is in the scope: bagger, dosing, inspection, case packing?
- Which forming sets and bag sizes are included, and what does each extra one cost?
- Is the quoted speed the machine maximum or the expected output with my product?
- Which options are included, and which are priced separately?
- What is the warranty, and what does it cover?
- Is on-site installation included, and who pays for travel?
- Which spare parts ship with the machine, and how fast can others arrive?
- Will you test my product and film before I order?
FAQ
Why do quotes for the same bag size differ so much?
Usually because they cover different scopes or options. One may include the multihead weigher and forming sets for two bag sizes; another may quote the bagger alone. Compare scope line by line before comparing prices.
Is a compact bagger with a separate weigher cheaper than a combined unit?
It depends on the weigher and the floor space. A combined unit such as the VP-YT puts the weigher and bagger in one frame, while a separate weigher needs a platform. Compare the complete dosing and bagging package, not the bagger price alone.
Does continuous motion cost more than intermittent?
A continuous-motion bagger has more servo axes and a more complex jaw system, so it is usually the more expensive machine. It pays off when your required output needs it, which is why the output target should come before the machine choice.
Is the warranty included in the price?
Yes. The SVC260, T680, SPFC-1200R and SPFC-S8 carry a 12-month warranty on the machine and 3 years on core components. Ask every supplier for the same detail, in writing.
Get a Quote Based on Your Own Product
Send your product, bag and target output. We test them on the machine before the configuration is fixed, so the quote matches what your line will do.
Request a Packaging Test