A packaging machine pays for itself when hand packing becomes the slowest part of your day. A butcher who vacuum seals, a farm shop that shrink wraps, a factory that tapes 400 cartons an hour and a warehouse that wraps 30 pallets a day all need different equipment. Tell us what you pack and how many per hour, and suppliers of new and refurbished machines quote you directly, usually with installation, training and a service plan. The request is free and there is no obligation to buy.
Machines by job
Match the machine to the product and the speed:
- Vacuum sealers: a chamber model handles moist products like biltong, cheese or marinated meat, while an external nozzle machine suits dry goods in embossed bags. Choose the pump size by the volume you seal each day.
- Heat and band sealers: impulse sealers close poly bags and pouches, and continuous band sealers do hundreds per hour.
- Shrink systems: an L-bar sealer cuts and seals shrink wrap around the product, then a heat tunnel shrinks it tight.
- Pallet wrappers: turntable and rotating-arm models apply stretch film so each load is stable, see pallet wrap.
- Carton sealers and strapping: tapers close cartons, strapping heads bind bundles and pallets with PP or PET strap.
Sizing, power and film
Measure the biggest pack you will ever run, not the average one, and leave room for the tunnel or chamber. Check the power supply: many sealers run on a normal 220 V plug, but large tunnels and heat sealers can draw 3 kW or more, and some need three phase. With load shedding, ask whether the machine tolerates a restart mid-cycle and whether a small inverter can keep a vacuum sealer going. Film or bag choice matters as much as the machine, so confirm thickness and type with the supplier, for example 19 micron polyolefin for shrink, or 70 micron nylon-polyethylene pouches for vacuum.
New, refurbished and what is included
A new entry-level impulse sealer is a few hundred rand, a bench vacuum sealer runs into the thousands, and semi-automatic shrink or pallet wrapping systems cost tens of thousands. Refurbished machines save a fair amount, but ask for a warranty period and a test run. A good quote lists delivery, installation, operator training, the first set of consumables, and the cost of a service visit. Compare running costs against buying ready-made packaging, using our price guide.
Servicing and spares
Heating elements, Teflon tape, seal bars, gaskets, pump oil and conveyor belts wear out. Ask where spares are stocked, how long a repair takes and whether the supplier lends a replacement machine. A service contract twice a year is cheap next to a line standing still in your busiest week, and a good supplier will also train new operators on cleaning and safe use.
What to include in your request
- What you pack, and the largest pack size
- Packs per hour you need to reach
- Power: 220 V or three phase, and any inverter
- New or refurbished, and your budget
- Site address, plus service and spares needs
Packaging Machines for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: impulse sealers, small shrink systems and carton tapers for daily parcel volumes
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: chamber vacuum sealers, band sealers and tray sealers for meat, deli and ready meals
- Shops and retail stores: bag sealers, shrink wrap stations and tape dispensers behind the counter
- Factories and manufacturers: L-bar and tunnel systems, carton sealers and strapping heads on the line
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: pallet wrappers, strapping machines and case sealers for outbound loads
- Households and offices moving: pallet wrappers and strapping for storage depots and removal companies
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: weighing and bagging machines, vacuum sealers and pallet wrappers for packhouses
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: small heat sealers, shrink tunnels and tamper-evident band applicators
Frequently asked questions
Which vacuum sealer should a small food business choose?
How much does a shrink wrap machine cost?
Can machines be financed or rented?
Do I need to buy film from the same supplier?
Packaging Machines by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg