Buying a Flow Wrapper? Here's Why Experience Matters More Than Price
- PacMatix
- Aug 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 11
Buying a flow wrapper is a big investment — but choosing the wrong supplier can cost you even more.
We’ve seen it firsthand: customers stuck with machines that don’t fit their trays, have the wrong sealing jaws, or were installed so badly they never worked properly. Why? Because the machine came from a generic dealer with no real flow wrapper experience.
At PacMatix, we specialise in horizontal flow wrappers for Australian food, produce, and snack bar manufacturers. Our team doesn’t just sell machines — we install, set up, and service them across the country.
In this article, we’ll explain why buying from a specialist dealer matters, the costly mistakes we’ve helped fix, and how the right partner can save you time, stress, and thousands of dollars in downtime.
A Flow Wrapper Isn’t Plug-and-Play! Small Setup Mistakes Cause Big Problems
When it comes to horizontal flow wrappers, there’s no such thing as an “out-of-the-box” solution. These machines are built for performance — but only when they’re set up properly for your product, your packaging film, and your production flow.
Every day, our team sees flow wrappers that technically run, but don’t run well. Machines that limp along with constant jams, poor sealing, product misalignment, or slow changeovers and a lot of packaging material waste. And often, it’s not the machine’s fault — it was simply sold without the right guidance, setup, or technical expertise.
Flow wrappers need to be configured with the correct jaw width, sealing type, conveyor pitch, and forming tunnel — tailored to what you’re packing. That takes experience. And that’s exactly what a specialist flow wrapper supplier brings to the table.
Real-World Mistakes We’ve Seen — and Fixed (When Possible)
We don’t share these stories to point fingers — we share them because they’re common and avoidable. When manufacturers buy flow wrappers from non-specialist dealers, they often end up paying twice: once for the machine, and again to fix what went wrong — when it can be fixed at all. Let's look at some real examples:
Trays Wider Than the Sealing Jaws
A manufacturer was sold a flow wrapper with sealing jaws narrower than their tray width. The machine physically couldn’t seal the product — and it wasn’t just a case of swapping parts.
The unit was a small-format machine with a narrow frame, so wider jaws couldn’t be mounted.
The dealer refused to take the machine back, stopped answering calls, and went out of business six months later. The result? A machine that was never used, and a customer left with a complete loss.I was saddened to tell the customer the truth — and to witness the heartache after they’d saved for a long time to invest in their first machine.
Inverted Flow Wrapper Supplied for a Tray Application
One customer was supplied an inverted flow wrapper when they needed a top reel format. At first, we thought it was a joke — but unfortunately, it was a real install. The seal ended up on the top of the tray. This couldn’t be corrected without replacing the machine entirely.
Incorrect Jaw Diameter and Conveyor Pitch
We’ve seen flow wrappers where the jaws barely allowed the product through, or the infeed pitch didn’t match the spacing required. These issues can sometimes be resolved with new parts or reconfiguration — but it adds time, cost, and disruption that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.
Incorrect Conveyor Pitch — Product Crushed in the Sealing Jaws.
A customer called us in for help because their product kept getting crushed in the sealing jaws. No matter how much they adjusted the timing, the product would jump forward and then backwards again — impossible to sync.
We inspected the line and quickly found the issue: the infeed pitch was around one-third shorter than the bag length.
That meant the film was pulling the product away from the infeed pusher during transfer — but not consistently the same distance every time. As a result, products were arriving at the sealing head at unpredictable positions and getting caught.
It was a critical setup mistake — but not really the technician’s fault. More than likely, the machine had been sold by someone with no technical knowledge of flow wrapper configuration.
A classic case of: “We’ve got a machine in stock — go install it over there.”
Our technicians spotted the problem immediately. We removed the chain, repositioned the pushers to allow for a longer pitch, and reconfigured the pitch settings in the machine’s HMI. Whalla — the machine ran like a treat.
If you’re unsure how to calculate correct pitch on your flow wrapper, it’s actually quite simple — and we’re happy to provide free advice on how to get it right.
PacMatix tip: If you’re unsure how to calculate correct in-feed pitch on your flow wrapper, it’s actually quite simple — and we’re happy to provide free advice on how to get it right.
What Does a Specialist Flow Wrapper Supplier Do Differently
The difference isn’t just in the brand of machine — it’s in the approach.
A specialist flow wrapper dealer doesn’t just sell equipment. They understand how product size, film type, sealing requirements, hygiene needs, and operator workflows all interact with machine configuration. Here’s what you get when you work with someone who lives and breathes flow wrappers:
1. You Get the Right Machine for Your Product — Not Just What’s in Stock
We match machines to your trays, bars, or produce — not the other way around. That means correct jaw width, infeed length, forming size, and sealing format from day one.
PacMatix does keep machines in stock, but we ensure that the machines are configured to run the customer’s product properly before it leaves our showroom.
If the customer needs production urgently, we sometimes do the install, but we’ll advise them of any modifications we need to make at a later date to ensure the machine is running 100%.
2. Technical Support That Goes Beyond the Brochure
Our team includes experienced flow wrapper technicians — not just salespeople. We know how to commission, fine-tune, and support your machine in real-world conditions.
3. Installation Done Properly — by People Who Know Flow Wrappers
It’s not enough to bolt a machine down. We level it, align film tracking, configure pitch and sealing pressures, and make sure your team is confident running it.
4. Advice That Prevents Problems — Not Just Fixes Them
From film compatibility to calculating pitch and changing formats — we provide practical advice that helps your operators and line leaders avoid common issues.
From The Field: A Flow Wrapper Lesson I’ll Never Forget
I joined an international packaging company not long after completing my electronic engineering studies.
I remember my first flow wrapper installation too — more than 25 years ago.
I was thrown into the deep end. “We have a machine in stock and you need to go install it over there,” they told me.
With minimal training, I headed off to a remote farm. I used up three rolls of film before finally understanding how to adjust the forming box, bag length, and dwell settings.
Thousands of empty packs covered the floor. The first product that went through properly, I was celebrating! The customer... not so much.
Here’s the thing: I was working for a well-known global packaging company — selling reputable machines. The equipment itself wasn’t the problem.
The real issue was a lack of technical sales knowledge, and my own inexperience. Like many technicians back then, I simply hadn’t been trained to configure the machine properly for the customer’s tray, film, and workflow.
That experience taught me something that still drives how we operate at PacMatix today:👉 Even the best machines can fail without the right technical guidance behind them.
I’d find myself sitting beside the wrapper at 2am, staring at it, wondering how I was going to make it work. I learnt a lot, so you don’t have to. We made the mistakes, so you don’t have to. I made the mistakes, so my team at PacMatix doesn’t have to.
How To Choose The Right Horizontal Flow Wrapper? Talk to People Who Actually Work on Them.
If you’re looking for flow wrappers for sale or need expert flow-wrapper service, PacMatix can help—from selection through lifetime support.
PacMatix supplies, installs, and services flow wrappers across Australia — and our team includes real packaging technicians with years of experience. Whether you’re buying your first machine or upgrading an older line, we can help you choose the right model and make sure it performs from the start.
Before committing to any flow wrapper:
✅ See a demo with your own product
✅ Make sure it runs continuously without intervention
✅ Check that changeovers work on the first try
✅ Ask to see sealing quality and cleaning access
✅ Confirm local service & parts support
Rated 5 stars on Google by packaging professionals across Australia
Need Help?
We service a wide range of European and Japanese flow-wrapper brands—including our own GSP and Tecno Pack machines, as well as FUJI, CAVANNA, PFM, and more. If you’re battling seal failures, jaw misalignment, or recurring product crushes, we can diagnose the root cause and get you back to full-speed production.
Article written by: Ettienne van Vuuren – Founder, PacMatix (25 years hands-on flow-wrapper experience)
Published: August 2025
Frequently asked questions.
1. Do you keep flow wrappers in stock, or do I need to order from overseas?
We often hold stock of entry-level flow wrappers in Australia. If possible, we’ll set the machine up in our Melbourne showroom and test it with your product before it leaves. Customers are encouraged to attend and view the results in person. We always recommend a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) for peace of mind.
For more specialised applications, the machine is custom-built in Italy to suit your specific tray, film, and line setup.
2. Why does it matter if the machine is ‘set up’ for my product or not?
Firstly, the machine in stock at a non-specialist dealer is more than likely not configured for your product — that’s the honest truth. At PacMatix, we customise over 95% of flow wrappers leaving our workshop to ensure they’re fit for purpose.
The second truth is, the dealer might not even realise it’s wrong. Infeed pitch, sealing jaw diameter, forming tunnel width — these are all precision specs that directly affect production efficiency and reliability. One size rarely fits all.
3. How long will it take to get a flow wrapper delivered and running?
If the right machine is in stock and suited to your product, we can often ship and install it very quickly — sometimes within a week. But we always prioritise doing it right over rushing the process.
If modifications or custom builds are required, we’ll give you a clear timeline — and explain what’s being done to ensure the machine runs reliably with your specific product.
4. How can I be sure the machine is right for me?
Ask to see it run your product — and watch closely. It should operate smoothly in continuous mode without constant intervention. If the demonstrator has to keep tweaking or restarting during the trial, it’s very likely your operators will face the same frustrations.Also make sure that changeovers work first time round during the demo. At PacMatix, we always recommend in-showroom testing with your product, so there are no surprises once the machine arrives.
© 2025 PacMatix Pty Ltd. All content and images. Unauthorised reproduction prohibited.
PacMatix has completed over 60 GSP flow wrapper installations across Australia in just the last 5 years, including regional locations in Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia. Whether you're packaging seafood, produce, bakery, or chilled goods, our Italian-built machines and responsive local support team deliver better performance and peace of mind.
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