Compact performance, short delivery times.

Compressed air supply needed to run the machine (in bar). On VARIOVAC thermoforming packaging machines, compressed air is also used to form the bottom film: the RAPID AIR SYSTEM forms the cavities with compressed air, often without pre-heating.

Width of packaging film the machine can process. It limits how wide the pack format can be and varies from machine to machine. At VARIOVAC, it is 420 mm on the Maximus RE, 320 to 460 mm on the Optimus, 320 to 560 mm on the Primus, up to 660 mm on the Primus MP and up to 720 mm on the Primus MedicalLine.

Basic length of the machine frame. It largely determines the space the thermoforming packaging machine requires and can be extended with extension modules on several models. At VARIOVAC, the total frame length ranges from 2.5 m to 9.0 m on the Optimus and from 4.0 m to 30 m on the Primus.

The distance by which the film web is advanced through the machine in each cycle. It determines how long a pack format can be in the direction of travel. The Maximus RE offers 200 to 320 mm in 6 steps, the Primus MP up to 1,200 mm.

Industrial-grade machine control system (IPC). It is operated via a touchscreen, for example a 10-inch screen on the Optimus SE/SEL and a swivelling 12.1-inch display on the Optimus MP. The Rotarius (7-inch) and the Linus 1100 (10-inch) also use IPC control.

The Optimus SE is a pre-configured variant of the Optimus thermoforming packaging machine. With frame lengths starting at 3 m, it comes with standard equipment and short delivery times.

The Optimus SEL is a pre-configured variant of the Optimus thermoforming packaging machine. With frame lengths starting at 3.5 m, it comes with standard equipment and short delivery times.

Maximum depth or height of the formed pack. It depends on the machine type: the Optimus SE/SEL reaches up to 110 mm, the Primus up to 135 mm and the Primus MP 195 mm. For taller products in skin packs, the product protrusion above the rim is added on top.

The designation follows the pattern 'lanes.rows': PG 2.3, for example, stands for 2 lanes and 3 rows, which gives 6 packs per cycle. Changing the pack format requires a tool change in which the forming and sealing tools, cutting system and discharge conveyor are exchanged. How large a format can be depends on the machine's film width and index length.

Thermoforming packaging machines pack products fully automatically. The bottom film is unwound from the film mandrel and transported into the forming tool. The forming tool consists of an upper and a lower part, and this is where the bottom film is heated and formed. Forming is done either purely by vacuum (as on the VARIOVAC Maximus RE) or with compressed air (VARIOVAC Rapid Air System). The film with its formed cavities then moves into the loading area. Here the product (e.g. sausage or cheese) is placed in the cavities by hand or by robot. To prevent heavy packs from sagging, pack guide rails are available for the different formats. Next, the top film is laid over the filled cavity and sealed in the sealing tool. The sealing tool also consists of an upper and a lower part. For certain products, the top film has to be formed as well; this takes place in the top film forming station. Sealing the top film onto the bottom film creates a seal seam. From this point on, the products are protected from environmental influences and keep for longer, because the ambient air has been removed from the pack or replaced with protective gases using one of several methods. In the next step, the individual packs are separated (cross-cutting and longitudinal cutting). Various knives can do this: guillotine, punch, circular knife, rotary shear cutter or crush knife. Depending on the technology and packaging material used, the finished packs can be opened very easily or even resealed. Finally, the individual packs leave the machine on a discharge conveyor. From there, the packs can be transferred to a line converger (Variotrack), where they are conveyed individually.

Component that generates the negative pressure in the pack; its capacity is stated in m³/h. The Maximus RE has a built-in 63 m³/h vacuum pump, while the Optimus SE/SEL works with 100 m³/h. The single-chamber machines feature an integrated cleaning programme for the vacuum pump.