Navigating the world of plastic bag manufacturing equipment can be overwhelming. Choosing the wrong machine can lead to production issues and missed opportunities. This guide breaks down 30 machine types to help businesses identify the right equipment for their needs.
Plastic bag making machines use heat and pressure to seal and cut film into specific bag types. There are over 30 machine variants available, including models for T-shirt bags, courier bags, and food packaging. Each machine is tailored for a specific bag design and industry requirement.
Each bag serves a different function—some are designed for groceries, others for medical supplies or e-commerce. The primary distinction between machines lies in the sealing method: bottom seal, side seal, or center seal. Other differences come from special features. For example, a T-shirt bag machine includes a punching mechanism for handles, while a courier bag machine integrates a tool to apply adhesive strips. At BagMec®, all machines are engineered for high efficiency and reliability.
These machines are compatible with various materials, including LDPE, HDPE, and biodegradable PLA. Two key considerations define machine design: sealing method and special features. Bottom sealing is ideal for heavy loads, while side sealing is suitable for laminated films. Machines may also include add-ons like die-cut punches or zipper inserters, enabling businesses to adapt to shifting market demands.
01. Flat Bag Making Machine – For Bottom-Sealed Flat Bags
This machine produces bottom-sealed bags from a single roll of film. These bags, which lack handles or gussets, are used in general packaging and for protecting items from dust and moisture.
Bag Style: Two-dimensional, bottom-sealed flat bags with open tops and no handles or gussets.
Applications: Common in food service as liners or produce bags; used in retail for hardware and crafts; used industrially for dust protection.
02. T-shirt Bag Making Machine – For Supermarket Vest Bags
This machine automates the production of vest-style T-shirt bags, sealing, cutting, and punching out handles in a continuous process. It supports high-volume retail bag production.
Bag Style: Gusseted bags with two handles, sealed at the bottom.
Applications: Widely used in supermarkets, convenience stores, takeout services, and general retail.
03. Bag on Roll Machine – For Rolled Flat, Vest, and Star Seal Bags
This machine creates bags connected by perforations and wound onto a core, simplifying dispensing. Configurable for various bag styles on a roll.
Bag Style: Perforated flat, T-shirt, or star-seal bags rolled together.
Applications: Common in produce sections, retail checkouts, and as household garbage or food storage bags.
04. Star Seal Bag Machine – For Strong Bottom-Sealed Garbage Bags
Designed for garbage bags, this machine uses a star-shaped bottom seal to prevent leaks and improve fit in bins.
Bag Style: Star-seal bags with radiating bottom seals for leak resistance.
Applications: Household and commercial trash bags, including janitorial and sanitation services.
05. Three Side Seal Bag Machine – For Food and Dry Goods Bags
This machine forms pouches sealed on three sides, commonly used for preserving food and dry goods.
Bag Style: Flat pouches with three sealed edges, typically filled from the open side.
Applications: Packaging for coffee, spices, powders, medical tools, and electronics.
06. Center Seal Bag Machine – For Coffee and Powder Packaging
This unit creates "pillow pouches" by forming a tube of film and sealing it along the back and both ends.
Bag Style: Center-seal (pillow) bags with a vertical seal down the back and sealed top and bottom.
Applications: Used for snacks, baked goods, coffee, tea, and dry ingredients.
07. Four Side Seal Bag Machine – For Medical or Luxury Packaging
This machine produces fully enclosed pouches by sealing all four edges, offering complete product protection.
Bag Style: Four-side sealed pouches, typically using two film rolls.
Applications: Medical packaging (wound care, kits), cosmetics, and premium product samples.
08. Zipper Bag Making Machine – For Reusable Zipper Bags
Designed for resealable pouches, this machine integrates a zipper profile during bag formation.
Bag Style: Pouches with reclosable zippers, including stand-up and flat pouch styles.
Applications: Food storage (cheese, frozen foods), nuts, pet food, and household items.
09. Courier Bag Making Machine – For Self-Adhesive Mailing Bags
Engineered for e-commerce, this machine creates mailing bags with a tamper-proof adhesive flap.
Bag Style: Opaque poly mailers with flap and adhesive strip.
Applications: E-commerce shipping, document delivery, and general logistics.
10. Handle Bag Making Machine – For Die-Cut or Loop Handle Bags
This machine creates shopping bags with either die-cut or loop-style handles by integrating handle modules.
Bag Style: Die-cut or loop handle shopping bags.
Applications: Used in retail, promotional events, and trade shows.
11. Punch Handle Bag Machine – For Garment and Shoe Packaging
Specialized for die-cut handle bags, this machine includes a reinforcement feature around the handle area.
Bag Style: Flat bags with die-cut handles, optionally reinforced.
Applications: Retail packaging for clothing, shoes, and medium-weight goods.
12. Self Adhesive Bag Making Machine – For E-commerce Packaging
Produces clear bags with peel-and-seal adhesive strips, suitable for transparent product packaging.
Bag Style: Transparent bags with adhesive flap, made from OPP or CPP film.
Applications: Apparel shipping, stationery, retail display packaging.
13. Coreless Roll Bag Machine – For Tube-Free Rolled Bags
This machine forms rolled bags without a cardboard or plastic core, reducing material waste.
Bag Style: Perforated bags rolled without a central core.
Applications: Garbage and produce bags for consumer and retail use.
14. Double Line Bag Making Machine – For Dual-Channel High-Speed Bag Production
Operates with two film lanes simultaneously, doubling production capacity for high-demand bag styles.
Bag Style: Two identical streams of flat or T-shirt bags.
Applications: Mass production for supermarket and restaurant supply chains.
15. OPP Bag Making Machine – For Transparent BOPP/OPP Bags
Built to handle clear, non-stretchy films, this machine produces high-clarity packaging for display use.
Bag Style: Clear, side-sealed OPP/BOPP bags, often with adhesive flaps.
Applications: Packaging for greeting cards, shirts, baked goods, and small retail products.
16. Side Seal Bag Making Machine – For Multi-Layer Laminated Bags
This machine seals the vertical sides of a bag, making it suitable for laminated pouches and heavy or bulky items by distributing stress along the edges.
Bag Style: Side-sealed bags with a seamless folded bottom.
Applications: Used for vacuum pouches, liquid packaging, and heavy-duty industrial bags.
17. Shrink Bag Making Machine – For Heat-Shrink Packaging Bags
Designed for shrink films, this machine produces bags that conform tightly around a product when heat is applied, offering tamper resistance and secure bundling.
Bag Style: Dome or side-sealed shrink bags made from PVC or polyolefin shrink film.
Applications: Packaging for frozen foods, bundled goods, and consumer multi-packs.
18. Napkin Bag Making Machine – For Tissue or Sanitary Pad Bags
This specialized machine produces outer plastic wraps for hygiene products, often integrated directly into production lines.
Bag Style: Flexible pouches with perforated or resealable openings, tailored to stack dimensions.
Applications: Packaging for tissues, napkins, sanitary pads, and diapers.
19. Special Shape Bag Making Machine – For Round or Custom Shaped Bags
This machine enables the production of uniquely shaped bags by using custom die-cut molds for enhanced product appeal and branding.
Bag Style: Non-rectangular bags in various custom shapes like bottles, fruits, or logos.
Applications: Food, beverages, cosmetics, and promotional packaging.
20. Loop Handle Bag Machine – For Heavy Duty Hanging Bags
It produces shopping bags with strong, soft loop handles, designed to support heavier loads and offer a more premium feel.
Bag Style: Soft loop handle bags with welded top handles.
Applications: Upscale retail, department stores, and hardware or appliance packaging.
21. Stand Up Pouch Machine – For Stand-Up Food Bags with Zipper
This machine forms pouches with bottom gussets, allowing them to stand upright. It typically includes a zipper module for resealable packaging.
Bag Style: Doy-pack stand-up pouches with gusseted bases and zipper closures.
Applications: Granola, snacks, coffee, pet food, powders, and liquids.
22. Side Gusset Bag Machine – For Bags with Expandable Sides
Creates bags with expandable creases on both sides, allowing for more volume without increasing width.
Bag Style: Side gusseted bags that expand when filled.
Applications: Coffee, tea, pet food, powders, and cereal liners.
23. Bottom Gusset Bag Machine – For Self-Standing Bottom Bags
This machine adds a bottom fold or "W" gusset to bags, improving stability and presentation on store shelves.
Bag Style: Bags with flat bottom gussets, compatible with various formats like side-weld or handle bags.
Applications: Candy, grains, baked goods, and retail food items.
24. Eight Side Seal Bag Machine – For High-End Pet or Snack Packaging
Produces box-style pouches with eight sealed edges and a flat base, maximizing shelf appeal and stability.
Bag Style: Box pouches or flat-bottom bags with five panels and eight sealed corners.
Applications: Premium pet food, gourmet snacks, coffee, and protein powders.
25. Medical Waste Bag Machine – For Biohazard and Waste Bags
Built for strength and safety, this machine produces thick bags suitable for biohazard waste, often with printed warnings.
Bag Style: High-strength, puncture-resistant bags in red or yellow with printed hazard symbols.
Applications: Hospitals, clinics, labs, and healthcare waste management.
26. Food Storage Bag Machine – For Refrigerator Storage Bags
Manufactures consumer-grade storage bags, with features like zipper or slider closures, and packs them for retail.
Bag Style: Sandwich, freezer, and storage bags with resealable closures.
Applications: Consumer packaged goods for kitchen and food storage.
27. Drip Bag Making Machine – For Agricultural Watering Bags
Produces irrigation bags used for slow water release at the base of trees or plants.
Bag Style: Heavy-duty watering bags with drip holes for slow irrigation.
Applications: Agriculture, landscaping, and public tree maintenance.
28. Backpack Bag Machine – For Shoulder Strap Bags
Creates drawstring-style bags that can be worn like a backpack, often for events or promotions.
Bag Style: Drawstring bags with reinforced corners and integrated cords as straps.
Applications: Promotional events, schools, sports, and fitness branding.
29. Anti-static Bag Making Machine – For Electronic Component Bags
Uses ESD-safe films to create bags that protect sensitive electronics from static discharge.
Bag Style: Pink anti-static or metallized shielding bags, available as flat or ziplock styles.
Applications: Electronics manufacturing, including PCBs, processors, and storage devices.
30. Heavy Duty Bag Machine – For Feed, Fertilizer, and Rice Bags
Produces large, durable bags capable of holding bulk materials like feed, grains, or building supplies.
Bag Style: Large-format, high-strength bags with gussets for stability, made from thick PE film.
Applications: Agriculture (feed, seed, fertilizer), construction (cement, resin), and bulk food products (rice, flour).
Conclusion
This guide covered 30 types of plastic bag making machines, each tailored for specific bag styles and market needs. Whether for retail, food packaging, medical, or industrial use, there's a machine that fits the task. BagMec® offers reliable, industry-specific equipment solutions. Contact us to find the machine that fits your production goals.
