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Stick pack routes

Stick Pack Machine

A narrow single-serve pack from roll film. The stick you sell decides the forming set — not a brochure lane count.

A stick pack machine forms a slim tube from rollstock film, doses the product, then seals and cuts each pack. Start with the finished stick width, seal and cut design, product and dose to assess a VFFS forming set or a separately specified multi-lane project.

Send project details See the two VFFS machines

Confirm first: this hub is for rollstock stick packs. Flat 3-side and 4-side sachets belong on the sachet hub. Premade zipper pouches belong on a rotary or horizontal premade host.

Printed single-serve coffee stick pack, shown as a finished stick-pack format reference
Finished stick-pack format reference, not a production sample or test result.
Liquid gel stick pack with a straight-cut top seal and a V-shaped easy-tear notchStraight cut + tear notch Coffee stick pack with serrated zigzag cuts on both ends, shown on a scaleSerrated cut Pet-food stick packs with a cat-head shaped contour cut at the top sealShaped contour cut
Best fit
US, UK and Australian brands or co-packers selecting a first or second automatic stick line, and still deciding forming set, filler and whether the project is a VFFS stick route or a multi-lane conversation.
Not this page
Sachet-versus-stick education, market-size reports and co-packer how-tos, which belong to the definition guide and the co-packer article.
Start with
Finished stick width and length, back-seal layout, the cut and tear finish, the product going in, the target dose and packs per shift — not a peak sticks-per-minute figure copied from another brand.

01

Finished pack

A stick pack is a narrow tube, not a skinny flat sachet

Buyers say “stick pack” for more than one bag. On this page it means a longitudinal back seal plus top and bottom cross seals. That geometry needs its own forming set.

Printed instant-coffee stick pack, shown as a finished bag format reference
Instant-coffee stick shown as a format reference. Product, film and tooling compatibility require a separate sample review.
  • 01
    Longitudinal back sealThe web is formed into a tube and sealed along its length. That is the stick’s spine. It is not a 3-side sachet with one folded edge.
  • 02
    Top and bottom cross sealsHorizontal jaws close the serving, then the cut separates one stick from the next. Straight, serrated, rounded or shaped cuts — and a tear notch if you need one — are requested on the drawing. See seal and cut finishes.
  • 03
    Narrow width, longer lengthThe pack is built to hold a single serve neatly. Finished width and length are drawing numbers. They are not the same as film-roll width.
  • 04
    One forming set per geometryPillow packs, 3-side sachets, 4-side sachets, shaped sachets and stick packs need forming and sealing tooling matched to their geometry.

Format references. These images illustrate pack formats, not customer samples or test results. Confirm the film and tooling with a representative sample; twin-stick and bottle-shaped formats need a separate review.

02

Seal and cut

The finish on the stick is part of the forming set

Buyers ask for a straight cut with an easy-tear notch, rounded corners, a serrated edge, or a shaped contour cut. Those are drawing items — not a published Spack finish catalogue, and not assumed included with a stick forming set.

Liquid gel stick pack with a straight-cut top seal and a V-shaped easy-tear notch
Stick-pack format reference, not a Spack customer sample.

Straight cut + easy-tear notch

A flat top and bottom cut, with a V-notch in the cross-seal so the stick opens by hand. The usual request for coffee, drink powder and gel sticks. Notch side and distance from the seal edge belong on the drawing.

Diagram of a rounded-corner cut — not a photograph of a production sample.

Rounded-corner cut

The corners of the cross-seal are radiused instead of left square. It is a cutting-tool change, not a different bag type. Send the radius you want; this page does not publish a standard corner size.

Coffee stick pack with serrated zigzag cuts on both ends, shown on a scale
Serrated-cut format reference, not a fill-weight test.

Serrated / zigzag cut

A toothed edge on the cross-seal, often paired with a tear start. Common on powder sticks. Pitch and depth of the serration are tooling details confirmed against the film, not copied from a photo.

Pet-food stick packs with a cat-head shaped contour cut at the top seal and a side tear notch
Shaped-cut format reference. Confirm the contour and cutting tool for your pack.

Shaped contour cut

A die-cut silhouette in the top seal — a cat head, a curve, or another outline the brand already sells. It needs dedicated cutting tooling and a drawing of the contour. A photograph of someone else’s pack is not a tool specification.

Not a catalogue. Easy-tear, rounded corners, serration and shaped cuts are buyer-requested options. Twin-stick, hanging hole and bottle-shaped sticks are still confirmation questions. Compatibility is confirmed with your film and a production-representative sample — not from these photographs.

Send the stick drawing

03

Stick vs sachet

Stop the mis-route before you open a machine page

Both are small flexible packs. The seal layout is different, so the forming set is different. This table is only enough to choose a hub; the full comparison lives on the guide.

Minimum distinction for procurement. Cost, material savings and speed claims are not made here.
Decision pointStick packFlat sachetNext page
Form Narrow, elongated pack Flat, compact pack Stick: stay on this hub, then the VFFS page. Flat: sachet hub.
Seal layout Longitudinal back seal plus top and bottom cross seals 3-side or 4-side seal
What to send Stick width and length, back-seal layout, dose, film and tear feature Finished drawing, which edges seal, dose, film and registration
Do not call it A 3-side or 4-side flat sachet A stick pack, or a premade zipper pouch

Compare the formats. See the sachet definition page and sachet vs stick guide for definitions, uses and cost comparisons.

04

How it works

How a stick pack machine actually works

The two VFFS hosts on this page run the same four jobs. What changes for a stick is the forming set, the filler, and whether the project is one stick path or a multi-lane conversation.

Vertical form-fill-seal machine with the film path visible

Stage 1

Unwind and register the film

Rollstock is fed into the film path. If the web is printed, a photoelectric eye reads the mark. Finished stick width and film-roll width are different numbers — send both.

Forming area of a published vertical packing machine

Stage 2

Form the stick

The web is formed into a tube and closed with a longitudinal back seal. Dedicated multi-lane stick machines slit a wider web into several tubes; that layout needs a separate configuration review. See single-lane vs multi-lane.

Published vertical packing machine at the filling station

Stage 3

Dose the product

Powders, granules, liquids and small solids need different filling routes. Check dust, splash and product flow with the filler so the narrow seal stays clear.

Seal and discharge side of a published vertical packing machine

Stage 4

Seal, cut and discharge

Cross seals close the serving, the cut separates it — straight, serrated, rounded or shaped, as specified — and the finished stick leaves for coding, checkweighing, counting or cartoning if those stations are in the project. They are not assumed included.

Photo scope. These VFFS-family photographs show a reference arrangement, not a multi-lane stick frame or a production-rate test.

Roll film

The stick is created on the line from a reel: formed, filled and cut at serving size. That is the route this hub is for.

Film structure, roll width, core, outer diameter, unwind direction and the eye-mark still have to be confirmed with the finished-stick drawing.

Premade pouches

The bag arrives already made. The machine opens, fills and seals it, rather than forming a stick from roll film.

If you buy zipper or stand-up premade pouches, you are on the rotary or horizontal premade family — not a stick VFFS host.

05

What you can pack

The product decides the filler, not the word “stick”

Powders, granules, liquids and pastes need different dosing checks. Product flow, viscosity and dose help select the filler; confirm compatibility using your actual product and film.

Powder product photograph used as a visual screening example

Powders

Review dust control and powder flow before choosing the filler. Cohesive and free-flowing powders need separate assessment with a sample. See powder packaging.

Granule product photograph used as a visual screening example

Granules & solids

Cup, linear weigh or multihead weigh is chosen from piece size, fragility and target dose. Sugar-style granules in a stick are still a sample question. Industry notes: granule and solid packaging.

Liquid product photograph used as a visual screening example

Liquids & pastes

Pump or piston routes follow viscosity, temperature, particles, foam and clean-down. Honey is the liquid stick example named on the VFFS page. Splash control belongs in the same sentence as the seal. Industry notes: liquid and paste packaging.

Small-solid product photograph used as a visual screening example

Small solids

If a feeding and dosing route can deliver the piece without damaging it or contaminating the seal, the VFFS host can be discussed. A name such as tablet or seed is not enough.

Screening images. Visual examples of product state, not measured particle-size, viscosity or hygiene specifications. Compatibility is confirmed by running your own sample. Powder and liquid do not share one assumed filler.

06

The two machines

Which VFFS page should you open?

Compare the VFFS families below as a starting point. The stick forming set and filling system are selected against your finished-pack drawing and product sample.

Published vertical form-fill-seal machine, used as a family reference photograph
Published VFFS-family reference photograph, not a quoted stick-pack configuration.

VFFS-220 / 320 / 420

Vertical form-fill-seal machine

Use the standard VFFS family as a starting point for a stick forming set. Screen the frame by finished pouch width, then confirm the usable stick width, forming set, filler and film together.

What the machine has to do for a stick

Unwind and register the web, form the tube, make the back seal, receive the dose, cross-seal and cut. Premade zipper pouches are out of scope on this host.

Published screening figures

Pouch width screen
220: up to 100 mm (3.94 in)
320: up to 150 mm (5.91 in)
420: up to 200 mm (7.87 in)
Family bag-size range
45 × 20–280 × 200 mm
(1.77 × 0.79–11.02 × 7.87 in)
Headline speed
Up to 70 bags/min published;
the same page also states a typical 15–60 packs/min
Filling routes named
Auger; volumetric cup; weigher; liquid pump / piston
Frame / warranty
304 stainless-steel frame listed;
12 months from receipt
Open the VFFS stick / pouch section
Published vertical packing machine photograph used only as a family reference
VFFS-family reference photograph. Confirm the selected high-speed frame and stick forming set in the quotation.

VFFS 320S / 420S / 620S

High-speed pouch packing machine

Consider the S-series family when your project requires a higher-output VFFS assessment. Confirm the selected frame, stick dimensions and filling system together.

What the machine has to do

The machine forms, fills and seals roll-film packs. Larger pouch dimensions for this family are not a finished-stick width range; use your stick drawing for selection.

Published screening figures

Family named on that page
VFFS 320S / 420S / 620S
Role on this hub
Higher-output VFFS route for a separate configuration review
Bag-size / speed figures
See the high-speed machine page for its family references
Configuration check
Confirm the frame, forming set and film against your finished stick
What to send
Finished stick, dose, film roll data and target packs per shift
Open the high-speed VFFS page

Screening figures. The standard VFFS width limits, 70 bags/min headline and 15–60 typical range are preliminary family references. The width limits describe the frame, not the usable width of every stick forming set. They are not a quoted rate for your product or a multi-lane sticks-per-minute figure. Confirm the frame, forming set, filler and film together.

07

The real fork

Single-lane VFFS stick route, or a multi-lane conversation?

Choose between a stick forming set on a VFFS family and a dedicated multi-lane project. The required output, stick drawing and dosing method determine what needs to be reviewed.

Stay on the VFFS stick route when

You are moving off hand-filling or a co-packer and need one confirmed stick geometry, one filler and a frame screened by finished width on VFFS-220 / 320 / 420.

Open the VFFS pouch section first. Compare quotations on packs per shift, on the same stick, not on a peak figure copied from another brand.

Treat it as a multi-lane conversation when

The RFQ already names a lane count, a wide parent film that will be slit into several sticks, or an output that only makes sense as many sticks per cycle.

For a dedicated multi-lane project, send the finished stick, parent-film width and required packs per shift. The lane layout and dosing arrangement need a separate review.

Finished stick width

The pack you sell. Screen it against the published VFFS maxima of 100 / 150 / 200 mm (3.94 / 5.91 / 7.87 in) on 220 / 320 / 420. A stick is usually far narrower than those maxima — the drawing still has to fit the forming set.

Film-roll width

The web that makes the stick. It is not the same number as finished stick width. On a multi-lane frame it is a parent web that gets slit. Send the supplier data sheet; do not infer roll width from a pack photo.

Packs per shift

Compare filled, sealed and acceptable sticks per shift using the same product, dose, film and pack dimensions. For a multi-lane project, specify the required total output and have lane count and output per lane confirmed together.

Multi-lane projects. Lane count, output per lane, web width and filling layout require a separate configuration review. Send your stick drawing, product, dose and target output with the enquiry.

08

Where stick projects stall

The problems a brochure speed will not catch

Review these stick-specific risks before requesting a quotation. They help define the configuration and the checks to agree for your product.

Seal contamination in a narrow tube

Powder dust and liquid splash land on a small seal area. The filler, drop height and dwell time have to be discussed with the stick drawing — not after the machine arrives. Humidity makes powder worse; raise it early using the humidity note.

Small-dose giveaway

A single-serve stick is a small target. Label tolerance, not a brochure accuracy badge, sets the filler. Send the grams or millilitres you must hit, and whether the market treats that as a legal fill.

One forming set is not every stick size

A second width or a second tear layout is a second set of change parts. Order them with the machine when you already know the SKUs. Do not assume a “changeover kit” is included because other brands print that phrase.

Cartoning is a second machine

Counting sticks into a carton, grouping, or bag-in-box is secondary packing. It is not a standard station on either VFFS page. If the retail unit is a box of sticks, put the count in the first enquiry.

Host-only quotations hide the line

Feeding, dosing, coding, inspection, reject and discharge are scoped item by item. Ask for an itemised quotation. The first-machine buying guide lists what to compare.

Co-packer versus buying the line

If the real question is still “should we install a machine at all?”, that decision sits on the stick-pack co-packer article and the buying guide — not on a peak-speed table.

09

Project inputs

What to define before asking for a configuration

Nine inputs settle most of the questions that follow. Send what you already have; gaps are normal on a first stick project.

01
Finished stickWidth, length, back-seal layout and the cut finish — straight, serrated, rounded-corner or shaped. A photograph helps; a drawing is better. This is not the film-roll width.
02
OpeningTear notch, easy-open, or none — and where it sits on the stick. Not assumed included with the cut.
03
Product statePowder, granule, liquid/paste or small solid — plus flow, dust, viscosity, moisture and whether it bridges or foams.
04
Fill weightTarget grams or millilitres per stick and the tolerance your market and label accept.
05
Film rollStructure, thickness, roll width, core, outer diameter, unwind direction and registration mark. Ask the film supplier for the data sheet.
06
Target outputSticks per shift and how many shifts, rather than a single peak sticks-per-minute figure or a lane count copied from another page.
07
Dosing routeWhat you already know about auger, cup, weigher or pump — or mark it unknown. The product sample decides it.
08
CodingDate, lot or other mark, and where it sits on the finished stick.
09
Secondary packCarton count, display box or grouping, if they belong in the same line. They are not assumed included.

Sample validation. Compatibility is confirmed with a production-representative product sample and your intended film. A product name or a photograph alone does not confirm dosing or sealing.

Send project details

10

Before you order

What to confirm when you import the machine

These machines are built in Shantou, Guangdong, China. Confirm site utilities, import documents and acceptance conditions before ordering, using the requirements for your destination.

Power and utilities at your site

Confirm supply voltage, phase and frequency against the configuration, along with compressed air. Site requirements such as US 480 V / 60 Hz or UK 415 V / 50 Hz must be stated explicitly; they cannot be inferred from a website.

Ambient humidity

Powders cake, films slip and seals weaken when the plant runs humid. If that is your room, raise it early — it affects sustained output more than peak rate.

Documentation for your market

Decide which certificates and food-contact declarations you need on arrival, and who issues them — the machine builder or the film supplier. This page does not claim a destination-market approval, IQ/OQ package or pharmaceutical construction.

Shipping, duty and clearance

Crated dimensions and weight drive freight; the HS classification drives duty. The customs clearance walkthrough lists what a US, UK or Australian broker will ask for.

Acceptance before dispatch

Agree what the machine has to demonstrate before it ships — which product, which film, which stick, what weight tolerance — and that it runs your sample, not a generic one.

Spares, tooling and format change

List wear parts and the change parts for each stick size you plan to run, and compare the tooling and shipping costs before ordering. Warranty is 12 months from receipt; freight on replacement parts during that period is the buyer’s.

Project terms. Confirm lead time, installation scope and project-specific support in writing, alongside the warranty stated above. First-time importers can start from the packaging machine buying guide.

11

Common questions

Stick pack machine FAQs

Answers to common questions about stick formats, forming sets, output and the information needed for a quotation.

What is a stick pack machine?

A stick pack machine is a rollstock form-fill-seal host that forms a slim tube, doses the product, then seals and cuts a narrow single-serve pack.

The VFFS route uses a stick forming set to make the longitudinal back seal and top and bottom cross seals. A dedicated multi-lane layout needs a separate review.

What is the difference between a stick pack machine and a sachet packaging machine?

A stick pack is a narrow tube with a back seal and two cross seals. A flat sachet uses a 3-side or 4-side seal layout.

They are both small flexible packs, but they are not the same format. The short table above is enough to choose a hub; the full comparison is on the sachet vs stick guide.

Is a stick pack the same as a 3-side-seal sachet?

No. A 3-side sachet is a flat pack with one folded edge. A stick pack is a formed tube with a longitudinal back seal.

Some other manufacturers sell a 3-side “stickpack.” If that is the bag you actually sell, open the sachet hub and send the drawing — do not force it into this stick geometry.

What stick-pack seal and cut finishes can I specify?

Straight cut with an easy-tear notch, rounded-corner cut, serrated or zigzag cut, and a shaped contour cut are common buyer requests. Confirm the cut and tear features against your stick drawing and film.

Shaped tops need dedicated cutting tooling. A photograph of someone else’s pack is not a tool specification. See seal and cut finishes.

Can one stick pack machine pack powder and liquid?

Not on one assumed filler. The VFFS host can be discussed for powders and for liquids/pastes, but each state needs its own dosing route after a sample.

Instant coffee and honey illustrate different dosing requirements. Dust, viscosity and splash affect the filler and sealing checks; use a representative sample to confirm the configuration.

How many lanes does a stick pack machine have?

Lane count is confirmed for the selected configuration. The VFFS families below provide a starting point for a stick forming set; a dedicated multi-lane frame requires a separate project review.

If you already have a lane-count target or parent-film width, include it in the enquiry. Confirm the layout for your product and pack. See single-lane vs multi-lane.

How much does a stick pack machine cost?

No figure on this page would be meaningful, because price follows the finished stick, the filler and the stations around it.

A coffee stick, a honey stick, and the same stick plus coding and cartoning sit at different levels. Fix bag, dose, film and output per shift, then ask for a comparable quotation.

What speed can I expect from a stick pack machine?

The standard VFFS family lists a headline of up to 70 bags per minute and a typical 15–60 packs per minute range. Both are preliminary family references, not a guaranteed production rate for a stick-pack configuration.

These figures do not describe multi-lane stick output. Actual output depends on dose, stick length, film, sealing time, filler and product behaviour. Compare quotations on packs per shift, using the same stick and product.

Are stick-pack dimensions the same as film width?

No. Finished width and length describe the stick you sell. Roll width, repeat length and the eye-mark describe the web that makes it.

On a multi-lane frame the parent web is wider still, because it is slit. Send both the stick drawing and the film data sheet.

Do you publish a dedicated multi-lane stick pack machine?

A dedicated multi-lane stick line requires a separate configuration review. The VFFS frames shown here are starting points for a stick forming set.

For a multi-lane project, send the stick drawing, parent-film width and required packs per shift. The VFFS-220 / 320 / 420 width screen is a frame reference, not a lane-count table.

Is a stick pack machine the same as a premade pouch machine?

No. A stick VFFS host forms the pack from roll film. A premade-pouch machine opens a bag that already exists and only fills and seals it.

Zipper, stand-up and other premade pouches belong on the rotary or horizontal premade pages.

Which VFFS page should I open first for a stick pack?

Open the vertical form-fill-seal pouch section first if you are screening a stick-scale bag by finished width on VFFS-220, 320 or 420.

Open the high-speed pouch page when assessing a higher-output VFFS project. Confirm the frame, finished-stick dimensions and filled-pack output together.

Are you a stick pack machine manufacturer in India?

No. Spack Machine builds these lines in Shantou, Guangdong, China, and ships them as an imported machine.

If you need a locally built Indian machine, say so in the enquiry so time is not spent on the wrong comparison. The import checks above are written for US, UK and Australian plants receiving a Chinese-built line.

Are cartoning, counting and stick grouping included?

No. A possible module is not a standard or included module.

Feeding, dosing, coding, checkweighing, metal detection, reject, discharge, counting and cartoning are scoped item by item against the product and the site.

Can one forming set make every stick size?

No. Stick packs do not share one universal forming and sealing route with pillow packs or flat sachets, and two stick widths usually do not share one forming set either.

One line normally covers one inner-pack geometry and its close variants. If you sell two stick sizes today, expect to compare two sets of change parts.

Should I buy a stick pack machine or use a co-packer?

Buy a machine when you already know the stick, the dose and the packs per shift you must own in-house. Stay with a co-packer when the format or volume is still a commercial experiment.

Compare in-house packing and outsourced production using your volume, staffing, packaging costs and changeover needs. The stick-pack co-packer article and buying guide explain the factors to compare.

What do you need from me to recommend a configuration?

A production-representative product sample, the finished-stick drawing, the target dose and the output you need per shift.

Film data, site power and floor dimensions help refine the configuration. Include what you already know; any remaining details can follow after the first review.

Choose the format. Use your finished-stick drawing to confirm the forming set, seal pattern and cut. Flat sachets follow a different sealing layout.

12

Read next

Stick pack guides and buying advice

Use these guides to compare pack formats, understand the process and prepare for a machine quotation.

13

Next step

Send your project details

Tell us the finished stick you sell, the product going into it and the output you need. That is enough to put you on the right VFFS page.

Request a configuration review Open the VFFS machine page

Project confirmation. Machine, forming set, filler and output are confirmed against your samples and site conditions before anything is quoted as final.

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