Automatic Granule Premade Pouch Packaging Machine with Inkjet Printer: Packing and Coding in One Production Process
For many granular-product manufacturers, packaging does not finish when the bag is sealed.
The finished package normally also needs variable information such as a production date, batch number, expiry information or other traceability content.
If packaging and coding are handled as two separate processes, finished bags may need to be collected, moved to another workstation and printed manually. For regular production, this adds handling and makes the workflow more complicated.
A more practical approach is to integrate the coding process directly with the packaging machine.
In this machine test, a three-head granule premade pouch packaging machine is configured together with an inkjet printer, allowing weighing, pouch handling, filling, sealing and coding to work as part of the same packaging process.
This type of solution can be used for peanuts, seeds, grains, tea, pet food and many other free-flowing granular products.
More Than a Premade Pouch Packing Machine
The main equipment in this system is a three-head granule premade pouch packing machine.
Granular products first enter the weighing section. After the required quantity is prepared, the machine handles the premade pouch and moves it through the packaging process.
Depending on the configured packaging process, the system can complete operations including:
granule weighing → automatic bag taking → pouch opening → product filling → vacuum processing → sealing → inkjet coding → finished pouch discharge
The important point is that these processes are not considered independently.
The weighing system needs to match the speed of the packing machine.
The bag dimensions need to match the pouch-handling mechanism.
The coding position needs to match the artwork and available printing area on the bag.
Only when these parts are considered together does the equipment become a complete packaging solution.
Three-Head Weighing for Granular Products
Accurate product dosing is the first step in a granule packaging line.
The machine shown in the test uses a three-head weighing system.
Products are distributed into the weighing section before being discharged into the pouch.
This configuration is suitable for many free-flowing granular materials, such as:
- peanuts;
- sunflower seeds;
- grains;
- beans;
- tea;
- pet food;
- snack products;
- and selected industrial granules or hardware products.
The final weighing configuration should still be selected according to the actual material.
Product size, density, flowability and target package weight all influence weighing performance.
For example, the same machine settings should not automatically be used for peanuts, tea and small hardware components simply because all three are technically granular materials.
Actual product testing is therefore useful before the final machine configuration is confirmed.
Why Integrate an Inkjet Printer with the Packaging Machine?
The packaging film or premade pouch normally contains fixed information such as branding, product graphics and nutrition or product descriptions.
Production information is different.
Dates and batch information change continuously during manufacturing.
This is where the inkjet printer becomes useful.
Instead of printing this information manually after packaging, an online inkjet printer can be installed as supporting equipment for the pouch packaging process.
Depending on the selected printer and customer requirement, variable information may include:
Production Date
Batch / Lot Number
Expiry or Best-Before Information
Serial Information
and other variable production data.
The exact content depends on the printing system being used.
Integrating the printer with the packaging machine means the coding process becomes part of normal production rather than a separate operation after packing.
Packaging and Coding Need to Be Matched Before Production
Installing an inkjet printer is not simply a matter of placing a printer beside the packaging machine.
The printing position needs to be considered.
For a premade pouch, the customer should confirm:
where the code should appear;
how much printing space is available;
whether the pouch surface is suitable for the selected ink;
what information needs to be printed;
how many lines of information are required;
and whether the code needs to be printed before or after filling and sealing.
This information helps determine the mounting position of the printhead and the appropriate coding method.
For customers using printed premade bags, it is especially useful to provide the actual artwork or physical bag sample before the machine is configured.
The coding area can then be positioned to avoid covering logos, product information or other important graphics.
One Production Process Instead of Two Separate Workstations
Consider two different ways of producing the same finished package.
In the first method, the packaging machine weighs, fills and seals the product.
An operator then collects the finished bags.
The bags are moved to another workstation.
A separate printer is used to add the production date or batch information.
This method can work, especially for small production volumes.
But as production increases, repeated handling becomes less efficient.
With an integrated configuration, packaging and coding are planned as one process.
The pouch passes through the packaging cycle and the required variable information is added within the production workflow.
This can reduce unnecessary material handling and make the line easier to organize.
For manufacturers upgrading from manual or semi-automatic production, this is often one of the practical benefits of line integration.
Flexible Premade Pouch Range
The machine shown in this test is designed for different premade pouch sizes.
The demonstrated specification supports approximately:
Bag Width: 10–20 cm
Bag Length: 12–30 cm
This makes the machine suitable for a range of small and medium premade pouch formats.
However, bag dimensions alone are not enough to confirm compatibility.
The supplier should also evaluate:
bag material;
pouch thickness;
opening structure;
gusset design if present;
zipper structure if used;
sealing area;
and overall stiffness of the pouch.
Two bags with the same width and length can behave differently during automatic bag feeding.
For that reason, sending actual bag samples is one of the most useful steps before confirming a premade pouch packaging project.
Compact Equipment for Limited Production Space
Another feature visible in this configuration is the relatively compact machine layout.
The machine size shown in the test is approximately:
97 × 57 × 147 cm
A compact footprint can be useful for small and medium production facilities where floor space is limited.
But compact size should not mean that supporting equipment is selected separately without considering the whole line.
Space should still be reserved for product feeding, operator access, inkjet printer installation and finished-product handling.
If additional equipment such as a conveyor, metal detector or checkweigher will be installed later, that should also be considered during the initial layout design.
7-Inch PLC Control for Daily Operation
The packaging machine is equipped with a 7-inch PLC touchscreen and supports multiple operating languages.
For day-to-day production, the control interface allows operators to manage machine settings from one control area.
When customers operate several products or pouch sizes, the important question is not only whether the machine can run different packages.
The changeover process also matters.
Before purchasing a machine, manufacturers should ask which settings need to be changed when switching:
from one product to another;
from one pouch size to another;
or from one target weight to another.
A machine that is flexible in specification should also be practical for operators to adjust during real production.
Premade Pouch Packaging for Different Granular Products
Although the test shows a granular-product application, the same basic packaging concept can be considered across several industries.
Food and Snacks
Peanuts, mixed nuts, beans, seeds, grains and selected snack products can be weighed and packed into premade pouches.
Tea and Agricultural Products
Loose tea, selected seeds and other free-flowing agricultural products may also use a similar weighing and pouch-packing process.
Pet Food
Small granular or pellet pet-food products can be packed according to the required pouch size and target weight.
Industrial Granules and Hardware
Depending on the weighing range and material characteristics, selected plastic granules, hardware accessories and other small free-flowing products may also be evaluated.
The machine should always be tested against the actual material before the final configuration is confirmed.
Supporting Equipment Can Be Added Around the Packaging Machine
The main packing machine does not need to work alone.
A complete granular-product packaging line can be configured with supporting equipment according to the customer's production requirement.
Possible equipment includes:
Product feeding equipment
for transferring granular material to the weighing system.
Three-head weighing system
for product portioning.
Premade pouch packaging machine
for bag taking, opening, filling and sealing.
Inkjet printer
for variable production information.
Finished-product conveyor
for transferring completed packages.
Checkweigher
for final weight inspection.
Metal detector
for selected food-production applications.
Different factories need different combinations.
The objective is not to add every possible machine.
It is to build a line around the actual product, pouch and production process.
Why the Printer Should Be Considered at the Same Time as the Packing Machine
Coding equipment is sometimes treated as a small accessory that can be selected later.
In practice, including it during the packaging-line design has several advantages.
The correct printing position can be confirmed before production.
The printer mounting structure can be planned together with the machine.
The pouch surface and coding area can be tested.
The packaging and printing speeds can be matched.
And the finished package can be tested as one complete result.
This is especially useful for export projects where customers may not want to modify the production line themselves after receiving the equipment.
For these projects, supplying the packaging machine and coding equipment as a coordinated solution can simplify installation and commissioning.
What Information Should You Provide for a Similar Project?
If you need a granule premade pouch packaging machine with an inkjet printer, prepare the following information.
Product
Tell us what material you need to pack and provide photos, videos or samples if possible.
Target Weight
For example, 100g, 250g, 500g or another package weight.
Pouch Type
Send the actual premade pouch or clear photos.
Bag Dimensions
Provide width, length and gusset dimensions if applicable.
Coding Content
Tell us whether you need production date, batch number, expiry information or other variable content.
Coding Position
Mark the preferred print area on the bag.
Required Capacity
Provide the expected packages per minute or per hour.
Additional Processes
Tell us whether you also require vacuum packaging, product feeding, checkweighing, metal detection or finished-product conveying.
With this information, the packaging machine and coding system can be configured as one production process.
From Packing Equipment to an Integrated Packaging and Coding Solution
This three-head granule premade pouch packaging machine demonstrates how the main packing equipment and inkjet printer can work together.
The weighing system prepares the product.
The premade pouch machine handles filling and sealing.
The inkjet printer adds variable production information.
Other supporting equipment can be integrated according to the factory's production requirements.
For manufacturers, this means machine selection does not have to stop at the question:
“Which packing machine can pack my product?”
A more useful question is:
“How can weighing, packaging, coding and downstream processes work together on my production line?”
INNOV can configure the packaging machine, coding equipment and other supporting devices according to the customer's product, pouch, printing requirement and target capacity.
If you are planning a similar project, send us your product, target weight, pouch samples, coding content and required production capacity so the complete packaging process can be evaluated before the equipment is configured.
