The SelectSeal Max200 is a horizontal form-fill-seal machine that thermoforms the bottom web from rollstock, loads the device, then seals and cuts the finished sterile barrier package inline. Because the cavity is formed on the machine rather than bought as a pre-made tray, there is no tray inventory to stock, store or forecast.

It is built for high volume, low SKU sterile barrier packaging where floorspace is the constraint. Web widths run up to 200mm, with a maximum format of 8 inches by 8 inches, a draw depth to 3 inches and film thickness to 30 mil.

The machine runs both forming and non-forming rollstock. Forming films include PET, PETG, HIPS, PVC, poly and Nylon/Surlyn; non-forming lidding films include heat sealable Tyvek, medical paper, poly films and paper board. Forming is vacuum with air assist and male plug assist, with high force cold forming available for foil applications.

The seal station is servo driven with 3700 lb capacity and direct load cell feedback, so seal force is verified on every cycle rather than inferred. Recipe scan to load provides automatic tool verification, and Cognex or Keyence vision can inspect device presence and printed graphics. Tool changes are simple, with no water, wiring or reheating required, and the modular design allows varied package sizes and features on the same frame.

Controls are an Allen-Bradley CompactLogix processor with a 12 inch PanelView Plus colour touchscreen. Open software architecture with native files included means no controls lock-in, and the machine is fully validatable to GMP requirements with process parameter verification, data change tracking, line clearance and four level user security as standard.

Typical applications are medical device manufacturers running a small number of high volume formats in a cleanroom, where the space and inventory savings of forming in-line outweigh the flexibility of pre-formed trays.