Import & Export Guides
Chips Packing Machine Price in Bangladesh: Nitrogen Packing for Chips and Snacks
Oct
A chips packing machine in Bangladesh is normally a vertical form-fill-seal (VFFS) machine fed by a multihead weigher, with a nitrogen flushing system that fills the bag with nitrogen before the top seal so the chips stay crisp and do not go rancid. The price depends on the weigher, the bag size range, how the nitrogen is supplied, and whether the line includes an elevator, check weigher and metal detector. DE International sources complete chips and snack packing lines from China and delivers them door-to-door; send us your bag size and daily output and ask us for a current quote.
This article explains why chips need nitrogen, how the machine works, what makes one line cost more than another, and the mistakes that cause broken chips and flat bags.
Why do chips bags need nitrogen?
Fried potato chips, banana chips, puffed corn snacks and chanachur all contain oil. When that oil is exposed to oxygen it slowly oxidises, which produces the stale, rancid taste customers notice. Chips also pick up moisture from humid air and lose crunch quickly — a real problem in Bangladesh, where humidity is high for most of the year.
Nitrogen flushing tackles the oxygen side. The machine blows food-grade nitrogen into the bag just before sealing, pushing most of the air out. Nitrogen is inert, so it does not react with the oil. The gas also inflates the bag into a cushion that protects fragile chips during transport from factory to distributor to shop. Moisture is handled by the packaging film: a metallised or foil laminate gives a much better barrier than plain transparent film.
How does a nitrogen chips packing line work?
- Elevator: a bucket or incline conveyor lifts seasoned chips gently to the top of the weigher. Steep drops break chips, so the elevator should release product softly.
- Multihead weigher: chips fall into several weigh buckets; the controller chooses the combination of buckets that adds up closest to your target weight and releases it.
- VFFS packer: the film is pulled over a forming tube, sealed down the back, and sealed at the bottom. The weighed chips drop through the tube into the bag.
- Nitrogen flush: nitrogen is fed through a tube inside the forming tube or near the jaws, filling the bag as it is sealed.
- Top seal and cut: the jaws seal the top of the filled bag (which is also the bottom of the next one) and a knife separates them.
- Output: bags leave on a conveyor, ideally through a check weigher and metal detector, then to cartoning.
Each step affects the next. If the weigher releases product too slowly, chips are still falling when the jaws close and get trapped in the seal, causing leaks. Synchronising weigher discharge and jaw timing is part of commissioning, and it should be done with your real chips.
Nitrogen supply: cylinders or a nitrogen generator?
| Option | How it works | Suits | Things to consider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen cylinders | Bought filled from a gas supplier and connected through a regulator | Trial runs and small daily volume | Ongoing gas purchase and cylinder handling; supply interruptions stop packing |
| PSA nitrogen generator | Separates nitrogen from compressed air using adsorption beds | Steady daily production | Needs a good air compressor, dryer and filters; electricity cost; purity must be checked |
| Liquid nitrogen | Supplied as liquid in tanks, evaporated for use | Large operations | Specialist supply and storage; uncommon for small factories |
Purity matters. A generator that delivers lower-purity nitrogen leaves more oxygen in the bag. When you compare quotes, ask what purity the generator is designed for and how it is measured. Some buyers also add a handheld residual-oxygen analyser to spot-check sealed bags — it is the only way to know the flushing is actually working, rather than assuming it is.
What decides the price of a chips packing machine?
Prices from Chinese makers vary widely and change over time, so we do not quote a figure here. These are the factors that move a quote:
- Weigher size: a weigher with more heads is faster and more accurate but costs more. Bucket volume must suit your bag weight — a small snack pack and a family pack may need different weighers.
- Packer drive: servo-driven film pulling and jaws give more consistent bags than pneumatic systems.
- Bag style: plain pillow bags are standard; gusseted bags, linked bags (strips of small packs for hanging in shops) or hole punching add cost.
- Nitrogen system: a flush kit for cylinders is cheap; a generator with compressor and dryer is a separate investment.
- Ancillaries: elevator, check weigher, metal detector, date coder and output conveyor.
- Material grade: SS304 for product-contact parts is the normal requirement for food.
Film and bag design for Bangladeshi market conditions
Chips in Bangladesh often sit in small shops without air conditioning, sometimes hanging in strips in sunlight. That is hard on the product. A metallised laminate blocks light and slows moisture uptake much better than clear film. The seal must be strong enough to hold the nitrogen through rough handling on the way to rural markets; weak seals let the bag go flat, and a flat bag both looks old and lets chips break.
Print your MRP, manufacturing and expiry dates, ingredients and BSTI details as required — see labelling requirements for packaged goods in Bangladesh. A thermal transfer or inkjet date coder on the packer prints batch and dates on each bag.
Common problems and what causes them
| Problem | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Broken chips in the bag | Drop height too great in elevator or weigher; vibration too strong | Lower drop points, adjust vibration, use soft-release buckets |
| Flat bags after a few days | Seal leaks, often chips trapped in the seal | Synchronise weigher discharge with jaws; check jaw temperature and pressure |
| Rancid taste before expiry | Too much oxygen left in bag, or film barrier too weak | Check nitrogen purity and flow; use metallised laminate |
| Weights over target | Weigher not calibrated, or seasoning build-up on buckets | Calibrate regularly; clean buckets on schedule |
| Seasoning dust on seals | Powdered seasoning drifting into the jaw area | Season in a drum before the elevator; keep jaw area clean |
Completing the line: frying and seasoning
The packing machine is the last step. Upstream you need slicing, washing, blanching or frying, de-oiling and a seasoning drum. If you are planning a full snack factory, our guides to the chanachur making machine line and storing potatoes for chips cover those stages. For seasoning ingredients such as HVP, see HVP in chanachur, chips and noodles.
FAQ
What is the price of a chips packing machine in Bangladesh?
It depends on the multihead weigher, the packer drive, the nitrogen system and the ancillaries. DE International collects current quotes from Chinese manufacturers for your bag size and output — message us on WhatsApp +880 1750-859967.
Is nitrogen really necessary for chips packing?
For fried snacks meant to last on shop shelves, nitrogen flushing greatly slows rancidity and cushions the chips. Very short shelf-life local products sometimes skip it, but quality suffers.
Can I use a nitrogen cylinder instead of a generator?
Yes, many factories start with cylinders. A generator makes sense once daily volume is steady, provided you have a suitable compressor and dryer.
Which film is best for chips packets?
Metallised or foil laminates are commonly used because they block light and moisture better than clear film. Confirm the laminate with your film supplier and machine maker so sealing settings match.
Can the same machine pack chanachur and chips?
Usually yes, if the weigher bucket size and bag range suit both. Chanachur is denser and oilier than chips, so test both products.
Planning a snack packing line? DE International sources machines, checks them at the factory in China and delivers door-to-door to your factory in Bangladesh. See our services, the China sourcing and buying agent service, our shop, or contact us on WhatsApp +880 1750-859967. Machine shipping quotes: decl.bd/quote.
