An ODF line stops being a film line and becomes a production line when the casting machine, the slitting and printing machine, the pouch packaging machine and the cartoner are matched to each other. The parameter that decides whether they work as a line is not the speed of the fastest unit but the tension and registration carried between them: film that is cast and dried correctly can still be rejected at the pouch if the slit web is not aligned, and pouches that seal correctly can still fail inspection if the printed data is missing.
The sequence, and what each stage adds
| Stage | Equipment function | Key parameters |
|---|---|---|
| Casting and drying | Cast the solution onto the carrier and dry it | Coating gap, feed temperature, drying zones, line speed |
| Slitting and printing | Remove the carrier, equalise moisture, slit to finished width, print | Production capacity 0.002-5 m/min, finished film width 110-190 mm from raw material up to 380 mm |
| Pouch packaging | Form, fill, seal and cut the sachet or stick pack | Sealing temperature and time, registration, pouch dimensions |
| Sachet cartoning | Erect the carton, add the leaflet, insert the pouch, close | 80-120 cartons per minute, carton and leaflet dimensions |
| Cassette packaging | Assemble multiple strips into a multi-strip cassette or card | 60-120 packs per minute, 6-24 strips per pack |
Matching capacity between stages
The stages run at different natural speeds, and the line is designed around ratios rather than identical output. One slitting and printing machine can serve several packaging machines, which is the arrangement to use when a large share of output goes to the same sachet format and the packaging machines are the capacity limit. What has to be verified is the buffer and the tension between stages: an accumulator that is too small turns a short packaging stop into a casting stop and a wasted roll.
Printed data on the sachet
The pouch is a labelled container, so the print has to carry the product name, the specification or strength, the batch number, the production date and the expiry date in the format the destination market requires. Registration of the print, and verification that it is present and legible, are therefore part of the packaging quality system rather than an optional accessory. A camera based inspection station with automatic rejection covers print presence, seal integrity and product presence in one place.
What to specify for a whole-line project
- Web width at casting, slit width at the slitting stage, and pouch format – checked on one drawing before any machine is built.
- Tension control at every transfer point, not only at the unwind.
- Independent sealing temperature control, because seal quality follows temperature and dwell, not line speed alone.
- Rejection and traceability: what is rejected, why, and how the record links to the batch.
- Cleaning access at the print, sealing and cutting stations, where residue accumulates.
Equipment implications
Aligned Machinery was founded in 2004, operates its production base in Zhejiang Province with five subsidiaries and factories, holds more than 68 independently developed patents and serves more than 550 companies in over 100 countries. It entered the oral dissolving film equipment market in 2018 and also supplies transdermal patch line equipment. CE documentation is available for the products supplied, and equipment is designed in line with GMP requirements.
The line covers casting and drying, slitting and printing, pouch packaging, sachet cartoning and cassette packaging, with formulation testing and OEM services available where the product is developed at the same time as the line.
FAQ
What stages make up a complete ODF production line?
Casting and drying, slitting and printing, pouch packaging, and then cartoning or cassette packaging depending on the finished format. A slitting and printing machine can serve several packaging machines when sachet packaging is the capacity limit.
Why is matching capacity between stages more important than machine speed?
Because the line runs on ratios, not identical speeds. The limiting factor is usually the buffer and the tension between stages: an accumulator that is too small turns a brief packaging stop into a casting stop and a wasted roll.
What information has to be printed on an ODF sachet?
The product name, specification or strength, batch number, production date and expiry date, in the format required by the destination market. Print registration and verification are part of the packaging quality system.
What should be verified before an ODF line is built?
Web width at casting, slit width at the slitting stage and pouch format, checked on one drawing; tension control at every transfer point; independent sealing temperature control; and the rejection and traceability record.
Which machines does Aligned Machinery offer for the packaging stage?
The slitting and printing machine, high-speed pouch packaging machines, a sachet cartoning machine rated at 80-120 cartons per minute, and a cassette packaging machine handling 6 to 24 strips per pack.
References
[1] Aligned Machinery, “Printing and Packing Machine.” https://www.odfsolution.com/printing-and-packing-machine/
[2] Aligned Machinery, “Cartoning Packaging Machine.” https://www.odfsolution.com/cartoning-packaging-machine/
[3] Aligned Machinery, “Cassette Packaging Machine.” https://www.odfsolution.com/cassette-packaging-machine/
[4] Aligned Machinery, “ODF Production Line.” https://www.odfsolution.com/odf-production-line/
Post time: Aug-17-2026