Searching for a "candy packing machine" is frustrating. You get mixed results, wasting time on the wrong suppliers. This guide will help you find the perfect partner.
A "candy packing machine" can mean two things. First, a machine that wraps individual candies. Second, a machine that puts those candies into retail bags, pouches, or boxes. Knowing which you need is the first step to choosing the right manufacturer.
I've talked to many production managers over the years. They all face a similar challenge at the start. They need a "candy packing machine," but that simple term hides a lot of complexity. One person might mean a machine that puts a twist wrap on a single hard candy. Another might need a system that fills a stand-up pouch with 200 grams of gummies. These are completely different technologies from different types of manufacturers. This guide is designed to clear up that confusion. We will first define the categories. Then, we will list the top manufacturers in each. My goal is to give you a clear map, so you can quickly find the right expert for your specific project, whether you're wrapping, bagging, or cartoning.
What Are the Two Main Types of Candy Packing Machines?
Are you confused by wrapping versus bagging? Choosing the wrong type costs time and money. We will explain the difference clearly, so you can make a smart decision.
Candy wrapping machines cover single pieces with film or foil (e.g., twist wrap, fold wrap). Primary bagging and secondary packaging machines put loose or wrapped candies into retail-ready bags, pouches, cartons, or cases.
Let's dive deeper into these two worlds. It's the most important distinction you need to make. Getting this right from the start saves you countless hours of phone calls and emails with the wrong suppliers.
1. Individual Candy Wrapping Machines
Think of this as the first layer of packaging. This machine takes a single piece of candy and wraps it. I've seen these running at incredible speeds on factory floors. They are precision instruments designed for a specific wrapping style. Common styles include:
- Twist Wrapping: Used for hard candies and toffees. The machine twists the film at both ends.
- Fold Wrapping: Perfect for small chocolate squares or neapolitans. It folds the paper or foil neatly around the product.
- Flow Wrapping (HFFS): Creates a sealed "pillow" pack around a candy bar or a small stack of candies.
2. Bagging & Secondary Packaging Machines
This is about getting your candy ready for the store shelf. These machines take either loose candies (like gummies) or already-wrapped candies and put them into a final consumer package. This category includes a few key systems:
- VFFS (Vertical Form Fill Seal): Makes bags from a roll of film, fills them with candy, and seals them. This is very common for gummy bears, jelly beans, and hard candies.
- Premade Pouch Packers: Fills and seals ready-made bags, like stand-up pouches, which offer a more premium look.
- Cartoners & Case Packers: These are end-of-line machines. They take the finished bags or wrapped bars and put them into display boxes or shipping cases.
Here is a simple table to help you decide:
| Machine Category | What It Does | Best For... |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Wrapping | Wraps one piece of candy at a time. | Hard candies, toffees, small chocolates, candy bars. |
| Bagging & Secondary | Fills bags, pouches, jars, or boxes. | Gummies, loose candy, mixed candy, retail-ready packs. |
Who Are the Top Manufacturers for Individual Candy Wrapping?
Need to wrap thousands of candies per minute? Your choice of machine is critical for speed and reliability. We will list the leaders in high-speed individual wrapping.
For high-speed individual candy wrapping, top manufacturers include Theegarten-Pactec for twist wrapping, SACMI for a broad portfolio, LoeschPack for fold wrapping, IMA Ilapak for flow wrapping, and ULMA for versatile HFFS solutions.
When a client tells me they need to wrap millions of hard candies, I know they need a specialist. These are not general-purpose machines. They are highly engineered systems built for speed and a specific wrapping style. Over my career, I've seen a few names come up again and again as the leaders in this space. They are the go-to experts for getting that first, crucial wrap onto the candy itself. If your project involves wrapping single pieces, these are the companies you should be looking at first. They are the masters of speed and precision for this specific task.
Here are the key players in the individual candy wrapping world:
- Theegarten-Pactec (Germany): They are famous for extremely high-speed wrapping. If you have hard candies or toffees and need to twist wrap them at incredible speeds, Theegarten-Pactec is often the first name that comes up.
- SACMI Packaging & Chocolate (Italy): SACMI has a very wide portfolio. They offer solutions for wrapping, flow-packing, and secondary packaging, especially strong in the chocolate and confectionery sectors.
- LoeschPack (Germany): When I think of perfectly folded chocolate bars or neapolitans, I think of LoeschPack. They are masters of the fold wrap and also provide complete line solutions from feeding to case packing.
- IMA Ilapak (Switzerland/Global): Ilapak is a giant in the packaging world, known for its robust and flexible flow wrappers (HFFS). These are used all over the industry for candy bars, nougat, and other similar products.
- ULMA Packaging (Spain): ULMA offers a solid range of both Horizontal Form Fill Seal (HFFS) for bars and Vertical Form Fill Seal (VFFS) systems. They are a reliable choice for wrapping a variety of chocolates and sweets.
| Manufacturer | Key Specialty | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Theegarten-Pactec | High-speed primary wrapping | Hard candy, toffee (twist/fold wrap) |
| SACMI Packaging | Broad wrapping & molding portfolio | Chocolate and confectionery |
| LoeschPack | Fold wrapping and system integration | Chocolate bars, chewing gum |
| IMA Ilapak | Horizontal Flow Wrapping (HFFS) | Candy bars, multi-packs of candy |
| ULMA Packaging | HFFS and VFFS solutions | Flexible wrapping for various sweets |
Who Are the Best Manufacturers for Bagging and Jarring Candy?
Your candies are made. Now you need them in retail bags or jars. Choosing the right bagging system is key to profit. We will show you the experts in this area.
For bagging and end-of-line candy systems, top manufacturers are Syntegon (VFFS), Smartpack (VFFS, pouch, and jar lines with counting weighers), ROVEMA (bagging systems), Cavanna (turnkey lines), and Cama Group (secondary packaging).
This is the part of the process I know best. Once you have loose candy—like gummies, hard candies, or a mix—you need to get it into a bag, pouch, or jar accurately and efficiently. This is a different challenge. It's not about wrapping one piece; it's about dosing the right amount of product into a final package. At Smartpack, this is our core focus. We build complete lines designed specifically for this task. But there are other great companies in this space too, each with its own strengths. Some focus only on cartoning, while others provide the bagger itself. Let's look at the leaders for taking your candy from a bulk container to a shelf-ready package.
Here are the key players for candy bagging, jarring, and secondary packaging:
Smartpack: The Specialist in Weighed & Counted Bagging/Jarring
At Smartpack, we have a clear focus. We help you put candy into bags, pouches, and jars. Our strength comes from combining our high-precision multihead weighers with the right packing machine. A key feature I always highlight to clients is our weigher's logic. It can dose by both weight and quantity (pieces). This is a game-changer. For a 150g bag, you dose by weight. For a "100-piece" bag of gummies, you dose by count. Our systems do both. This ensures you meet label claims perfectly.
Our main solutions for candy packing machine are:
- Vertical Packing Machine Line (VFFS): The workhorse for pillow bags, gusseted bags, and quad-seal bags of hard candy, gummies, and mixes.
- Rotary Pouch Packing Machine Line: For premium stand-up pouches that look great on the shelf.
- Jar Packing Machine Line: A complete automated line for filling, sealing, and capping jars of candy.
We also provide the full end-of-line integration, including checkweighers, metal detectors, cartoners, and case packers to complete your entire packaging process.
| Smartpack System | Packaging Format | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| VFFS Line | Pillow, Gusset, Quad Bags | High speed and flexibility for various bag styles. |
| Rotary Pouch Line | Premade Stand-up Pouches | Premium look, ideal for high-value candies. |
| Jar Line | Plastic or Glass Jars | Fully automated filling, capping, and labeling. |
| Core Technology | 10-32 Head Multihead Weigher | Dosing by Weight and/or Quantity (Pieces). |
Other Leaders in Bagging and Secondary Packaging
- Syntegon Technology (Germany): Formerly Bosch Packaging, they are a massive player with very reliable and high-quality VFFS platforms that are used widely for bagging confectionery.
- ROVEMA (Germany): Rovema thinks in terms of complete systems. They are well-regarded for their robust VFFS machines and their ability to integrate them into full production lines for packaged candy.
- Cavanna (Italy): Cavanna excels at creating turnkey solutions that connect primary wrapping (like flow wrappers) directly to secondary packaging systems, providing a seamless flow for products like candy bars.
- Cama Group (Italy): Cama is a powerhouse in secondary packaging. They typically don't make the primary bagger. Instead, they build the high-performance cartoners and case packers that come after, getting your bags into shelf-ready displays and cases.
Conclusion
First, decide if you need to wrap single candies or bag loose ones. Then, use this guide to find the right specialist for your specific product and package format.