Nowadays, many nutritional powders—such as protein powder and probiotics—are packaged into small individual sticks. This type of packaging is called a “stick pack.” It has become extremely popular because it is so convenient. You can carry a few sticks when you go out, they take up almost no space, the dosage is precise, and the packaging protects well against moisture and oxidation.
From protein powders and probiotics to vitamin blends and electrolyte formulas, manufacturers worldwide are switching to multi-lane stick pack systems. Not only does output increase, but material changeovers also become faster and more flexible.
1. Why Is Stick Pack Packaging So Popular Now?
In simple terms, compared with bottles or large pouches, stick packs are more convenient and practical.
- Reduced material usage: The sealing edges are narrow and the structure is simple, resulting in minimal material waste.
- Portable: For consumers, stick packs are lightweight and easy to carry. Each pack is a single dose with no waste.
- Stable dosing
- Moisture and oxygen protection: Especially important for moisture-sensitive probiotics and oxidation-sensitive vitamins.
- Ideal for high-speed automated production in nutrition brands
2. Core Technologies of Powder Stick Pack Machines
2.1 Multi-lane stick pack design
A single machine can form multiple stick packs simultaneously (typically 4–12 lanes), significantly increasing output.
2.2 Servo-controlled auger filling
Whether the powder flows well or poorly, the specialized filling structure ensures accurate dosing. For powders with poor flowability, servo-controlled auger fillers can still achieve ±1–2% accuracy, ensuring consistent weight in every pack.
2.3 Integrated forming–filling–sealing
Stick packs are made from roll film and go through forming, filling, sealing, cutting, coding, and discharge in one continuous process.
2.4 Why One Machine Can Handle All Powder Types
The machine is not rigid — it can be flexibly adjusted for different powders:
- Change different augers
- Adjust vibration intensity
- Adjust sealing temperature and speed
- Nitrogen flushing for freshness
3. What Should You Pay Attention to When Packaging Different Powders?
This is like cooking different dishes—heat and technique must be adjusted accordingly.
3.1 Protein Powder
Protein powder produces more dust and has medium flowability. Dust may float easily, and sometimes clumps may block the feeding port.Solution: The machine needs a strong dust collector; the hopper should vibrate to break clumps; use a larger auger.
3.2 Probiotic Powder
Probiotics are highly sensitive to heat and humidity.Solution: Keep the workshop dry; sealing should be quick to minimize heat; nitrogen flushing is ideal and critical for maintaining viability.NCBI research shows that when humidity exceeds 30%, probiotic survival drops sharply.
3.3 Vitamin Powder
Vitamins (especially vitamin C and B-complex) may degrade under strong light or high temperatures, or oxidize.Solution: Strictly control sealing temperature; reduce exposure to air; ensure smooth feeding with auger rotation to avoid dust.
3.4 Electrolyte Powder
Electrolyte salts absorb moisture extremely fast, even from air, causing clumping.Solution: Strong dehumidification in the production area; faster sealing; anti-static measures to prevent powder scattering.
5. Essential Machine Features for All Powder Types
Regardless of which powder you package, a good stick pack machine should have:
- High-precision servo filling system
- Automatic film tension control
- Efficient dust-collection system
- Multi-lane design (4 lanes, 8 lanes; more lanes = higher output)
- Food-grade stainless steel construction; 316L contact parts meet GMP
- Optional nitrogen flushing and in-line weighing
6. Complete Stick Pack Production Line Workflow
A turnkey stick pack line from LTPM CHINA typically includes:Mixing raw materials → Feeding to machine → Precise filling → Forming/Filling/Sealing → Date coding → Weight checking → Metal detection → Cartoning.
7. Common Issues and How Modern Machines Solve Them
8. People Also Ask
1. Can one stick pack machine package multiple types of powders?Yes. As long as parameters (sealing, auger size, humidity control) are adjusted properly, one line is enough.
2. What environment do probiotics require?A dry environment (humidity below 30% is ideal) and moderate temperature. Nitrogen flushing is highly recommended.
3. How many lanes should I choose?4–6 lanes for small/medium batches; 8–12 lanes for industrial-scale production. Single-lane stick pack machines also exist depending on needs.
4. What factors affect filling accuracy?Three key factors: powder flowability, auger design, and correct vibration settings.
5. What is the typical output speed?Depending on the number of lanes, from 160 to 600 sticks per minute.
Summary
Thanks to its precision, efficiency, and flexibility, stick pack packaging has become the mainstream choice for nutritional powders and supplements. As long as you adjust the machine properly for each powder, you can use one machine to package protein powder, probiotics, vitamins, and electrolyte powders.
If you need packaging solutions for protein powder, probiotics, vitamin supplements, or electrolyte formulas, LTPM CHINA provides customizable multi-lane stick pack machines and turnkey packaging lines.
Contact us for a free layout design and machine consultation.