Difference Between Tuber and Bottomer Machine in Valve Bag Making

In the manufacturing of valve paper bags, two critical machines form the backbone of production: the tuber machine and the bottomer machine. Both play distinct but interconnected roles in the valve bag making process, particularly for multiwall paper sacks used in packaging cement, chemicals, food products, animal feed, and seeds. Understanding the difference between the two helps manufacturers optimize production quality, speed, and efficiency.

What is a Valve Bag?

Before diving into the difference between a tuber and a bottomer, it’s important to understand what a valve bag is. Valve bags, often referred to as valve-type industrial sacks, are specialized paper or plastic bags designed for high-speed filling. They feature a self-closing valve on one end, which allows for clean filling of bulk materials like cement, fertilizer, flour, or dry chemicals.

Valve bags are generally made from multi-ply kraft paper, which offers high tensile strength and barrier properties. The creation of these bags involves two major processes – forming the tube (via the tuber machine) and forming the bottom (via the bottomer machine).

Role of the Tuber Machine

The tuber machine is the first machine in the valve bag production line. Its main function is to convert flat reels of multi-ply paper into a continuous paper tube. This tube acts as the primary structure of the bag.

Process Breakdown

● Paper Unwinding: Multiple rolls of kraft paper are unwound.

● Layer Alignment: The layers are aligned precisely to ensure structural strength.

● Side Gluing: Adhesives are applied to bond the layers together.

● Tube Formation: The paper is folded into a cylindrical or square shape and glued to form a continuous tube.

● Cutting: The tube is cut to the desired length, based on the size of the final bag.

Key Features

● High Speed: Modern tuber machines can produce hundreds of tubes per minute.

● Precision: Accurate control systems ensure minimal deviation in tube dimensions.

● Customization: Adjustable for various bag widths and lengths, including special bags for chemical packaging or seed storage.

Many valve bag manufacturers opt for automatic tuber machines for efficient processing of multiwall paper sacks, especially for high-demand applications like cement packaging bags or industrial chemical bags.

Role of the Bottomer Machine

After the tube is created, the bottomer machine takes over to add the bottoms and valve openings. It transforms the paper tube into a finished valve sack ready for filling.

Process Breakdown

● Tube Feeding: Pre-formed tubes from the tuber machine are fed into the bottomer.

● Bottom Folding: The ends of each tube are folded to form gussets.

● Bottom Pasting: A separate paper sheet is glued to the folded ends to form the base of the bag.

● Valve Insertion: A small opening is added, typically on one side of the bottom, which serves as the valve for filling.

● Pressing and Drying: The finished bag is pressed and dried to ensure strong adhesion and shape retention.

Key Features

● Valve Customization: Various valve types (internal, external, PE sleeve) can be added depending on the product type.

● Reinforced Bottoms: Bottomers are designed to handle reinforced pasting for heavy-duty bags.

● High Output: Designed to keep up with tuber machine speeds while ensuring bottom integrity.

Bottomer machines for valve sacks are crucial for cement sack production lines and animal feed bag manufacturing, where bottom strength and valve precision are vital for safe and efficient product filling.

Key Differences Between Tuber and Bottomer Machines

Feature	Tuber Machine	Bottomer Machine
Function	Forms paper tube	Adds bottom and valve
Input	Kraft paper rolls	Tubes from tuber machine
Output	Paper tube	Finished valve bag
Key Mechanism	Folding and gluing paper layers	Folding gussets, valve cutting, bottom pasting
Product Stage	Initial stage of bag formation	Final stage before packaging
Flexibility	Adjustable tube dimensions	Adjustable valve and bottom styles

Integrated Valve Bag Making Lines

Leading manufacturers like Tecon offer integrated tuber and bottomer machines as part of automated valve bag production lines. These systems are optimized for producing bags for industries like:

● Cement manufacturing

● Fertilizer packaging

● Flour and grain milling

● Plastic resin packaging

● Seed distribution

Some systems even include in-line printing units, allowing branding and handling instructions to be added during production.

Choosing the right valve bag making machine with appropriate tuber and bottomer configurations is essential to meet industry standards and customer expectations.

Conclusion

The tuber and bottomer machines each serve distinct yet complementary roles in the valve bag manufacturing process. While the tuber forms the structural tube from kraft paper, the bottomer completes the transformation into a usable bag by sealing the bottom and integrating the valve. Understanding their differences and how they work together is key to selecting the right equipment for your application—be it cement bag production, chemical packaging, or food sack manufacturing.

For companies aiming to scale their operations or enhance bag quality, investing in high-speed, automated valve bag making machines from reputable manufacturers is a strategic move. Whether you’re producing paper cement bags, seed packaging sacks, or multiwall industrial bags, optimizing both the tuber and bottomer stages will ensure operational efficiency and product reliability.