Editor’s Pick.

As a US-based industry consultant, our picks tend to be biased towards US-based manufacturers.  However in an industry where there is only one US-based manufacturer that makes all their products in the United States, our bias seems too predictable.  In reviewing companies, most of our knowledge comes from websites and customer input. 

In providing this review, we learned of a few other manufacturers of high frequency (aka RF) equipment including a Florida distributor of foreign made RF equipment, however we also learned that RF equipment is not the best choice for heat sealing shade materials.  Apparently RF equipment tends to arc resulting in burnouts on the sealed material.  Additionally, RF seems to create health issues as well as cause significant computer/phone interference issues.  And since shade manufacturers need only produce straight line seals, there is no real need for RF heat sealing methods, and as a result we’ve only included one manufacturer ... Forsstrom.  We learned that RF is a preferred method when sealing shaped items, i.e., spa covers.

So the real competition for shade heat sealing products is between Novaseal, Asco, Matic and various Asian contributors.   Whether we want to believe it or not, Asian contributors are typically “copy cats,” and are usually not known for their innovativeness.  Companies buy Asian products for their cost advantage, not for their technology or innovativeness.  This trend is not much different for heat sealing machines.  Although there are several Asian contributors, our report only refers to two.  One of the Asian contributors, Miller Weldmaster, is actually a US manufacturer of a prestigious line of hot air welders.  Apparently  Miller Weldmaster chose to distribute an Asian manufactured machine so that they could be a vendor for the shade industry, although it is important to note that Miller Weldmaster does not manufacture the “Impulse Extreme” heat sealer.  SB2 Concepts distributes Ultratab.  And the reports we have heard from customers confirm that Asian heat sealing products are significantly less money than non-Asian products, however Asian products are still guilty of reduced or very limited customer support, difficult to read documentation, and poorer quality manufactured components.  As a matter of fact one customer told us that after purchasing an Asian manufactured heat sealer, they had to wait nearly 3 months to learn how to operate it!

Ask anyone what is the best heat sealer available, and the answer is always an Asco.  Apparently Asco has the best reputation.  Lesser known Matic has an excellent competitive product at a substantial cost savings.  However on a feature by feature comparison, neither Asco nor Matic compare to Novaseal.  Apparently Novaseal’s preference is continuous improvement of their products with less emphasis in selling it.  The biggest complaint we’ve heard is that Novaseal products never seem to appear at trade shows.  Novaseal’s “Pulse Packet Sealing” technology seems to be what differentiates Novaseal from the rest.  Apparently pulse sealing is a frequency modulated impulse weld, and as a result heat seals made with pulse sealing are accomplished faster and with better quality than the traditional Asco impulse seal.  Novaseal incorporates “pulse sealing” into a rather impressive range of heat sealers ranging in size from 126-inch to 360-inch.  And, every Novaseal “ShadeSealer” includes two (or more) sealing widths in a feature they refer to as “MultiHead.”

Both Novaseal and Matic only feature Poster Presses.  Asco offers both Poster and Cantilever types.  Better quality machines include poster type presses for front to rear pass through, and better quality seals.  Asco and Novaseal offer the same extended range of seal widths.  Matic offers only 1/4-inch.  

When heat sealing is accomplished using temperature control, water cooling is needed for reduced cycle times.  So, many of the temperature controlled heat sealers will also offer water cooling as an option to reduce cycle time.  Novaseal’s pulse sealing method is already faster than conventional impulse sealing and therefore water cooling is not needed and not available.  This is another advantage of a Novaseal machine, especially since water cooling leaks, and water and high voltage is not a good mix.  All heat sealers, except possibly for the Ultratab, include PLC controls.  It was not obvious if all PLCs used touch screens. 

Foot switches and light curtains.  In the US, OSHA governs proper use of foot switches, and where ever there is a foot switch, there must be a light curtain.  All heat sealing vendors offer foot switches, only Asco and Novaseal provide foot switches with a light curtain. 

Shade sealers are used for two basic functions ... making pockets and sealing overlaps.  All shade sealer manufacturers offer some kind of pocket folder.  Some are manual and some are automatic.  Novaseal is the only manufacturer that offers both manual and automatic. 

And finally, let’s compare cost.  Industry leader Asco heat sealers are the most expensive.  Following Asco is Matic, then Novaseal, then the Asian machines.  So, in summary, when you compare products, features, benefits, costs, our “pick” is Novaseal.  Best sealing method, best quality seals, excellent cost, and it’s made in the United States.  As the saying goes, why buy foreign when you can buy US and get the best for less.

This competitive review was written by freelance writer and consultant Frank Lopez, and published online June 2010. Some information was updated in 2018.

In order to keep our reviews current, and because we are always interested in learning more about the industries we serve, please take a moment to share with us your opinions and comments relative to shade sealer products and industry trends.