High-quality Manual Heat-sealing Food Tray Sealer Machine

Manual Food Tray Sealing Machine

HSQY manual food tray sealing machine is a compact tabletop heat sealer designed for restaurants, takeaway shops, catering kitchens, meal-prep businesses, grocery stores and small food processors. The operator loads the tray and manually operates the sealing mechanism, while heat and pressure bond compatible lidding film to the tray flange.

The HS-2, HS-4 and HS-6 series supports different tray sizes and roll-film widths. Depending on the selected model, maximum roll-film width ranges from 180mm to 265mm and maximum listed tray size reaches 300 × 220 × 100mm.

The machine can be configured for PP, PET, APET and CPET food trays when the tray flange, sealing mold, lidding-film sealant layer, sealing temperature and dwell time are correctly matched. Custom molds are available for different tray dimensions and compartment layouts.

Manual Tray Sealing Machine Images

Manual Food Tray Sealer

Tabletop Heat Sealing Machine

Manual Tray Sealing System

Food Tray Sealing Machine Catalog

Download the HSQY food tray sealing machine catalog to compare manual, semi-automatic and other tray sealing equipment.

               Download Food Tray Sealing Machine Catalog    

What Is a Manual Tray Sealer Machine?

A manual tray sealer is an entry-level food packaging machine used to heat-seal roll lidding film onto preformed food trays. The operator manually places the tray in the mold and operates the handle or lever to complete the sealing cycle.

Manual tray sealing equipment is particularly useful when a food business has multiple menu items but relatively modest production volume. It provides more controlled and repeatable tray sealing than completely hand-applied packaging without requiring the investment or floor space of a semi-automatic or automatic tray sealing line.

This HSQY series is intended primarily for standard heat sealing. It should not be confused with MAP, vacuum or vacuum-skin packaging machines, which require dedicated vacuum, gas-flushing or skin-pack systems.

Manual Tray Sealer Machine Specifications

The source specification lists 480 boxes/hour for Output 1 and 800 boxes/hour for Output 2. Actual throughput depends on operator speed, tray loading, tray dimensions, mold configuration, sealing temperature and dwell time. The current source does not provide the corresponding maximum tray dimensions for Output 2, so these should be confirmed before ordering a multi-cavity mold.

HS-2 vs HS-4 vs HS-6 Manual Tray Sealer

How a Manual Food Tray Sealer Works

1. Place the Food Tray in the Mold

Put the filled food tray into the dedicated tray mold. The mold must support the tray correctly and match its external dimensions, flange geometry and corner radius.

2. Position the Lidding Film

Pull the roll lidding film over the tray and ensure that the film completely covers the sealing flange.

3. Operate the Manual Handle

Lower or operate the manual lever according to the machine design. The heated sealing plate applies heat and pressure to activate the film sealant against the tray flange.

4. Complete the Heat-Sealing Cycle

Hold the sealing mechanism for the required dwell time. Correct sealing temperature and time depend on the tray material, lidding-film sealant and package design.

5. Remove and Inspect the Sealed Tray

Release the handle, remove the package and inspect the sealing area for incomplete seals, wrinkles, contamination or film-cutting defects before starting the next cycle.

Compatible Food Tray Materials

HSQY also supplies            APET food trays        and            CPET trays        for compatible food-packaging projects.

How to Select the Correct Lidding Film

The sealing machine, tray and film must be treated as one packaging system. A manual tray sealer cannot create a reliable seal when the lidding-film sealant is chemically incompatible with the tray surface.

Important film parameters include roll width, roll diameter, film thickness, sealing layer, sealing-temperature window, easy-peel or lock-seal requirement, anti-fog performance and whether the film is printed or unprinted.

HS-2 supports a maximum listed film width of 180mm, HS-4 supports 220mm and HS-6 supports 265mm. All three models list a maximum roll-film diameter of 180mm.

Custom Tray Sealing Molds

Each tray format requires a mold that properly supports the tray and follows its sealing flange. The maximum tray dimensions in the machine table define the general machine envelope but do not mean that every tray below those dimensions will fit an existing mold.

HSQY can discuss custom molds according to tray length, width, depth, corner radius, flange width and compartment layout. A tray drawing or physical tray sample is recommended before mold production.

Buyers who use several tray sizes should specify every format in advance so that the required number of molds and expected changeover process can be evaluated before purchasing the machine.

Key Features of the Manual Tray Sealer

Manual Lever Operation

The operator controls the tray loading and sealing movement manually, reducing machine complexity and making the equipment suitable for entry-level food-packaging operations.

Compact Tabletop Design

Equipment weights range from approximately 13.5kg to 23kg. The compact footprint makes the series relevant to restaurants, deli counters, catering preparation areas and small production rooms with limited space.

Adjustable Sealing Temperature

Adjustable heat settings allow the operator to match different tray-film combinations. Final settings should be established through sealing trials rather than using one temperature for every material.

Low Rated Power

Current rated power ranges from 0.6kW for HS-2 to 1.0kW for HS-6, supporting compact daily foodservice and small-production applications.

Stainless-Steel Structure

The original product specification describes a stainless-steel structure intended to support hygienic cleaning and corrosion resistance in food-packaging environments.

Manual vs Semi Automatic Tray Sealing Machine

If your production volume requires more automated film feeding and sealing, see the HSQY            Semi Automatic Food Tray Sealing Machine    .

Applications of Manual Food Tray Sealers

Takeaway and Delivery Meals

Restaurants and takeaway shops can use manual tray sealers for rice meals, pasta, noodles, prepared dishes, lunch trays and other food packages that require top-sealed film.

Meal Prep and Ready Meals

Meal-prep businesses can seal portion-controlled PP or CPET trays for refrigerated, frozen or reheatable food programs when the complete tray-film package has been validated.

Fresh Meat and Seafood

Fresh meat and seafood can be top sealed for selected applications. If the required shelf-life system uses modified atmosphere packaging, a dedicated MAP machine and appropriate barrier tray-film system should be selected instead.

Catering and Foodservice

The compact machine format is suitable for catering kitchens, office meals, institutional foodservice, school-meal preparation and small central kitchens.

Chilled and Frozen Foods

Chilled and frozen meal trays can be sealed when tray material, lidding film, sealing strength, freezing conditions and reheating requirements are properly matched.

What Affects Tray Seal Quality?

Cleaning and Daily Maintenance

Disconnect power and allow heated components to cool before cleaning. Remove food residue from the tray mold, surrounding work surface and accessible machine surfaces according to the machine instructions.

Avoid aggressive chemicals that may damage electrical components, coatings, seals or plastic parts. Do not spray water directly into electrical controls unless the specific machine design explicitly permits washdown.

Regularly inspect the sealing surface, mold, cutting components, power cable and manual mechanism. Worn sealing or cutting components should be replaced before they begin affecting package consistency.

Information Required for a Manual Tray Sealer Quote

• Tray material: PP, PET, APET, CPET or aluminum.

• Tray length, width and depth.

• Tray flange dimensions and corner radius.

• One-compartment or multi-compartment tray.

• Tray drawing or physical samples.

• Required roll-film width.

• Lidding-film structure.

• Easy-peel or lock-seal requirement.

• Food product and storage condition.

• Required output per hour.

• One-tray or multi-tray mold requirement.

• Number of tray formats.

• Local voltage, frequency and plug standard.

• Destination country and shipping terms.

Certifications and Supporting Documents

The certification image below is retained from the original product page. Before purchasing equipment, confirm the current certificate version, scope, issuing organization and whether the document applies specifically to the selected HS-2, HS-4 or HS-6 machine.

General ISO or SGS documentation should not be treated as a substitute for model-specific electrical or machinery compliance required in the destination market.

HSQY Plastic Group Global Exhibitions

HSQY meets food processors, distributors and packaging buyers at international exhibitions to discuss food trays, lidding films, manual tray sealers and complete food-packaging projects.

2024 Mexico Exhibition

2025 Philippines Exhibition

2024 Paris Exhibition

2023 Saudi Exhibition

2024 American Exhibition

2017 Shanghai Exhibition

2018 Shanghai Exhibition

2023 American Exhibition

Frequently Asked Questions About Manual Tray Sealers

What is a manual food tray sealing machine used for?

It is used to heat-seal compatible lidding film onto preformed food trays for takeaway meals, ready meals, deli food, catering, chilled food and other small-scale food-packaging applications.

Who should use a manual tray sealer?

Manual machines are particularly suitable for restaurants, takeaway businesses, grocery stores, catering companies, meal-prep startups and small food processors with relatively modest packaging volumes.

What tray materials can the machine seal?

The source information lists PET, PP and CPET compatibility, and selected aluminum applications may also be possible depending on the model. Every tray requires a suitable mold and compatible lidding-film sealing layer.

What is the maximum tray size?

HS-2 supports a listed maximum of 240 × 150 × 100mm, HS-4 up to 260 × 190 × 100mm and HS-6 up to 300 × 220 × 100mm for Output 1.

How fast is the manual tray sealer?

Current specifications list 480 boxes/hour for Output 1 and 800 boxes/hour for Output 2. These are reference figures; real production depends on mold configuration, operator loading speed and sealing-cycle settings.

Can one manual tray sealer use different tray sizes?

Yes, different tray sizes can be considered if they fit within the machine limits and the correct interchangeable mold is available. Send tray drawings or samples before ordering additional molds.

What type of film is used with a manual tray sealer?

The correct lidding film depends on the tray sealing surface. Options may include PET-based, PE-sealant and multilayer films, but the exact sealant layer must be compatible with the tray.

Can it use easy-peel lidding film?

Yes, provided the easy-peel film is specifically designed to seal to the tray structure and operates within the machine's sealing-temperature range.

Does the machine provide leak-proof packaging?

A properly matched tray, film and sealing process can provide strong package seals, but complete leak-proof performance should not be assumed without testing. Seal integrity should be validated with the actual food, tray, film and handling conditions.

Does this manual machine support MAP?

The HS-2, HS-4 and HS-6 specifications on this page do not list vacuum or gas-flushing equipment. They should therefore be treated as standard heat-sealing machines rather than MAP tray sealers.

When should I upgrade to a semi automatic machine?

Consider a semi automatic machine when manual loading and sealing become a production bottleneck, labor consistency becomes difficult or your daily output requires more automated film feeding and sealing.

What voltage does the machine use?

The current HS-2, HS-4 and HS-6 specifications list 220V / 50Hz. Buyers should confirm voltage, frequency and plug requirements for their country before ordering.

Can HSQY supply trays and lidding film with the machine?

HSQY supplies PP, PET and CPET food trays, lidding films and tray sealing equipment, allowing buyers to evaluate the tray, film, mold and machine as one packaging system.

What information is required for a quotation?

Please provide tray material, external tray dimensions, flange dimensions, tray drawing or sample, lidding-film type, required hourly output, number of tray formats, voltage, plug type and destination country.

Why Buy a Manual Tray Sealer from HSQY?

HSQY supplies manual and semi automatic tray sealing equipment together with food trays and compatible lidding-film solutions. Buyers can therefore discuss tray dimensions, film sealing performance, molds and equipment within the same packaging project.

Send HSQY your food tray drawing or sample, tray material, film requirement and production target. Our team can help compare HS-2, HS-4 and HS-6 and identify a suitable manual tray sealing configuration.