GFQ vs DFR Bag Making Machine — Which T-Shirt Bag Machine Fits Your Line?
GFQ and DFR are two different answers to the same job: making T-shirt bags from HDPE or LDPE film. GFQ is the wide, multi-purpose family that covers a broad bag-size range. DFR is the narrow, high-cycle machine that makes one bag size very fast. This page compares the published specifications of both, so the choice is made on numbers rather than on a brochure.
GFQ vs DFR at a glance
Every figure below is the published specification of the machine it belongs to — nothing here is an estimate.
| Specification | T-Shirt Bag Making Machine (GFQ) | T-Shirt Bag Making Machine (DFR-400×2) | GFQ-800 Four-Line Automatic Punching Bag Making Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bag width | 550–1,150 mm | 180–320 mm | 160–300 mm |
| Bag length | 700–1,800 mm | 280–650 mm | 300–650 mm |
| Speed | 60–720 bags/min | 100–300 bags/min | 160–480 bags/min |
| Film / bag thickness | 0.01–0.15 mm | 0.01–0.05 mm | 0.006–0.10 mm |
| Materials | HDPE / LDPE | HDPE / LDPE | HDPE / LDPE |
| Installed power | on request | 16 kW installed | 11.5 kW installed |
| Indicative price | $9,000 – $35,000 | $9,000 – $35,000 | on request |
“on request” marks a value this configuration does not publish — ask for it and an engineer confirms the figure for your specification. Published figures come from the machine database and are identical on every page of this site.
The real difference: size range vs cycle rate
A bag machine trades width against speed. Wide machines make big bags slowly; narrow machines make small bags very fast, and multi-line machines multiply the cycle rate without touching film speed.
GFQ covers a wide bag-size range and is normally run two to six lines. DFR-400×2 is built around one narrow bag size — the classic supermarket T-shirt bag — and runs it at a much higher cycle rate per line.
For the film side, see blown film machines; the bag machine can only run as fast as the film line feeding it.
| Your production | Machine | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Several bag sizes from one machine | GFQ family | Wide cutting range; change size, not machine |
| One bag size, very high output | DFR-400×2 | Narrow dedicated format, high cycles per minute |
| Small bags, four lines at once | GFQ-800 four-line | Four narrow webs sealed, punched and stacked in one cycle |
| Bags plus flat or star-seal products | Add a second bag machine | Sealing geometry differs — two machines beat one changeover |
What each machine costs to buy and to run
Price and installed power decide payback as much as cycle rate does. Both are published ranges — the final figure follows width, lane count and the options you choose.
Installed power matters most on multi-shift production: the difference per hour is small, but per year it is not. Machines still awaiting a factory-confirmed power figure show the price column only.
| Machine | Indicative factory-direct price | Installed power | Rated output |
|---|---|---|---|
| T-Shirt Bag Making Machine (GFQ) | $9,000 – $35,000 | — | 60–720 bags/min |
| T-Shirt Bag Making Machine (DFR-400×2) | $9,000 – $35,000 | 16 kW | 100–300 bags/min |
| GFQ-800 Four-Line Automatic Punching Bag Making Machine | on request | 11.5 kW | 160–480 bags/min |
| Monolayer Blown Film Machine | $18,000 – $45,000 | 46–74 kW | 30–120 kg/h |
Indicative factory-direct price — Indicative factory-direct price for a standard configuration; the final figure depends on width, output, automation and destination.
Lane count: the multiplier nobody mentions in the spec sheet
Two lanes double the output of one lane at the same cycle rate; six lanes multiply it again. That is why a machine with a lower headline speed can out-produce a faster single-lane machine.
Lane count also sets the maximum bag width: lanes share the web. Decide your widest bag first, then choose the lane count that fits the volume.
- One lane — widest bag, lowest output, simplest operation
- Two to four lanes — the common T-shirt bag configuration
- Four to six lanes — narrow bags at volume; handle punching is automatic
- Punching: manual, automatic, or computer-controlled in register with print
Film gauge and material decide the seal
T-shirt bag film is blown thin — HDPE for stiffness, LDPE for softness, blends for toughness. The bag machine seals that gauge, so film thickness sets the seal window as much as the machine does.
Confirm the resin and gauge when ordering: sealing temperature, dwell and knife geometry are set for the film you actually buy.
The film lines above are the machines these bag machines are normally paired with — see the garbage bag production line for a complete worked line.
| Specification | Mini Film Blowing Machine | Monolayer Blown Film Machine | ABA Film Blowing Machine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Film width (folded) | 100–800 mm | 600–1,200 mm | 100–1,200 mm |
| Output | 35–50 kg/h | 30–120 kg/h | 40–120 kg/h |
| Layer structure | Monolayer (1) | Monolayer (1) | 3-layer |
| Installed power | 20 kW installed | 46–74 kW installed | 52 kW installed |
| Indicative price | $12,000 – $28,000 | $18,000 – $45,000 | $35,000 – $90,000 |
Which machine for which factory
The honest answer, by production profile:
- Starting a bag plant with one product — GFQ two-line, or the GFQ-800 four-line when the bag is narrow and volume is high
- Already selling several T-shirt bag sizes — GFQ family; change the cutting width rather than the machine
- Contracts that reward speed on one size — DFR-400×2, one format run continuously
- Bag range plus print — add a complete shopping bag line so film, press and bag machine are matched
Watch them run
High-Speed DFR Heat Sealing & Cutting Bag Making Machine
DFR T-Shirt Bag Making Machine — Factory Footage
Related pages
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a GFQ and a DFR bag making machine?
Both make T-shirt bags from HDPE or LDPE film, but they are built for different jobs. GFQ covers a wide bag-size range — up to 550–1,150 mm — and runs 60–720 bags/min depending on the number of lines. The DFR-400×2 is a dedicated narrow-format machine at 180–320 mm running 100–300 bags/min per line. Choose GFQ for a size range, DFR for one size at high cycle rates.
Which is faster — GFQ or DFR?
Per line, DFR runs faster on its narrow format: 100–300 bags/min against 60–720 bags/min for the GFQ family. But output is lane count multiplied by cycle rate, so a high-lane GFQ can out-produce a single DFR. Compare bags per hour for your actual bag size, not the headline number.
How much do GFQ and DFR bag making machines cost?
Indicative factory-direct ranges: $9,000 – $35,000 for the GFQ family and $9,000 – $35,000 for the DFR-400×2. Indicative factory-direct USD range for a standard configuration — the written quote follows within 4 hours on business days.
Can one machine make different bag sizes?
The GFQ family changes cutting width and length within its published range, so several bag sizes run on one machine with a changeover. The DFR-400×2 is built around one narrow format for maximum cycle rate — it is not the machine to buy if your bag sizes vary widely.
What film do GFQ and DFR machines run?
Both run HDPE and LDPE film, typically 0.008–0.03 mm for T-shirt bags. GFQ covers a wider gauge envelope up to 0.15 mm for heavier products; DFR is specified for thin, high-speed T-shirt bag film at 0.01–0.05 mm. The film line feeding them is usually a monolayer or ABA blown film line.
Do I need a printing press as well?
Only if the bag carries print. Printing is a separate machine — the film is blown and wound, corona treated, then printed on a flexo press, and only then does it reach the bag machine. T-shirt bags for retail usually carry one to four colours.
Get today's factory-direct quote for your GFQ vs DFR bag making machine
Tell us film width, material and target output — a real engineer replies with options, pricing and a layout drawing within 4 hours.