Abstract: A sideweld bag making has a reciprocating seal bar and a roller. Drive rolls upstream of the seal bar moves a web in steps over the roller and seal bar seals and severs the web to form bags. A cooling plate between the drive rolls and sealing bar includes a web strip and control air stream tube directs a special stream to engage the raising seal bar to strip the severed web therefrom and to engage the leading web edge as it moves through the seal bar unit. The stream source has closely spaced openings to form the stream; the width and character of which is controllable for selective web engagement. A second air tube is located beneath the web and directs the air stream over the sealing roller to further release the web during the movement of the web.