Abstract: A packaging machine for creating from a web of flexible film a bag for housing a product comprising an apparatus for feeding a web of film through the packaging machine, a sealing station for heating the web of film to create seals in the web of film, the sealing station including a pair of jaws located diametric each other, at least one of the jaws having coupled thereto a member for heating the web of film, and the second jaw having coupled thereto a back-up bar, the jaws being coupled to a member for urging the jaws towards each other. The packaging machine includes boots for segregating a sterile area of the packaging machine through which the web of film is fed, from nonsterile areas, the boots including a plurality of flexible, pleated rubber members that segregate nonsterile internal areas of the sealing station from the sterile area.