An apparatus and method for forming a hem on a 5.sup.th panel of a liquid carton blank comprising a skiving section, a stepped creaser section, a burner section, a vacuum hemmer section, and a sealer section. Carton blanks are fed into the skiver section and exit from the sealer section at a high rate of speed. The final folding step in the process is performed by a vacuum hemmer which comprises a belt with holes for pulling a vacuum to securely hold the carton blank during the second and final folding of the skived portion of the 5.sup.th panel.
